The Proverbs of Scotland Part 82

Put your hand in the creel, tak out an adder or an eel.

"In buying horses and taking a wife, shut your eyes and commend yourself to G.o.d."--_Italian._

Put your hand nae farther oot than your sleeve will reach.

Put your hand twice to your bannet for ance to your pouch.

"Put your hand quickly to your hat, and slowly to your purse, and you will take no harm."--_Danish._

Put the man to the mear that can manage the mear.

Put the saddle on the right horse.

Put your shanks in your thanks and mak gude gramashes o' them.

Literally, put your legs in your thanks and make good gaiters of them. A sharp remark on those who pay in thanks only, when a more substantial reward is expected.

Put your thoom upon that.

"Conceal it carefully--keep it secret."--_Jamieson._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Quality without quant.i.ty is little thought o'.

Quey calves are dear veal.

A "quey calf" is a female calf. They are generally kept to replenish the stock; it is bull calves that are princ.i.p.ally fattened for killing young.

Quick at meat, quick at wark.

Quick, for you'll ne'er be cleanly.

"That is, do a thing nimbly, for you'll never do it neatly."--_Kelly._

Quick returns mak rich merchants.

Quietness is best.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Rab Gibb's contract,--stark love and kindness.

Raggit folk and bonny folk are aye ta'en haud o'.

Spoken jocularly when a person has rent or caught his clothes upon a nail or other projection.

Raise nae mair deils than ye are able to lay.

"Raise no more spirits than you can conjure down."--_German._

Rather spoil your joke than tine your friend.

Raw dads mak fat lads.

Raw leather raxes weel.

"Raw leather will stretch."--_English._

Reavers shouldna be ruers.

Literally, robbers should not repent.

Reckless youth maks ruefu' eild.

"People who live too fast when they are young will neither have a vigorous nor a comfortable old age."--_Kelly._

Reckon up your winning at your bed-stock.

Red brackens bring milk and b.u.t.ter.

"In October, the bracken or fern on hill pastures becomes red with the first frosty nights, and about that time the autumnal herbage is very rich, and productive of the good things in question."--_Robert Chambers._

Red wood maks gude spindles.

"'Red wood,' the name given to the reddish or dark-coloured and more incorruptible wood found in the heart of trees."--_Jamieson._

Refer my coat and lose a sleeve.

"Rejoice, bucks," quo' Brodie, when he shot at the buryin' and thought it was a weddin'.

Remember, man, and keep in mind, a faithfu' friend is hard to find.

Remove an auld tree an' it'll wither.

Riches are got wi' pain, kept wi' care, and tint wi' grief.

Rich folk hae routh o' friends.

"Routh o' friends," that is, many of them.