The Proverbs of Scotland Part 85

Shame fa' them that think shame to do themsels a gude turn.

Shame's past the shed o' your hair.

Sharp sauce gies a gude taste to sweetmeats.

She brak her elbow at the kirk door.

"Spoken of a thrifty maiden when she becomes a lazy wife."--_Kelly._

She frisks about like a cat's tail i' the sun.

She has an ill paut wi' her hind foot.

She has gi'en them green stockings.

Spoken when a young woman marries before her elder sisters.

She hauds up her gab like an aumos dish.

"And aye he gies the touzie drab The t.i.ther skelpin' kiss, While she held up her greedy gab Just like an aumos dish."--_Burns._

She hauds up her head like a hen drinking water.

The two last sayings are applied to persons who behave in an impudent or forward manner.

She'll keep her ain side o' the house, and gang up and down yours.

"Spoken to dissuade our friend from marrying a woman whom we suspect to be too bold."--_Kelly._

She'll wear like a horseshoe, aye the langer the clearer.

She lookit at the moon, but licht.i.t i' the midden.

Applied to young women who have boasted, before marriage, of the "fine match" which they will get, but who afterwards are allied to common every-day people.

She looks as if b.u.t.ter wadna melt in her mou.

She looks like a leddy in a landward kirk.

This means that a person may appear very conspicuous on account of a peculiar dress or manner.

She pined awa like Jenkin's hen.

"To die like _Jenkin's hen_ is to die an old maid."--_Jamieson._

She's a bad sitter that's aye in a flutter.

She's a drap o' my dearest blude.

She's a wise wife that wats her ain weird.

That is, who knows her own destiny.

She's better than she's bonny.

A Highlander, in speaking favourably of his wife, is reported to have misquoted this, and characterized her as being "bonnier than she was better."

She's black, but she has a sweet smack.

That is, she is not very beautiful, but she is rich.

She's d.i.n.ket out, neb and feather.

"Dressed completely; from top to toe."--_Jamieson._

She's grown gatty that was ance a dautie.

She's no to be made a sang about.

"An abatement of a woman's commendation to beauty."--_Kelly._

She that fa's ower a strae's a tentless taupie.

She that gangs to the well wi' an ill will, either the pig breaks or the water will spill.

She that taks a gift, hersel she sells; and she that gies ane, does naething else.

She wadna hae the walkers, and the riders gaed by.

"It is recorded of a celebrated beauty, Becky Monteith, that being asked how she had not made a good marriage, having replied, 'Ye see, I wadna hae the walkers, and the riders gaed by.'"--_Ramsay's Reminiscences._

Shod i' the cradle, and barefit i' the stubble.

Applied to people who dress out of keeping with their work.

Sh.o.r.ed folk live lang, an' so may him ye ken o'.

"'Force our way with the king's keys, and break the neck of every living soul we find in the house, if ye dinna gie it ower forthwith!' menaced the incensed Hobbie. 'Threatened folks live lang,' said the hag, in the same tone of irony; 'there's the iron gate--try your skeel on't, lads--it has kept out as good men as you or now.'"--_The Black Dwarf._

Short accounts mak lang friends.

Short rents mak careless tenants.

Shouther to shouther stands steel and pouther.

Show me the man and I'll show you the law.

Sic a man as thou wad be, draw thee to sic companie.