Chapter VI: Part 6

Similar to the preceding proverb. Equivalent to saying such a thing
is entirely in your own control; you may do what you please with it.

Mak friends o' fremit folk.

Mak hay while the sun shines.

Mak nae bauks in gude bear-land.

To "bauk" is to leave small strips of land unturned in ploughing.
Kelly says of this proverb that it is "spoken when it is proposed to
marry the youngest daughter before the eldest."

Mak nae orts o' gude hay.

Literally, do not throw aside good hay.

Mak nae toom ruse.

"Toom ruse" means empty praise, and the proverb signifies that we
should not praise indiscriminately, or without knowledge of the
subject.

Mak the best o' a bad bargain.

Mak your wife a gowdspink, and she'll turn a water-wagtail.

That is, if you indulge a person freely to a certain extent, the
probability is he will exceed the limits.

Malice is aye mindfu'.

Man proposes, God disposes.

Man's twal is no sae gude as the deil's dizzen.

No, because "man's twal" is twelve, while the "deil's dizzen" is
thirteen.

March comes like a lion and gangs like a lamb.

March comes wi' adders' heads and gangs wi' peacocks' tails.

March dust and March win', bleaches as weel as simmer's sun.

March dust and May sun mak corn white and maidens dun.

March water and May sun makes claes clear and maidens dun.

The explanation of this saying, which belongs to the Mearns, is,
that water in the month of March is supposed to be of a more
cleansing quality than in any other month. The same idea is also
expressed in the following saying:

March water's worth May soap.

March whisquer was ne'er a gude fisher.

Marriage and hanging gae by destiny.

Married folk are like rats in a trap--fain to get ithers in, but fain to be out themsels.

Marriage wad tame the sea, if a match could be got for her.

"Of all comforts I miscarried,
When I played the sot and married:
'Tis a trap, there's none need doubt on't;
Those that are in would fain get out on't."--_Tea-Table Miscellany._

Marry abune your match, and get a maister.

Marry for love, and work for siller.

Marry in haste, and repent at leisure.

Marry your son when you will, but your dochter when you can.

Maun-do is a fell fallow.

"Necessity is a hard master."--_German._

May-be's are no aye honey bees.

"An answer to them that say, 'Maybe it will fall out so or
so.'"--_Kelly._

May-be's flee na at this time o' the year.

Maybe's a big book.

Maybe your pat may need my clips.

Perhaps some day you will be glad of my assistance, although you
despise it just now.

May birds are aye cheeping.

This refers to the popular superstition against marrying in the
month of May, the children of which marriages are said to "die of
decay."

May he that turns the clod ne'er want a bannock.

Mealy mou'd maidens stand lang at the mill.

Measure twice, cut but ance.

Meat and mass ne'er hindered wark.

"'Happy will I be to serve you, my gude auld acquaintance,' said the
clerk; 'but sit you down--sit you down--sit you down, Mrs
Dods,--meat and mass never hindered wark. Ye are something overcome
wi' your travel--the spirit canna aye bear through the flesh, Mrs
Dods.'"--_St Ronan's Well._

Meat and measure mak a' men wise.

Meat feeds, claith cleeds, but breeding maks the man.

Meat is gude, but mense is better.

Men are no to be mete by inches.

Men speak o' the fair as things went there.

Mettle's kittle in a blind mare.

Michaelmas mune rises nine nights alike sune.

Mills and wives are aye wanting.

Mind me to a' that ask for me, but blad me in naebody's teeth.

Mind thysel, the warld will mind the lave.

Mint before you strike.

Minting gets nae bairns.

Mischief's mother's but like midge's wing.

Mister makes a man o' craft.

Misterfu' folk maunna be mensefu'.

"Beggars should not be choosers."--_English._

Mist in May and heat in June mak the harvest right soon.

Mistress before folk, gudewife behint backs; whaur lies the dishclout?

A jocular manner of addressing those who are very particular in
their manner of speaking.

Mocking's catching.

Money's aye welcome, were it even in a dirty clout.

Money's better than my lord's letter.

Money's like the muck midden, it does nae gude till it be spread.

Money makes and money mars.

"He who hath gold hath fear, and he who hath none has sorrow."

Money maks a man free ilka where.

Money maks the mare to go whether she has legs or no.

Mony a dog has dee'd sin' ye were whelped.

Mony a dog will dee ere you fa' heir.

Mony a frost and mony a thowe, sune makes mony a rotten yowe.

Mony a gude tale is spoilt in the telling.

"Applied often when a good sermon is ill delivered, to my certain
knowledge."--_Kelly._

Mony ane for land taks a fool by the hand.

That is, many marry only for the sake of money and possessions.

Mony ane kens the gude fellow that disna ken the gude fellow's wife.

The reason being that he is a "gude fellow" only when abroad or in
the taproom, and not when he is at home.

Mony ane kisses the bairn for love o' the nurse.

"That is, show their kindness to the companions, friends, or
relations of those upon whom they have a design, which they hope by
their influence to effect."--_Kelly._

Mony ane lacks what they would fain hae in their pack.

Mony ane maks an errand to the ha' to bid my leddy good day.

Or, many occupy themselves with trifles.

Mony ane opens his pack and sells nae wares.

Mony ane's coat saves their doublet.

"Spoken when clergymen use you saucily, whom, in deference to their
profession, you will not beat."--_Kelly._

Mony ane ser's a thankless maister.

Mony ane's gear is mony ane's death.

Mony ane speaks o' Robin Hood that ne'er shot wi' his bow.

"Doctor Luther's shoes do not fit every parish priest."--_German._

Mony ane tines the half-merk whinger for the ha'-penny whang.

This nearly obsolete saying means, literally, loses a sixpenny
dagger for the sake of a halfpenny thong. "Spoken," says Kelly,
"when people lose a considerable thing for not being at an
inconsiderable expense."

Mony ane wad blush to hear what he wadna blush to dae.

Mony ane wad hae been waur had their estates been better.

Mony an honest man needs help that hasna the face to seek it.

"Mony a thing's made for the penny," as the wifie said when she saw the black man.

Mony a true tale's tauld in jest.

Mony aunts, mony emes, mony kin, but few friends.

The word "eme" signifies uncle, and the saying--its claims as a
proverb are small enough--means that a person may have many
relations but very few friends among them.

Mony care for meal that hae baked bread enough.

"Spoken against whining, complaining people, who have enough, and
yet are always making a moan."--_Kelly._

Mony cooks ne'er made gude kail.

Mony fair promises at the marriage-making, but few at the tocher-paying.

A man may "promise like a merchant and pay like a man-of-war's-man;"
that is, promise anything that may be asked, for the sake of
concluding a bargain, but which, once made, he is in no haste to
perform.

Mony gude-nights is laith away.

"He shakes hands often who is loath to go."--_French._

Mony hands maks light work.

Mony hawes, mony snawes.

"When there is a great exhibition of blossoms on the hedgerows, the
ensuing winter will be a remarkable one for snow storms."--_Robert
Chambers._

Mony hounds may soon worry ae hare.

Mony kinsfolk but few friends.

Mony 'll sup wi' little din, that wadna gree at moolin in.

Mony littles mak a muckle.

Mony purses haud friends lang thegither.

Mony rains, mony rowans; mony rowans, mony yewns.

"Yewns being light grain. The rowans are the fruit of the mountain
ash, which never are ripe till harvest. It is a common observation,
that an abundance of them generally follows a wet season."--_Robert
Chambers._

Mony sae "weel" when it ne'er was waur.

"Spoken to them that say 'well' by way of resentment."--_Kelly._

Mony time I hae got a wipe wi' a towel, but ne'er a daub wi' a dishclout before.

Or reprimanded by a person who had authority to do so, but never
roughly handled by one who had no right to interfere. Kelly says
this is "spoken by saucy girls when one jeers them with an unworthy
sweetheart."

Mony ways to kill a dog though ye dinna hang him.

Mony words dinna fill the firlot.

A "firlot" is a fourth part of a boll, dry measure. Equivalent to
the proverb, "Many words go to a sackful."--_Dutch._

Mony words, muckle drouth.

Mony wyte their wife for their ain thriftless life.

That is, many persons blame others for what are the consequences of
their own faults. Kelly says, "I never saw a Scottish woman who had
not this at her finger's end."

Mouths are nae measure.

The Irish are not of this opinion, for it is recorded that one of
them said his mouth held exactly a glass of whisky--that is, if he
could have retained it; but there was a hole in the bottom of it
which continually prevented him from proving the fact.

Mows may come to earnest.

"To 'mow,' to speak in mockery."--_Jamieson._

Moyen does muckle, but money does mair.

Influence or interest does much, but money will do more.

Muck and money gae thegither.

Muckle corn, muckle care.

"Muckle din about ane," as the deil said when he stole the collier.

Muckledom is nae virtue.

Muckle fails that fools think.

Muckle gifts mak beggars bauld.

Muckle gude may it do you, and merry go doun, every lump as big as my thoom.

A bad wish--that every bite may choke you.

Muckle head, little wit.

Muckle maun a gude heart thole.

Muckle meat, mony maladies.

Muckle mou'd folk are happy at their meat.

Muckle musing mars the memory.

Muckleness has nae mair, or else a cow could catch a hare.

Muckleness is no manliness.

Muckle pleasure, some pain.

Muckle power maks mony faes.

Muckle skaith comes to the shae before the heat comes to the tae.

Muckle spoken, part spilt.

So much was said on a subject that a great deal was lost.

Muckle wad aye hae mair.

The more a person has the more he would have.

Muckle water rins by that the miller watsna o'.

Muckle wi' thrift may aye be mair.

"Must" is for the King to say.

My market's made, ye may lick a whup-shaft.

The saucy reply of a maid already betrothed, to a would-be wooer.

My neighbour's skaith's my ain peril.

My son's my son till he's got him a wife; my dochter's my dochter a' the days o' her life.

My tongue's no under your belt.

Naebody daur say Straa to him.

Naebody is riving your claes to get you.

Or going out of their wits for your sake.

Nae butter will stick to my bread.

That is, good fortune follows nothing I do.

Nae carrion will kill a craw.

Nae cows, nae care.

Nae curb will tame love.

Nae equal to you but our dog Sorkie, and he's dead, so ye're marrowless.

Applied to boasters, meaning sarcastically that in their own
peculiar faculty they are unequalled.

Nae faut; but she sets her bannet ower weel.

The only fault is, she is too good-looking.

Nae fleeing frae fate.

Nae fleeing without wings.

Nae fools like auld anes.

Nae faut that the cat has a clean band, she sets a bannet sae weel.

"Ironically spoken to them who pretend to do, have, or wear what
does not become them."--_Kelly._

Nae friend like the penny.

Nae gain without pain.

Nae great loss but there's some sma' 'vantage.

Nae man can baith sup and blaw at ance.

That is, sup his soup and cool it together; or, plainly, do two
things at once.

Nae man can live langer in peace than his neighbours like.

"For an ill neighbour, with his scolding noise, complaints,
lawsuits, and indictments, may be very troublesome."--_Kelly._

Nae man can mak his ain hap.

Or plan his own destiny.

Nae man can seek his marrow i' the kirn sae weel as him that has been in't himsel.

"Spoken to those who suspect us guilty of a thing in which they take
measure of us by their practices and inclinations."--_Kelly._

Nae man can thrive unless his wife will let him.

Nae man has a tack o' his life.

Nae man is wise at a' times, nor on a' things.

Nae mills, nae meal.

Nae penny, nae paternoster.

Nae plea is the best plea.

Nae rule sae gude as rule o' thoom--if it hit.

Nae service, nae siller.

Nae sooner up than her head's in the aumrie.

Applied to lazy or greedy servants; implying that the first thing
they do in the morning is to go to the "aumrie" or cupboard for
something to eat.

Nae swat, nae sweet.

Naething but fill and fetch mair.

A philosophic way of meeting troubles. If a thing be wrong done, do
it over again; or if it be lost, procure another.

Naething comes fairer to light than what has been lang hidden.

Naething comes out o' a close hand.

Naething freer than a gift.

Naething is got without pains but an ill name and lang nails.

Naething is ill said if it's no ill ta'en.

Naething is ill to be done when will's at hame.

Naething like being stark dead.

Meaning there is nothing like doing a thing thoroughly. "A vile,
malicious proverb," says Kelly, "first used by Captain James Stewart
against the noble Earl of Morton, and afterwards applied to the Earl
of Strafford and Archbishop Laud."

Naething's a bare man.

"A jocose answer to children when they say they have gotten
nothing."--_Kelly._

Naething's a man's truly but what he comes by duly.

Naething sae bauld as a blind mear.

"Who so bold as blind Bayard?"--_English._

"Ignorance breeds confidence; consideration, slowness and
wariness."--_Ray._

Naething sae crouse as a new wash'd louse.

"Spoken of them who have been ragged and dirty, and are proud and
fond of new or clean clothes."--_Kelly._

Naething sooner maks a man auld-like than sitting ill to his meat.

"To sit ill to one's meat, to be ill fed."--_Jamieson._

Naething to be done in haste but gripping fleas.

In his introduction to Henderson's _Proverbs_, Motherwell relates a
humorous anecdote in connection with this proverb. An indefatigable
collector of "rusty sayed saws," a friend of his, was in the habit
of jotting down any saying new to him on the back of cards, letters,
&c., and thrusting them into his pocket. On one occasion he had an
altercation with a stranger at a friend's house. The quarrel
becoming warm, ended by Motherwell's friend excitedly handing the
other (as he thought) his card. On the gentleman's preparing to
vindicate his honour next morning, it occurred to him to learn the
name of his antagonist. On looking at the card he found no name,
but, in place of it, traced in good legible characters, "Naething
should be done in a hurry but catching fleas." The effect of this
was irresistible, and the result an immediate reconciliation.

Naething to do but draw in your stool and sit down.

Everything is so far advanced that the finishing stroke only is
wanting. Applied to a man who is courting a widow or spinster
already in possession of a well-furnished house.

Naething venture, naething win.

Nae weather's ill an the wind be still.

Nae wonder ye're auld like, ilka thing fashes you.

That is, because you allow every little trifling occurrence to vex
you.

Nane are sae weel but they hope to be better.

Nane but fools and knaves lay wagers.

Henderson, in his _Proverbs_, reads "poets" for "fools," possibly as
a hit upon some of his friends, several of whom were poets of local
celebrity.

Nane can mak a bore but ye'll find a pin for't.

Meaning that none can find fault with you but you will be able to
give an excuse for it. "As soon find hare without a mense as you
without excuse."--_English._

Nane can play the fool sae weel as a wise man.

Nane can tell what's i' the shaup till it's shelt.

That is, in the husk until it is shelled.

Nane kens whaur a blister may light.

Narrow gathered, widely spent.

Nature passes nurture.

Nearer e'en the mair beggars.

Nearer God's blessing than Carlisle fair.

"You need but go to your closet for the one, but you must go out of
the kingdom for the other."--_Kelly._

Nearer the bane, sweeter the flesh.

"And for eating--what signifies telling a lee? there's just the
hinder end of the mutton-ham that has been but three times on the
table, and the nearer the bane the sweeter, as your honours weel
ken; and--there's the heel of the ewe-milk kebbuck, wi' a bit o'
nice butter, and--and--that's a' that's to trust to."--_Bride of
Lammermoor._

Nearer the rock, the sweeter the grass.

Nearest the heart, nearest the mou.

"Spoken to them who, designing to name one person, by mistake names
another, perhaps a sweetheart."--_Kelly._

Nearest the king, nearest the widdy.

"Widdy," rope or gallows. Meaning that those who occupy political or
subservient positions do so only during the pleasure of their
superiors.

Near's my kirtle, but nearer's my sark.

Near's my sark, but nearer's my skin.

The two last sayings are common to many nations. "Some friends are
nearer to me than others--my parents and children than my other
relations, those than my neighbours, my neighbours than strangers;
but, above all, I am next to myself."--_Ray._

Near the kirk, but far frae grace.

This fact is so well ascertained that there is another to the same
effect. "Farthest frae the kirk aye soonest at it;" and the English
are of a similar opinion, for Spenser writes:

"At kirke the narre from God more farre,
Has been an old sayed sawe."

Necessity has nae law.

Necessity's the mither o' invention.

Neck or naething, the king lo'es nae cripples.

"A prophane jest upon those who are like to fall, wishing that they
may either break their neck or come off safe; for breaking a limb
will make them useless subjects."--_Kelly._

Need gars naked men run, and sorrow gars wabsters spin.

"Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood."--_Italian._ In the second
clause we have another discreditable imputation on the weaving
fraternity, implying that they only work when compelled by hunger,
and are not naturally industrious.

Need gars the auld wife trot.

"'This is your mother, is it not?' (Cuddie nodded.) 'What can have
brought your mother and you down the water so late?' 'Troth, stir,
just what gars the auld wives trot--neshessity, stir. I'm seeking
for service, stir.'"--_Old Mortality._

Need maks a man o' craft.

Need maks greed.

Need maks the naked quean spin.

Ne'er break out o' kind to gar your friends ferlie at you.

Do not do strange acts merely for the sake of astonishing your
friends.

Ne'er count the lawin' wi' a toom quaich.

"Quaich," a small and shallow drinking-cup with two ears. The
proverb has a similar meaning to "Fair fa' the wife," &c., _q. v._

Ne'er do ill that gude may come o't.

Ne'er draw your dirk when a dunt will do.

That is, do not resort to extreme measures when mild means will
suffice.

Ne'er fash your beard.

"'Tell them all this, and hear what they say till't.'

"'Indeed, mistress, I can tell ye that already, without stirring my
shanks for the matter,' answered Nelly Trotter; 'they will e'en say
that ye are ae auld fule, and me anither, that may hae some judgment
in cock-bree or in scate-rumples, but maunna fash our beards about
onything else.'"--_St Ronan's Well._

Ne'er fash your thoom.

"Ne'er mind her flytes, but set your heart at ease:
Sit down and blaw your pipe, nor fash your thoom,
An' there's my hand, she'll tire, and soon sing dumb."--_Fergusson._

Ne'er find faut wi' my shoon, unless you pay my souter.

Addressed to impertinent persons who find fault with the personal
appearance or dress of others.

Ne'er gang to the deil wi' the dishclout on your head.

"If you will be a knave, be not in a trifle, but in something of
value. A Presbyterian minister had a son who was made Archdeacon of
Ossery; when this was told to his father, he said, 'If my son will
be a knave, I am glad that he will be an archknave.' This has the
same sense, 'As good be hanged for an old sheep as a young
lamb.'"--_Kelly._

Ne'er gie me my death in a toom dish.

This means, jocularly, if you wish to kill me, do it not by
starvation; in other words, give me something to eat.

Ne'er gude, egg nor bird.

Ne'er kiss a man's wife, or dight his knife, for he'll do baith after you.

Ne'er let on, but laugh in your sleeve.

Ne'er let the nose blush for the sins o' the mouth.

Ne'er let your feet rin faster than your shoon.

"'But you must recollect, that before taking such a step you ought
to be pretty well provided with means.'

"'Ou', fegs! I hae nae trick o' letting my feet rin faster than my
shoon. I'll no forget the means, ye may be sure; and as for Jean
hersel, I hae nae skill o' women folk, if she's no just as willing
as me.'"--_The Disruption._

Ne'er lippen ower muckle to a new friend or an auld enemy.

Ne'er marry a penniless maiden that's proud o' her pedigree.

Ne'er marry a widow unless her first man was hanged.

Ne'er misca' a Gordon in the raws o' Stra'bogie.

The Gordons were the ruling clan in Strathbogie; and the proverb
means that we should never speak ill of a man on his own property.

Ne'er put your arm out farther than you can draw it easily back again.

"The deacon used to say to me, 'Nick--young Nick' (his name was
Nicol as well as mine, sae folk ca'd us, in their daffin, young Nick
and auld Nick)--'Nick,' said he, 'never put out your arm farther
than ye can draw it easily back again.'"--_Rob Roy._

Ne'er ower auld to learn.

Ne'er put a sword in a wudman's hand.

Ne'er put the plough before the owsen.

Ne'er quit certainty for hope.

Ne'er rax abune your reach.

That is, do not exert yourself beyond your strength.

Ne'er say gae, but gang.

Ne'er say "Ill fallow" to him you deal wi'.

Ne'er shaw me the meat, but the man.

"If a man be fat, plump, and in good liking, I shall not ask what
keeping he has had."--_Kelly._

Ne'er shaw your teeth unless ye can bite.

Ne'er speak ill o' the deil.

Ne'er speak ill o' them whase bread ye eat.

Ne'er spend gude siller looking for bad.

"John had never before taken any debtor to law, his motto being,
'Never spend gude siller looking for bad;' but in this case, he
said, he was determined to roup them to the door, although it
shouldna put a penny in his pouch."--_Roy's "Generalship."_

Ne'er strive against the stream.

Ne'er tak a forehammer to break an egg.

Ne'er tell your fae when your fit sleeps.

Ne'er throw the bridle o' your horse ower a fool's arm.

Ne'er use the taws when a gloom will do.

Of similar import to "Ne'er draw your dirk," _q. v._

Ne'er was a wife weel pleased coming frae the mill but ane, and she brak her neck bane.

Kelly says this is "commonly said to wives when they come from the
mill, but the occasion, sense, or meaning I know not." Is it not
because they are always dissatisfied with the "mouter" which the
miller takes?

Ne'er waur happen you than your ain prayer.

Neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor gude red herring.

Used to signify that an article is good for nothing.

Neither sae sinfu' as to sink nor sae holy as to soom.

Never's a lang word.

New lairds mak new laws.

"They were decent, considerate men, that didna plague a puir herd
callant muckle about a moorfowl or a mawkin, unless he turned common
fowler--Sir Robert Ringhorse used to say, the herd lads shot as mony
gleds and pyots as they did game. But new lords new laws--naething
but fine and imprisonment, and the game no a feather the
plentier."--_St Ronan's Well._

Next to nae wife, a gude ane's best.

Nineteen naesays o' a maiden is half a grant.

"Her laugh will lead you to the place,
Where lies the happiness ye want;
And plainly tell you to your face,
Nineteen nae-says are half a grant."--_Tea-Table Miscellany._

Nipping and scarting's Scotch folk's wooing.

"It may be Scotch folk's wooing; but if that's the gait Betty Bodle
means to use you, Watty, my dear, I would see her, and a' the
Kilmarkeckles that ever were cleckit, doon the water, or strung in a
wuddy, before I would hae onything to say to ane come o' their seed
or breed. To lift her hands to her bridegroom!"--_The Entail._

Now-a-days truth's news.

Now's now, and Yule's in winter.

O' ae ill come mony.

O' a' fish i' the sea, herring is king.

O' a' ills, nane's best.

O' a' little tak a little; when there's nought tak a'.

O' a' meat i' the warld the drink gaes best down.

O' a' sorrow, a fu' sorrow's the best.

"Spoken when friends die and leave good legacies."--_Kelly._

O' a' the months o' the year curse a fair Februar.

O' bairns' gifts ne'er be fain; nae sooner they gie than they tak it again.

O' gude advisement comes nae ill.

O' ill debtors men get aiths.

"Aith," or oath, is here used in the sense of promise, signifying
that from "ill debtors" men get not money but promises, which, of
course, are never performed.

Oh for a drap o' gentle blude, that I may wear black abune my brow.

"In Scotland no woman is suffered to wear a silk hood unless she be
a gentlewoman; that is, a gentleman's daughter, or married to a
gentleman. A rich maid having the offer of a wealthy yeoman, or a
bare gentleman, wished for the last, to qualify her to wear a black
hood. It is since spoken to such wealthy maidens upon the like
occasion."--_Kelly._

O' little meddling comes muckle care.

On painting and fighting look abeigh.

On the sea sail, on the land settle.

Onything for ye about an honest man's house but a day's wark.

"Onything sets a gude face," quo' the monkey wi' the mutch on.

Open confession is gude for the soul.

Oppression will mak a wise man wud.

O' the marriages in May, the bairns die o' decay.

O' twa ills choose the least.

Our ain reek's better than ither folk's fire.

Our sins and debts are aften mair than we think.

Our sowens are ill sour'd, ill seil'd, ill sauted, ill sodden, thin, an' little o' them. Ye may stay a' night, but ye may gang hame if ye like. It's weel kenn'd your faither's son was ne'er a scambler.

This proverb is, we think, fairly entitled to rank as the second
longest on record, the first being, as recorded by Trench, the
German one, "Folk say there is a lack of four people on earth," &c.
Kelly says that "this was a speech of a countrywoman of mine to a
guest that she would gladly have shaken off, and being so oddly
expressed it became a proverb, which we repeat when we think our
friend does not entertain us heartily."

Out o' debt, out o' danger.

Out o' God's blessing into the warm sun.

Out o' Davy Lindsay into Wallace.

"Davy Lindsay and Wallace" were two books formerly used in schools;
and the proverb is used when a person changes, or, more properly,
advances from one thing to another.

Out on the highgate is aye fair play.

Out o' sight, out o' languor.

"Long absent, soon forgotten."--_English._

Out o' the peat pot into the gutter.

"Out of the frying pan into the fire."--_English._

"Out of the mire into the brook."--_Spanish._

Out o' the warld and into Kippen.

Kippen, in Stirlingshire, was formerly so very remote and little
frequented by strangers, that a visit to it was jocularly deemed
equivalent to going out of the world altogether; and the remark
passed into a proverb, used when a person is going to a strange
place. The feudal lord of this district was formerly styled King of
Kippen.

Own debt and crave days.

Ower braw a purse to put a plack in.

That is, externally grander or more showy than internal means
justify. "Spoken when one builds a magnificent house upon a small
income."--_Kelly._

Ower high, ower laigh, ower het, ower cauld.

That is, from one extreme to the other.

Ower holy was hanged, but rough and sonsy wan awa'.

Ower mony cooks spoil the broth.

Ower mony grieves hinder the wark.

Ower mony irons in the fire, some maun cool.

Spoken when a person has too many projects in hand; meaning that
some must fail.

"Ower mony maisters," quo' the puddock to the harrow, when ilka tooth gied her a tug.

Ower muckle hameliness spoils gude courtesy.

"Too much familiarity breeds contempt."--_English._

Ower muckle loose leather about your chafts.

A rude but expressive way of saying that a person is not looking
well, or is, _Scotice_, "thin."

Ower muckle cookery spoils the brochan.

Ower muckle o' ae thing is gude for naething.

Ower narrow counting culyes nae kindness.

To "culye" is to gain, to draw forth. "When people deal in rigour
with us we think ourselves but little obliged to them."--_Kelly._

Ower reckless may repent.

Ower sicker, ower loose.

Or, you are either too harsh and stringent, or the very reverse.

Ower strong meat for your weak stamack.

Ower sune is easy mended.

Patch and lang sit, build and soon flit.

A slow and gradual rise is likely to prove a permanent one; but a
rapid or sudden one merely temporary; or, as the Irishman said, "Up
like a rocket, and down like its stick."

Paterson's mare aye goes foremost.

Pay-before-hand's never weel ser'd.

The tradesman is said to be troubled with two kinds of bad
customers, viz., those who pay in advance, or "before-hand," and
those who do not pay at all.

Pay him in his ain coin.

Pennyless souls maun pine in purgatory.

Penny-wheep's gude enough for muslin-kail.

"Penny-wheep," says Jamieson, "is the weakest kind of small beer,
sold at a _penny_ per bottle;" and muslin-kail is a common kind of
broth. The proverb expresses that poor service merits poor reward.

Peter's in, Paul's out.

"Spoken when, after we had wanted a necessary person a long time,
upon his arrival, another equally necessary is gone."--_Kelly._

Pigs may whistle, but they hae an ill mouth for't.

Applied when an awkward person is attempting to perform some work of
which he is incapable.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

Pint stoups hae lang lugs.

For a great deal is said over them, which, but for their influence,
would not be heard.

Pith's gude at a' play but threading o' needles.

Plack aboot's fair play.

Placks and bawbees grow pounds.

Plaister thick and some will stick.

Play carle wi' me again if you daur.

"Do not dare to offer to contest with me. Spoke by parents to
stubborn children."--_Kelly._

Play's gude while it's play.

Pleading at the law is like fighting through a whin bush--the harder the blows the sairer the scarts.

The knowledge that "whin bush" is the furze renders this saying
easily intelligible.

Please your kimmer, and ye'll easy guide your gossip.

Please yoursel and ye'll no dee o' the pet.

Plenty is nae plague.

Plenty maks dainty.

Poets and painters are aye poor.

This appears in no collection preceding Henderson's, and is probably
a record of his own experience and that of his friends, he being a
painter himself by profession, and on intimate terms with Motherwell
and others.

Poets and painters hae liberty to lo'e.

Poor folk are fain o' little.

Poor folk maun fit their wame to their winning.

Poor folk seek meat for their stamacks, and rich folk stamacks for their meat.

Poor folk's friends soon misken them.

Poortith pairts gude company.

Poortith's better than pride.

Poortith's pain, but nae disgrace.

Poortith taks awa pith.

"'I tell you, Master Moniplies,' said Jenkin, 'I am as poor as any
Scot among you. I have broken my indenture, and I think of running
the country.' 'A-well-a-day!' said Ritchie. 'But that maunna be,
man. I ken weel, by sad experience, that poortith takes away pith,
and the man sits full still that has a rent in his
breeks.'"--_Fortunes of Nigel._

Poortith wi' patience is less painfu'.

Possession's worth an ill charter.

Poverty's a bad back friend.

Praise without profit puts little i' the pat.

Prayer and practice is gude rhyme.

Pretty man, I maun say; tak a peat and sit down.

We are unable to make much either of this proverb or of Kelly's note
to it--"An ironical expression to a mean boy who would gladly be
esteemed."

Pride and grace ne'er dwell in ae place.

Pride an' sweer'dness need muckle uphaudin.

"Sweer'd," lazy or unwilling. Pride and laziness require much to
support them.

Pride finds nae cauld.

"Spoken heretofore to young women when, in compliance with the
fashion, they went with their breasts and shoulders bare; and may
now (1721) be applied to ladies with their extravagant
hoops."--_Kelly._

Pride ne'er leaves its maister till he get a fa'.

Pride prinks her brow for the deil to pouse.

That is, pride bedecks herself, and the devil despoils.

Pride's an ill horse to ride.

Pride that dines wi' vanity sups wi' contempt.

Pride will hae a fa'.

Provision in season maks a bien house.

Prudence should be winning when thrift is spinning.

Puddins and paramours should be hetly handled.

"Puddings when cold are uneatable; and love when coldrife is near
the breaking off."--_Kelly._

Put a coward to his mettle, and he'll fight the deil.

"A baited cat is as fierce as a lion."--_English._

Put anither man's bairn in your bosom, and he'll creep oot at your sleeve.

"That is, cherish or love him, he'll never be naturally affected
towards you."--_Ray._

Put nae force against the flail.

Put on your spurs and be at your speed.

Put twa pennies in a purse, and they'll creep thegither.

Put your finger in the fire, and say it was your fortune.

Spoken of a person who has wittingly placed himself in difficulties,
and who attributes his bad position to fortune.

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 God."--_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._

Quality without quantity 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 principally 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.

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 butter.

"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.

Rich folk's wit rives poor folk's jaws.

Rich mixture maks gude mortar.

Ride fair and jaup nane.

"Taken from riding through a puddle, but applied to too home
jesting."--_Kelly._

Right, Roger, sow's gude mutton.

A proverbial expression, meaning that a person is totally mistaken
about a matter.

Right wrangs nae man.

Ripe fruit is soonest rotten.

Rise when the day daws, bed when the night fa's.

Robin, that herds on the height, can be blithe as Sir Robert the Knight.

Rome wasna built in a day.

Rot him awa' wi' ham and eggs.

Rowan-tree and red thread mak the witches tine their speed.

These particular articles were formerly supposed to have a
controlling power over witches.

Royt lads may mak sober men.

To "royt" is to go about idly or dissolutely.

Rue and thyme grow baith in ae garden.

Rule youth weel, for eild will rule itsel'.

Ruse the fair day at e'en.

"Commend not a thing or a project till it has had its full
effect."--_Kelly._

"It is not good praising the ford till a man be over."--_English._

Ruse the ford as ye find it.

Speak only of things as your experience has found them.

Rusted wi' eild, a wee piece gate seems lang.

Literally, decayed by age, a short road seems a very long one.

Sae mony men, sae mony minds.

"Saft beddin's gude for sair banes," quo' Howie when he streekit himsel on the midden-head.

"Saft's your horn, my friend," quo' the man when he grippit the cuddy's lug.

"Sail," quo' the king: "Haud," quo' the wind.

Sair cravers are ill-payers.

"This proverb, and the reverse, viz., 'Ill payers are sore cravers,'
I have never yet seen fail."--_Kelly._

Sairs shouldna be sair handled.

That is, delicate or painful subjects should be cautiously alluded
to.

Sair wark and poortith downa weel be joined.

Sairy be your meal-pock, and aye your nieve i' the neuk o't.

An uncharitable saying, expressing literally a wish that the meal
bag may be empty when the hand is put in to take some.

"Saut," quo' the souter, when he had eaten a cow a' but the tail.

"Spoken to them that flag when they have almost finished a difficult
task."--_Kelly._

Save yoursel' frae the deil and the laird's bairns.

"A caution of poor people to their children, how they meddle with
their superiors; for, if they hurt the laird's bairns, they will be
sure to be punished, but, if hurt by them, they will get no
right."--_Kelly._

Saw thin, shear thin.

Saw wheat in dirt and rye in dust.

Saw ye that and shotna at it, and you sae gleg a gunner.

A satire upon a boaster who is telling of some extraordinary thing
which he pretends to have seen.

Say aye "No," and ye'll ne'er be married.

A jocular remark to a person who has refused something which has
been offered to him.

Saying gangs cheap.

"Talking pays nae toll."--_English._

Say weel and dae weel, end wi' ae letter: say weel is gude, but dae weel is better.

Say what you will, an ill mind will turn't to ill.

Scant-o'-grace hears lang preachings.

Or, at least, thinks them so.

Scanty cheeks mak a lang nose.

Scart-the-cog wad sup mair.

To "scart the cog" is to scrape the inside of the dish.

Scorn comes wi' skaith.

Scornfu' dogs eat dirty puddin's.

"'Hout, fye--hout, fye--all nonsense and pride,' said the Laird of
Summertrees, 'scornful dogs will eat dirty puddings, cousin Crosbie.
Ye little ken what some of your friends were obliged to do yon time
for a sowp of brose or a bit of bannock.'"--_Redgauntlet._

Scorn not the bush ye get beild frae.

Scotsmen aye reckon frae an ill hour.

Scotsmen aye tak their mark frae a mischief.

That is, always reckon from the date of some untoward event, such as
a death, an accident, or a fire.

See for love and buy for siller.

Seein's believin' a' the world ower.

Seek muckle, and get something; seek little, and get naething.

Seek till you find, and ye'll never lose your labour.

Seek your sa' where you got your ail, and beg your barm where you buy your ale.

The surly reply of a person who has been shunned for some trivial or
mistaken reason by one who is compelled by circumstances to apply to
him for information or assistance.

Seil ne'er comes till sorrow be awa.

Seldom ride tines his spurs.

Seldom seen, soon forgotten.

Self-praise comes aye stinking ben.

Self-praise is nae honour.

Sel, sel, has half-filled hell.

"Sel, sel," that is, the sin of selfishness.

Send a fool to France, and a fool he'll come back.

Send your gentle blude to the market, and see what it will buy.

A reproach upon those who boast of their gentle birth, but who
possess nothing of greater value.

Send your son to Ayr: if he do weel here, he'll do weel there.

Send you to the sea, and ye'll no get saut water.

"Spoken when people foolishly come short of their errand."--_Kelly._

Ser' yoursel', and your friends will think the mair o' ye.

An answer of those who are asked to do a favour when they would
rather not oblige.

Ser' yoursel' till your bairns come o' age.

Set a beggar on horseback, he'll ride to the deil.

Set a stout heart to a stey brae.

"Delay not,
And fray not,
And thou sall sie it say;
Sic gets ay,
That setts ay,
Stout stomaks to the brae."--_Cherrie and the Slae._

Set a thief to grip a thief.

Set him up and shute him forward.

"'A lord!' ejaculated the astonished Mrs Dods: 'a lord come down to
the Waal!--they will be neither to haud nor to bind now--ance wud
and aye waur--a lord!--set them up and shute them forward--a
lord!--the Lord have a care o' us!--a lord at the hottle! Maister
Touchwood, it's my mind he will only prove to be a Lord o'
Session.'"--_St Ronan's Well._

Set that doun on the backside o' your count-book.

That is, I have done you a service, see that you repay it.

Set your foot upon that, an' it winna loup in your face.

Shallow waters mak maist din.

"Shame fa' the couple," as the cow said to her fore feet.

Shame fa' the dog that, when he hunted you, didna gar you rin faster.

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 tither 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 lichtit 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 butter 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 dinket 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.

Shored 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.

Sic as ye gie, sic will you get.

Sic faither, sic son.

Sic reek as is therein comes out o' the lum.

Sic things maun be if we sell ale.

"This was the good woman's reply to her husband when he complained
of the exciseman's too demonstrative gallantry."--_W. K. Kelly._

Silence and thought hurt nae man.

Silence grips the mouse.

Silly bairns are eith to lear.

Sins and debts are aye mair than we think them.

Sit down and rest you, and tell us how they drest you, and how you wan awa.

A jocular way of asking a person about people whom he has been to
see.

Sit on your seat, and nane will rise you.

"Sit in your place, and none can make you rise."--_English._

Skill is nae burden.

Slander leaves a sair behint.

Slighted love is sair to bide.

Slipshod's no for a frozen road.

Slow at meat, slow at wark.

A reverse of this saying is common to many countries--"Quick at
meat, quick at work."

Sma' fish are better than nane.

Sma' winnings mak a heavy purse.

Smooth water rins deep.

"Tweed said to Till,
'What gars ye rin sae still?'
Till said to Tweed,
'Though ye rin sae wi' speed,
And I rin slaw,
Where ye drown ae man,
I drown twa.'"--_Berwickshire Rhyme._

Sober, neighbour! The night's but young yet.

A remonstrance with a person who is doing a thing too hurriedly,
signifying that there is plenty of time to spare for the purpose.

Sodgers, fire, and water soon mak room for themsels.

Some ane has tauld her she was bonny.

Some are gey drouthy, but ye're aye moistified.

An insinuation that a person is very much addicted to tippling.
"'Moistify,' a low word, generally used in a ludicrous sense in
regard to topers."--_Jamieson._

Some are only daft, but ye're red-wud raving.

Somebody may come to kame your hair wi' a cutty stool.

"Spoken by mothers to stubborn daughters, intimating they will come
under the hands of a stepmother, who, it is likely, will not deal
too tenderly with them."--_Kelly._

Some can stand the sword better than the pintstoup.

Some folk look up, and ithers look down.

And, we presume, the proverb would have the reader to understand
they prosper or fail accordingly.

Some fork low, but ye fork ower the mow.

That is, some people do not do their work sufficiently, but you
overdo it.

Some hae a hantel o' fauts, ye're only a ne'er-do-weel.

Some, though very bad, still have some redeeming qualities; the
party addressed has none.

Some hae hap, and some stick i' the gap.

Meaning that some have and some have not good fortune.

Some hae little sense, but ye're aye haverin'.

Some show a gliff o' the gowk, but ye're aye goavin.

To "show a gliff of the gowk" is to behave foolishly.

Some strake the measure o' justice, but ye gie't heapit.

Some tak a', but ye leave naething.

Some that hae least to dree are loudest wi' "waes me."

"Those who are least hurt cry loudest."--_English._

"So on and accordingly," quo' Willie Baird's doggie.

Soon enough if well enough.

Soon enough to cry "Chuck" when it's out o' the shell.

Soon gotten, soon spent.

Soon ripe, soon rotten.

"Soor plooms," quo' the tod when he couldna climb the tree.

Sorrow an' ill weather come unca'd.

Sorrow be on your hands that held sae well to your head.

An imprecation on a person who has surpassed another in an
undertaking.

Sorrow is soon enough when it comes.

Sorrow shake you out o' the wabster's handiwark.

Literally, sorrow shake you out of your clothes.

Sorrow's sib to a' body.

Souters and tailors count hours.

That is, tradesmen and commercial persons are aware of the value of
time.

Souters shouldna gae ayont their last.

Spare at the spigot, and let out at the bunghole.

"Spoken to them who are careful and penurious in some trifling
things, but neglective in the main chance."--_Kelly._

Spare to speak, spare to speed.

Spare weel and hae weel.

Spare when ye're young, and spend when ye're auld.

Speak gude of pipers, your faither was a fiddler.

Speak o' the deil and he'll appear.

Jocularly applied to a person who approaches those who have just
been inquiring for him.

Speak when ye're spoken to, and drink when ye're drucken to.

Speak when ye're spoken to, do what ye're bidden, come when ye're ca'd, an' ye'll no be chidden.

A sharp remark to those who join in the conversation of others
unsolicited or impertinently.

Speir at Jock Thief if I be a leal man.

Spoken by rogues, who, when their respectability is questioned,
refer to persons equally bad.

"Ask my comrade, who is as great a liar as myself."--_French._

Spend, and God will send; spare, and be bare.

Spilt ale is waur than water.

Spit in your loof and haud fast.

This means, simply, take a firm hold of a thing.

Spit on a stane and it will be wat at last.

Stable the steed, and put your wife to bed when there's night wark to do.

"'Am I no gaun to the ploy, then?' said Maggie, in a disappointed
tone. 'And what for should ye?' said her lord and master; 'to dance
a' night, I'se warrant, and no to be fit to walk your tae's-length
the morn, and we have ten Scots miles afore us? Na, na. Stable the
steed, and pit your wife to bed when there's night wark to
do.'"--_Redgauntlet._

Standers-by see mair than gamesters.

Staunin' dubs gather dirt.

"Standing pools gather filth."--_English._

Stay and drink o' your ain browst.

"Take a share of the mischief that you have occasioned."--_Kelly._

"But gae your wa's, Bessie, tak on ye,
And see wha'll tak care o' ye now;
E'en gae wi' the Bogle, my bonnie--
It's a browst your ain daffery did brew."--_Old Ballad._

Stay nae langer in a friend's house than ye're welcome.

Step by step climbs the hill.

Stickin' gangsna by strength, but by the right use o' the gully.

Stretching and gaunting bodes sleep to be wanting.

Strike as ye feed, and that's but soberly.

Strike the iron while it's hot.

Stuffing hauds out storms.

"Advising men to take some good thing before they travel in a bad
day."--_Kelly._

Sturt pays nae debt.