man--It's a bauld moon, quo' Bennygask--Anither pint, quo'
Lesley;--we'll no start for anither chappin.'"--_Rob Roy._
It's a cauld stamach that naething hets on.
It's dry tale that disna end in a drink.
It's a far cry to Lochow.
That any speaking or application is useless. The person addressed
either will not or cannot hear.
It's a friend that ruses you.
It's a gude goose that draps aye.
It's a gude maut that comes wi' will.
It's a gude poor man's blade; it will bend ere it break.
"Spoken of an ill-tempered knife, that will stand as it is bent, or
the like."--_Kelly._
It's a gude tongue that says nae ill, but a better heart that thinks
nane.
It's a gude tree that has neither knap nor gaw.
That is, a good thing that is without fault.
It's a gude enough warld if it haud.
A jocular reply to those who complain that this world is a "weary"
one.
It's a gude warld, but it's ill divided.
"It's hardly in a body's pow'r
To keep at times frae being sour,
To see how things are shar'd,--
How best o' chiels are whiles in want,
While coofs on countless thousands rant,
And kenna how to wair't."--_Burns._
It's a gude warld, but they're ill that are in't.
It's a gude wood that hath ne'er a withered branch in it.
It's a lamb at the up-takin', but an auld sheep or ye get it aff.
In allusion to the unconscious contraction of bad habits.
It's an ill bargain where nane wins.
It's an ill bird that files its ain nest.
"Where's the use o' vilifying ane's country, and bringing a
discredit on ane's kin, before Southrens and strangers? It's an ill
bird that files its ain nest."--_Rob Roy._
It's an ill cause that the lawyer thinks shame o'.
It's an ill fight where he that wins has the warst o't.
It's an ill kitchen that keeps the bread awa.
Or an ill master that starves his servants.
It's an ill pack that's no worth the custom.
It's an ill thow that comes frae the north.
It's an ill turn that patience winna owercome.
It's an ill wind that blaws naebody gude.
It's a' outs an' ins, like Willie Wood's wife's wame.
It's a pity fair weather should e'er do harm.
It's a poor tongue that canna tell its ain name.
"'Nane o' your deil's play-books for me,' said Lucky Dods; 'it's an
ill world since sic prick-my-dainty doings came into fashion. It's a
poor tongue that canna tell its ain name, and I'll hae nane o' your
scarts upon pasteboard.'"--_St Ronan's Well._
It's a poor world that winna gie a bit and a brat.
It's a rare thing for siller to lack a maister.
It's a sair dung bairn that mayna greet.
It's a sair field where a's dung down.
It's a sair time when the mouse looks out o' the meal barrel wi' a tear
in its ee.
It's a sairy collop that's ta'en aff a chicken.
It's a sairy flock where the ewie bears the bell.
That is, a "sairy," uncomfortable, or poor house where the wife
commands, "though," as Kelly slily remarks, "there are some such
houses in the world."
It's a sairy mouse that has but ae hole.
It's a shame to eat the cow an' worry on the tail.
To "eat the cow," &c., is to overlook very great faults, and make a
severe example of a trifling one.
It's a silly hen that canna scrape for ae bird.
It's a sin to lee on the deil.
It's a sma' sheil that gies nae shelter.
It's as plain as a pike staff.
"Na, na, gudeman, ye needna be sae mim; every body kens, and I ken
too, that ye're ettling at the magistracy. It's as plain as a pike
staff, gudeman, and I'll no let ye rest if ye dinna mak me a
bailie's wife or a' be done."--_The Provost._
It's a sooth dream that's seen waking.
It's a sour reek when the gudewife dings the gudeman.
"A man in my country coming out of his house with tears on his
cheeks, was asked the occasion; he said, 'There was a sour reek in
the house;' but, upon further inquiry, it was found that his wife
had beaten him."--_Kelly._
It's a staunch house that there's never a drap in.
It's as true as Biglam's cat crew, and the cock rock'd the cradle.
It's a thrawn-fac'd wean that's gotten against the father's will.
It's a' tint that's done to auld folk an' bairns.
"It's aye gude to be ceevil," quo' the auld wife when she beckit to the
deevil.
A dying Spaniard was being exhorted by his confessor, who told him
that the wicked were sent to hell and subjected to all manner of
torments by the devil. "I hope," said the Spaniard, "my lord the
devil is not so cruel." His confessor reproved the levity of the
wish. "Excuse me," said the Don, "I know not into whose hands I may
fall; and if I happen to fall into his, I hope he will use me the
better for giving him good words."
It's best travelling wi' a horse in your hand.
Simply, that it is better to travel on horseback than on foot.
It's better sheltering under an auld hedge than under a new planted
wood.
It's better to drag soon than draw late.
"Signifying that it is preferable to use strong measures in proper
season, than such as are more feeble when it is too
late."--_Jamieson._
It's better to sup wi' a cutty than want a spoon.
It's but a year sooner to the begging.
"Facetiously spoken when we design to be at a little more expense
than we thought."--_Kelly._
It's but kindly that the pock savour of the herring.
Literally, it is but natural that the bag should bear traces of what
it has contained.
It's by the mouth o' the cow that the milk comes.
According to the meat given, or means employed, is the quality of
milk, or the result obtained.
It's clean about the wren's door when there's nought within.
It's dear coft honey that's licked aff a thorn.
It's drink will you, but no drink shall you.
That is, a person's hospitality is not very warm. For courtesy's
sake he offers refreshments, but does not press them.
It's easier to big lums than keep them reeking.
It's easier to forgie than to forget.
It serves naething to strive wi' cripples.
"'Aweel, aweel,' said Hobbie, mounting his horse, 'it serves
naething to strive wi' cripples,--they are aye cankered; but I'll
just tell you ae thing, neighbour, that if things be otherwise than
weel wi' Grace Armstrong, I'se gie you a scouther if there be a tar
barrel in the five parishes.'"--_The Black Dwarf._
It sets a haggis to be roasted.
It sets you weel to gab wi' your bannet on.
It's far to seek an' ill to find.
It's folly to live poor to dee rich.
It's gane the thing I lo'ed you for.
It's God that feeds the craws, that neither till, harrow, nor saw.
It's growing to the grund, like a stirk's tail.
Meaning that a person, or project, is not progressing favourably.
It's gude baking beside the meal.
It's gude fighting under a buckler.
It's gude fishing in drumly waters.
It's gude fish when it's gripp'd.
It's gude game that fills the wame.
It's gude gear that pleases the merchant.
It's gude sleeping in a hale skin.
It's gude to begin weel, but better to end weel.
It's gude to be in your time; ye kenna how lang it may last.
"It's gude to be merry and wise," quo' the miller when he mouter'd
twice.
The miller must have been more rogue than fool when he thus took
advantage of his customers, for to "mouter," as he did, is to take
the fees twice over.
It's gude to be out o' harm's gate.
It's gude to be sib to siller.
To be "sib to siller," is to be related to rich persons.
It's gude to dread the warst, the best will be the welcomer.
"Expect the worst, hope for the best, and bear whatever
happens."--_English._
It's gude to hae friends baith in heaven and in hell.
It's gude to hae your cog out when it rains kail.
That is, it is good to take advantage of any opportunities of
benefit or advancement which may come in our way: to "make hay while
the sun shines."
It's gude to nip the briar in the bud.
It's hard baith to hae and want.
It's hard for a greedy ee to hae a leal heart.
Or for a covetous person to be honest.
It's hard for an auld mare to leave aff flinging.
It's hard to be poor and leal.
It's hard to keep flax frae the lowe.
It's hard to sit in Rome and strive wi' the pope.
It's ill ale that's sour when it's new.
It's ill baith to pay and to pray.
It's ill bringing but what's no ben.
The meaning of this proverb is, that it is ill to produce what we
are not possessed of.
"'Swith roast a hen, or fry some chickens,
And send for ale to Maggy Pickens,'--
'Hout I,' quoth she, 'ye may weel ken,
'Tis ill brought but that's no there ben;
When but last owk, nae farder gane,
The laird got a' to pay his kain.'"--_Allan Ramsay._
It's ill limping before cripples.
It's ill meddling between the bark and the rind.
"It is a troublesome and thankless office to concern ourselves in
the jars and outfalls of near relations, as man and wife, parents
and children, &c."--_Kelly._
It's ill praising green barley.
Because it is hard to tell how it will turn out.
It's ill speaking between a fu' man and a fasting.
"I have been waiting this hour for you, and I have had a snack
myself; and, as they used to say in Scotland in my time--I do not
ken if the word be used now--there is ill talking between a full
body and a fasting."--_Heart of Midlothian._
It's ill taking corn frae geese.
It's ill to be ca'd a thief, an' aye found picking.
"It is ill to have a bad name, and to be often found in a suspicious
place or posture."--_Kelly._
It's ill to mak an unlawful oath, but waur to keep it.
It's ill to put a blythe face on a black heart.
It's ill to quarrel wi' a misrid warld.
It's ill to say it's wrang when my lord says it's right.
It is ill or dangerous to speak against those who are in authority.
It's ill to tak the breeks aff a Hielandman.
Highlanders proper wear none, so it means it is difficult to take
from a person that which he does not possess.
It's ill waur'd that wasters want.
It's kittle for the cheeks when the hurlbarrow gaes ower the brig o' the
nose.
It's kittle shooting at corbies and clergy.
"As for your priesthood, I shall say but little,
Corbies and clergy are a shot right kittle;
But under favour o' your langer beard,
Abuse o' magistrates might weel be spared."--_Burns._
It's kittle to wauken sleeping dogs.
It's lang ere ye saddle a foal.
It's lang or four bare legs gather heat in a bed.
Applied to young people who get married before they have all that is
necessary for housekeeping.
"It's comfort to hae a frugal woman for a helpmate; but ye ken
now-a-days it's no the fashion for bare legs to come thegether. The
wife maun hae something to put in the pot as weel as the man."--_The
Entail._
It's lang or Like-to-dee fills the kirkyaird.
Spoken of those who are always complaining how ill they are, and
likely to die; but who, nevertheless, generally contrive to live as
long as other people.
It's lang or the deil dees at the dike side.
That is, it will be long ere we hear of the removal or death of a
particular person who is a cause of annoyance to us.
It's lang or ye need cry "Schew!" to an egg.
It's lang to Lammas.
"Spoken in jest when we forget to lay down bread at the table, as if
we had done it designedly, because it will be long ere new bread
come."--_Kelly._
It's like Truffy's courtship, short but pithy.
It's little o' God's might that makes a poor man a knight.
It's muckle gars tailors laugh, but souters girn aye.
It's nae laughing to girn in a widdy.
To "girn in a widdy" is to laugh or girn when a halter is round the
neck--meaning that it is no joke to be placed in a difficult or
dangerous position.
It's nae play when ane laughs and anither greets.
It's nae shift to want.
It's nae sin to tak a gude price, but in gieing ill measure.
It's nae mair ferlie to see a woman greet than to see a goose gang
barefit.
"Mattie had ill will to see me set awa on this ride, and grat awee,
the silly tawpie; but it's nae mair ferlie to see a woman greet than
to see a goose gang barefit."--_Rob Roy._
It's nae wonder wasters want and lathrons lag behint.
It's needless pouring water on a drowned mouse.
It's neither a far road nor a foul gate.
It's neither here nor there, nor yet ayont the water.
It's neither rhyme nor reason.
It's no aye gude i' the maw what's sweet i' the mouth.
It's no easy to straucht in the oak the crook that grew in the sapling.
It's no for nought that the gled whistles.
"'I think,' said John Gudyill, while he busied himself in
re-charging his guns, 'they hae fund the falcon's neb a bit ower
hard for them--it's no for nought that the hawk whistles.'"--_Old
Mortality._
It's no lost what a friend gets.
It's no safe wading in unco waters.
It's no the burden, but the owerburden, that kills the beast.
It's no the cowl that maks the friar.
It's no the gear to traike.
"'Wha kens what would be the upshot o' a second marriage?'
"'That's looking far ben,' replied the laird; 'my wife, to be sure,
is a frail woman, but she's no the gear that 'ill traike.'"--_The
Entail._
It's no the rumblin' cart that fa's first ower the brae.
It is not the oldest or most likely person that dies first.
It's no tint that comes at last.
It's no "What is she?" but "What has she?"
It's no what we hae, but what we do wi' what we hae, that counts in
heaven.
It's ower far between the kitchen an' the ha'.
It's ower late to lout when the head's got a clout.
"It is too late to throw water on the cinders when the house is
burnt down."--_Danish._
It's ower late to spare when the back's bare.
It's ower weel hoardet that canna be found.
It's past joking when the head's aff.
It's sair to haud drink frae drouth.
It spreads like muirburn.
"Muirburn," furze on fire. Said of ill news.
It's stinking praise comes out o' ane's ain mouth.
It stinks like a brock.
"Our gentry care sae little
For delvers, ditchers, and sic cattle;
They gang as saucy by poor folk,
As I would by a stinking brock."--_Burns._
It's the barley pickle breaks the naig's back.
It's the best feather in your wing.
It's the best spoke in your wheel.
It's the laird's commands, an' the loon maun loup.
Orders from those in authority, no matter how ridiculous or
unreasonable, must be obeyed. "There's nae bailie-courts among
them.... But it's just the laird's command, and the loon maun loup;
and the never anither law hae they but the length o' their
dirks."--_Rob Roy._
It's the life o' an auld hat to be weel cocket.
It's the wanton steed that scaurs at the windlestrae.
"Ghaist! my certie, I shall ghaist them--if they had their heads as
muckle on their wark as on their daffing they wad play na sic
pliskies--it's the wanton steed that scaurs at the windlestrae.
Ghaists! wha e'er heard of ghaists in an honest house!"--_St Ronan's
Well._
It's the waur o' the wear.
It's time enough to mak my bed when I'm gaun to lie down.
It's time enough to skreigh when ye're strucken.
It's weak i' the wow, like Barr's cat.
It's weel that our fauts are no written in our face.
It's weel won that's aff the wame.
Or well saved that is won from the belly.
It was but their claes that cast out.
"That is, the quarrel was not real, but only with design, in order
to accomplish some end."--_Kelly._
It was my luck, my leddy, and I canna get by it.
It wasna for naething that the cat licket the stane.
It were a pity to put a foul hand on't.
It were a pity to refuse ye, ye seek sae little.
It will aye be a dirty dub between them.
"A dirty dub," a puddle of foul water. That is, it will always be a
cause of contention between them.
It will be a feather in your cap.
It will be a feather out o' your wing.
It will be a het day gars you startle.
It will be an ill web to bleach.
It will be lang ere you wear to the knee lids.
It will be the last word o' his testament.
That is, he will delay doing a thing as long as possible.
It will come out yet, like hommel corn.
"Hommel corn," grain that has no beard. The meaning of the proverb
is, that on account of particular circumstances, a certain result
may be expected in due time.
It will haud out an honest man, but naething 'll haud out a rogue.
It will mak a braw show in a landward kirk.
Spoken when a person is asked to give an opinion of something which
is considered vulgar--that a gaudy article of dress will look well
in a country church--but only there.
It would be a hard task to follow a black dockit sow through a burnt
muir this night.
It would be a pity to hae spoilt twa houses wi' them.
"Spoken when two ill-natured people are married."--_Kelly._
It would do a blind man gude to see't.
I will add a stane to his cairn.
A "cairn" is a heap of stones thrown together in a conical form to
mark the grave, or in memory, of a person. To add a stone may mean,
proverbially, that a person will bear testimony to the good
qualities of another.
"I winna mak a toil o' a pleasure," quo' the man when he buried his
wife.
"A man going under his wife's head to the grave was bid go faster,
because the way was long and the day short; answered, 'I will not
make a toil of a pleasure.'"--_Kelly._
I wat weel how the world wags; he's best lik'd wha has maist bags.
I winna mak fish o' ane an' flesh o' anither.
I will favour no one, but will treat all alike.
I wish I had a string in his lug.
I wish it may be the first sight ye'll see.
An expression used when a person is telling that he has received a
promise of something welcome--it may be payment of an outstanding
account.
I wish you had brose to lay the hair o' your beard.
I wish you had wist what you said.
I wish you may hae as muckle Scotch as tak you to your bed.
"Spoken when our companions, beginning to take with the drink,
begin to speak Latin, ... believing that by and by they will be at
that pass that they will be able to speak no language."--_Kelly._
I wish you may lamb in your lair, as mony a good ewe has done.
I wish you readier meat than a rinnin' hare.
I wish you the gude o't that the dogs get o' grass.
I wish you were able, e'en though you didna do't.
I wish you were laird o' your word.
I would as soon see your nose cheese and the cat get the first bite o't.
I would hae something to look at on Sunday.
The reply of a man who is asked of what use a wife would be to him.
I wouldna be deaved wi' your keckling for a' your eggs.
That is, your services do not compensate for the annoyance you
cause.
I wouldna ca' the king my cousin.
Expressive of contentment.
I wouldna fodder you for a' your muck.
Of similar import to "I wouldna be deaved," &c.
I wouldna hae kent ye if I had met ye in my parritch.
A phrase to express that a person whom you had not seen for a long
time had so much altered in appearance as to be scarcely
recognisable.
I would rather see't than hear tell o't, as blind Pate said.
I would sooner be your Bible than your horse.
A jocular allusion to the fact that a person neglects the one, but
overworks the other.
I would sooner gae by his door than ower his grave.
"Nothing but a wish that our sick friend may recover."--_Kelly._
I would sooner hear the lark sing than the mouse cheep.
Or abroad early in the morning than late at night.
I would sooner my bannock burn than that you should turn't.
That is, I would rather allow an article to spoil than be indebted
to you for assistance in keeping it right.
I would sooner see ye fleipeyed, like a French cat.
"A disdainful rejection of an unworthy proposal; spoken by bold
maids to the vile offers of young fellows."--_Kelly._
[Illustration]
Jeddart justice--first hang a man, syne try him.
"According to Crawford, in his Memoirs, the phrase _Jedburgh
justice_ took its rise in 1574, on the occasion of the Regent Morton
there and then trying and condemning, with cruel precipitation, a
vast number of people who had offended against the laws, or against
the supreme cause of his lordship's faction. A different origin is
assigned by the people. Upon the occasion, say they, of nearly
twenty criminals being tried for one offence, the jury were equally
divided in opinion as to a verdict, when one who had been asleep
during the whole trial suddenly awoke, and, being interrogated for
his vote, vociferated, 'Hang them a'!'
"The English phrase 'Lidford Law,' commemorated by Grose, bears the
same signification."--_Robert Chambers._
Jock's a mislear'd imp, but ye're a run deil.
That is, "Jock," although very mischievous, is a quiet and
well-behaved person compared to you.
Joke at leisure; ye kenna wha may jibe yoursel.
Jouk, and let the jaw gang by.
Literally, stoop, and let the rush of water go over your head;
meaning, yield to adverse circumstances, and their effects will pass
away.
"Just as it fa's," quo' the wooer to the maid.
"A courtier went to woo a maid: she was dressing supper with a drop
at her nose. She asked him if he would stay all night; he answered,
'Just as it falls:' meaning, if the drop fell among the meat, he
would be off; if it fell by, he would stay."--_Kelly._
Just enough and nae mair, like Janet Howie's shearer's meat.
Just, father, just; three half-crowns mak five shillings; gie me the
money and I'll pay the man.
[Illustration]
Kail hains bread.
Kame sindle, kame sair.
If the hair is seldom combed it soon becomes a difficult and painful
operation to perform. Proverbially applied when simple but necessary
matters of business are neglected to such an extent that they become
troublesome.
Kamesters are aye creeshy.
"Kamesters," or wool-combers, are always greasy. People are always
like their work.
Katie Sweerock, frae where she sat, cried, "Reik me this, and reik me
that."
"Applied to lazy people, who ask others to do this or that for them
which they ought to do for themselves."--_Kelly._
Keek in the stoup was ne'er a gude fellow.
"Spoken when one peeps into the pot to see if the liquor be out;
whereas a jolly good fellow should drink about, and when the pot's
empty call for more."--_Kelly._
Keep a calm sough.
That is, keep your own counsel on matters of danger or delicacy.
"'Thir kittle times will drive the wisest o' us daft,' said Neil
Blane, the prudent host of the Howff; 'but I'se aye keep a calm
sough.'"--_Old Mortality._
Keep aff and gie fair words.
Or promise much, but perform little.
"The assets he carried off are of nae mair use to him than if he
were to light his pipe wi' them. He tried if MacVittie & Co. wad gie
him siller on them--that I ken by Andro Wylie; but they were ower
auld cats to draw that strae afore them--they keepit aff and gae
fair words."--_Rob Roy._
Keep a thing seven years, and ye'll find a use for't.
Keep gude company, and ye'll be counted ane o' them.
Keep hame, and hame will keep you.
Keep out o' his company that cracks o' his cheatery.
Shun the company of him who boasts of his cunning.
Keep something for a sair fit.
"Keep something for a rainy day."--_English._
Keep the feast till the feast day.
Keep the head and feet warm, and the rest will tak nae harm.
Keep the staff in your ain hand.
Keep woo, and it will be dirt; keep lint, and it will be silk.
"Lint mellows and improves by keeping, but wool rots."--_Kelly._
Keep your ain fish-guts to your ain sea-maws.
"'Why, Mrs Heukbane,' said the woman of letters, pursing up her
mouth, 'ye ken my gudeman likes to ride the expresses himsel--we
maun gie our ain fish-guts to our ain sea-maws--it's a red
half-guinea to him every time he munts his mear.'"--_The Antiquary._
Keep your ain cart-grease for your ain cart-wheels.
Of similar meaning to the preceding proverb.
Keep your breath to cool your parritch.
Applied to people who are angry without cause, or exercising undue
authority.
"The only wiselike thing I heard ony body say, was decent Mr John
Kirk of Kirk-knowe, and he wussed them just to get the king's mercy,
and nae mair about it. But he spak to unreasonable folk--he might
just hae keepit his breath to hae blawn on his porridge."--_Heart of
Midlothian._
Keep your gab steekit when ye kenna your company.
Be silent or cautious in speaking when in the company of strangers.
Keep your kiln-dried taunts for your mouldy hair'd maidens.
"A disdainful return to those who are too liberal with their
taunts."--_Kelly._
Keep your mocks till ye're married.
Keep your mouth shut and your een open.
Keep your tongue a prisoner, and your body will gang free.
Keep your tongue within your teeth.
Kenn'd folk's nae company.
Ken when to spend and when to spare, and ye needna be busy, and ye'll
ne'er be bare.
Ken yoursel, and your neighbour winna misken you.
Kindle a candle at baith ends, and it'll soon be done.
Kindness comes o' will; it canna be coft.
Kindness is like cress-seed, it grows fast.
Kindness will creep where it canna gang.
Kings and bears aft worry their keepers.
"Witness the tragical end of many courtiers."--_Kelly._
Kings are kittle cattle to shoe behint.
"'Kittill to scho behind,' not to be depended on; not worthy of
trust."--_Jamieson._
King's cheese gaes half away in parings.
For a greater part of the income is absorbed in the expenses of
collecting it.
King's cauff's worth ither folk's corn.