The Proverbs of Scotland - Alexander Hislop

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      A wise man gets learning frae them that hae nane o' their ain.

      A wise man wavers, a fool is fixed.

      A woman's gude either for something or naething.

      A word is enough to the wise.

      A working mither maks a daw dochter.

      Another rendering of "A light-heeled mother," &c.

      Aye as ye thrive your feet fa's frae ye.

      "Unexpected interruptions occur in business."—Kelly.

      "The farther you go, the farther behind."—English.

      Aye flether away;—since I'll no do wi' foul play, try me wi' fair.

      A yeld sow was never gude to gryces.

      This more expressive than elegant proverb means that those people who have no family of their own are rarely inclined to be kind to the children of others.

      Aye takin' out o' the meal pock and ne'er puttin' in't soon comes to the bottom.

      Aye tak the fee when the tear's in the ee.

      Aye to eild, but never to wit.

      That is, he is always growing older, but never any wiser.

      A' you rin you win.

      "Taken from playing at bowls: applied to endeavours about a project that seems not feasible, where what you can make is clear gain."—Kelly.

      A Yule feast may be done at Pasche.

      achelors' wives and auld maids' bairns are aye weel bred.

      Bad legs and ill wives should stay at hame.

      Bairns are certain care, but nae sure joy.

      Bairns speak i' the field what they hear i' the ha'.

      Baith weal and woe come aye wi' world's gear.

      "'And I positively must not ask you how you have come by all this money?' said the clergyman. … 'Is it anything that distresses your own mind?' 'There is baith weal and woe come wi' warld's gear, Reuben: but ye maun ask me naething mair.—This siller binds me to naething, and can never be speered back again.'"—Heart of Midlothian.

      Baked bread and brown ale winna bide lang.

      Bannocks are better than nae bread.

      "Half a loaf is better than no bread."—English.

      Barefooted folk shouldna tread on thorns.

      "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones."—English.

      Bare gentry, bragging beggars.

      Bare words mak nae bargain.

      Bastard brood are aye proud.

      Be a friend to yoursel, and others will.

      Bear and forbear is gude philosophy.

      Bear wealth weel, poortith will bear itsel.

      Beauty, but bounty's but bauch.

      Beauty is but skin deep.

      Beauty's muck when honour's tint.

      Beauty is worthless when honour is lost.

      Be aye the thing you would be ca'd.

      "Because" is a woman's reason.

      "I have no other but a woman's reason: I think him so, because I think him so."—Shakespeare.

      Beds are best, quo' the man to his guest.

      We presume he said so on the score of economy, i.e., to evade supplying supper.

      Beefsteaks and porter are gude belly mortar.

      Bees that hae honey in their mouths hae stings in their tails.

      Before an ill wife be gude, even if she was a' turned to tongue.

      Before, I ween'd; but now, I wat.

      Before, I only suspected; now, I am certain. "Spoken on the full discovery of some malefice, which before we only suspected."—Kelly.

      Before the deil gaes blind, and he's no blear e'ed yet.

      Before ye choose a friend, eat a peck o' saut wi' him.

      Be gaun, the gate's before you.

      Be going, the road lies before you. A jocose or surly hint to go.

      Beg frae beggars and you'll ne'er be rich.

      Beggars breed, and rich men feed.

      Beggars downa bide wealth.

      Beggars shouldna be choosers.

      Begin wi' needles and preens, and end wi' horn'd nowte.

      That is, beginnings apparently trifling may lead to very great results. Used here as a caution against dishonesty.

      Be it better, be it worse, be ruled by him that has the purse.

      Be it sae, is nae banning.

      Used in yielding a point in dispute because you are either unwilling or unable to argue further; but also indicating that you do not admit yourself to be in the wrong.

      Be lang sick, that ye may be soon hale.

      Believe a' ye hear, an' ye may eat a' ye see.

      Belyve is twa hours and a half.

      A jocular allusion to the fact that if a person says he will be back, or done with anything "belyve," that is, immediately, or in a little, the probability is he will be longer than expected.

      Be ready wi' your bonnet, but slow wi' your purse.

      Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing him.

      Best to be off wi' the auld love before we be on wi' the new.

      Be thou weel, or be thou wae, yet thou wilt not aye be sae.

      Better a bit in the morning than a fast a' day.

      Better a clout in than a hole out.

      That is, a patched garment is better than one with holes in it.

      Better a dog fawn on you than bark at you.

      Better ae e'e than a' blind.

      Better ae wit bought than twa for nought.

      Better a finger aff as aye wagging.

      "The first night is aye the warst o't. I hae never heard o' ane that sleepit the night afore the trial, but of mony a ane that sleepit as sound as a tap the night before their necks were straughted. And it's nae wonder—the warst may be tholed when it's kend: Better a finger aff as aye wagging."—Heart of Midlothian.

      Better a fremit friend than a friend fremit.

      Better have a stranger for your friend than a friend turned stranger.

      Better a gude fame than a fine face.

      Better alane than in ill company.

      Better a laying hen than a lying crown.

      Better a lean horse than a toom halter.

      Better a poor horse than no horse at all.

      Better a mouse in the pat than nae flesh.

      Better an auld man's darling than a young man's warling.

      "Used as an argument to induce a young girl to marry an old man, to the doing of which no argument should prevail."—Kelly.

      Better an

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