The Proverbs of Scotland - Alexander Hislop

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      "Diogenes is said to have thought that the best wine which cost him nothing."—Kelly.

      Bourdna wi' bawty lest he bite ye.

      Bourdna wi' my e'e nor wi' mine honour.

      Do not jest or trifle with subjects of delicacy, character, &c.

      Bread and cheese is gude to eat when folk can get nae ither meat.

      Bread and milk is bairns' meat: I wish them sorrow that loe it.

      Bread's house skail'd never.

      A full or hospitable house never wants visitors.

      Break my head and syne draw on my how.

      Breeding wives are aye beddie.

      Bridal feasts are soon forgotten.

      Broken bread maks batet bairns.

      Broken friendships may be souther'd, but never sound.

      Burnt bairns dread the fire.

      Busy folk are aye meddling.

      But middlin' bonny, like Boles' gudemither.

      Butter and burn trouts are kittle meat for maidens.

      Butter's king o' a' creesh.

      Butter to butter's nae kitchen.

      Like to like is no improvement or relish.

      Buy a thief frae the widdie and he'll help to hang ye.

      "Save a rogue from the gallows, and he will hang you up."—French.

      Buy friendship wi' presents, and it will be bought frae you.

      Buy in the market and sell at hame.

      Buy what you dinna want and ye'll sell what you canna spare.

      By chance a cripple may grip a hare.

      By doing naething we learn to do ill.

      a' a cow to the ha' and she'll rin to the byre.

      "Set a frog on a golden stool;

       Off it goes again to the pool."

      —German.

      Ca' again: you're no a ghaist.

      An intimation that your visits are agreeable.

      Ca' canny and flee laigh.

      Ca' canny, and ye'll break nae graith.

      Literally, drive slowly, and you will not overstrain the harness.

      Ca' canny, lad, ye're but a new-come cooper.

      A caution to those who are new or inexpert at an occupation—a hint that more experience or information is desirable.

      Cadgers are aye cracking o' creels.

      Cadgers hae aye mind of lade saddles.

      The conversation of most men turns more or less on their own business.

      Caff and draff is gude eneuch for aivers.

      Chaff and draff, i.e., brewers' grains, are good enough for horses. Common food suits common people.

      Can do is easily carried.

      "At this moment the door opened, and the voice of the officious Andrew was heard—'A'm bringin' in the caunles—ye can light them gin ye like—can do is easily carried about wi' ane.'"—Rob Roy.

      Ca'ing names breaks nae banes.

      "Sticks and stanes 'll break my banes,

       But names will never hurt me."

      —Schoolboy Rhyme.

      Ca' me what ye like, but dinna ca' me ower.

      Canna has nae craft.

      To an unwilling person, or one who will not learn, instruction is of little or no use.

      Canny stretch, soon reach.

      Care will kill a cat, yet there's nae living without it.

      Careless folk are aye cumbersome.

      Carena would hae mair.

      "Carena" refers here to an answer that may be construed into either "yes" or "no," and is treated accordingly. "'I don't want it, I don't want it,' says the friar; 'but drop it into my hood.'"—Spanish.

      Carles and aivers win a'; carles and aivers spend a'.

      "Servants' wages, buying and keeping of horses, and purchasing other utensils, eat up the product of a farm."—Kelly.

      Carrick for a man, Kyle for a cow, Cunningham for corn and ale, and Galloway for woo'.

      "This old rhyme points out what each of the three districts of Ayrshire, and the neighbouring territory of Galloway, were remarkable for producing in greatest perfection. The mountainous province of Carrick produced robust men; the rich plains of Kyle reared the famous breed of cattle now generally termed the Ayrshire breed; and Cunningham was a good arable district. The hills of Galloway afford pasture to an abundance of sheep."—Robert Chambers.

      Carry saut to Dysart and puddings to Tranent.

      This proverb, the meaning of which is obvious enough, is paralleled in all languages. The English say, "To carry coals to Newcastle." The French and German suggest that it is not necessary "To send water to the sea." The French also say, "To carry leaves to the wood;" and the Dutch are wise enough not "To send fir to Norway." Neither will the Asiatic "Carry blades to Damascus."

      Cast a bane in the deil's teeth.

      Cast a cat ower the house and she'll fa' on her feet.

      Cast nae snawba's wi' him.

      That is, do not trust him too much; he is churlish or dangerous.

      Cast not a clout till May be out.

      Cast the cat ower him.

      "It is believed that when a man is raging in a fever, the cat cast ower him will cure him; applied to them whom we hear telling extravagant things, as if they were raving."—Kelly.

      Cast ye ower the house riggin', and ye'll fa' on your feet.

      "Throw him in the Nile, and he will rise with a fish in his mouth," says the Arab; and we have met somewhere with this saying, that "If he lost a penny he would find a ducat."

      Castna out the dowed water till ye get the clean.

      Cat after kind.

      Cats and carlins sit i' the sun, but fair maidens sit within.

      A rhyming intimation that exposure to the sun is not favourable to beauty.

      Cats eat what hussies spare.

      Cauld grows the love that kindles ower het.

      Cauld kail het again is aye pat tasted.

      Cauld kail het again, that I liked never; auld love renewed again, that I liked ever.

      Cauld parritch are sooner het than new anes made.

      Cauld water scauds daws.

      Chalk's no shears.

      "Taken from tailors marking out their cloth before they cut it, signifying that a thing may be proposed that will never be executed."—Kelly.

      Change o' deils is lightsome.

      Change your friend ere ye hae need.

      Changes are lightsome, and fools like them.

      Changes o' wark is lightening o' hearts.

      Charge nae mair shot than the piece 'll bear.

      Charity begins

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