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makes no disclosures.

      A dumb man ne'er got land.

      A dumb man wins nae law.

      A loquacious advocate is more likely to gain his case than a taciturn one.

      Ae beggar's wae that anither by the gate gae.

      He is sorry that another beggar should overtake him while pursuing his calling. This feeling is not strictly confined to the begging fraternity.

      Ae fine thing needs twa to set it aff.

      Ae gude friend is worth mony relations.

      Ae gude turn deserves anither.

      Ae gude turn may meet anither, an' it were at the brig o' London.

      Meaning that a favour done may be returned at a time when least expected, and perhaps when very much required.

      Ae half o' the warld disna ken how the ither half lives.

      Ae hand winna wash the ither for nought.

      Ae hour in the morning is worth twa at night.

      Ae hour's cauld will drive oot seven years' heat.

      Ae lawsuit breeds twenty.

      Ae man may tak a horse to the water, but twenty winna gar him drink.

      "'Reuben Butler! he hasna in his pouch the value o' the auld black coat he wears—but it doesna signify.' And, as he spoke, he (the Laird of Dumbiedikes) shut successively, and with vehemence, the drawers of his treasury. 'A fair offer, Jeannie, is nae cause o' feud—ae man may bring a horse to the water, but twenty wunna gar him drink. And as for wasting my substance on other folks' joes——'"—Heart of Midlothian.

      Ae man may steal a horse where anither daurna look ower the hedge.

      A man with a bad character is liable to be blamed for any misdeed which may be done; while a person who is not open to suspicion may commit depredation without challenge.

      Ae man's meat is anither man's poison.

      Ae scabbit sheep will smit a hirsel.

      One bad character may pollute a whole company.

      Ae scone o' that baking's enough.

      Ae shook o' that stook's enough.

      One specimen of a bad article is sufficient.

      Ae swallow disna mak a summer.

      Ae word before is worth twa behint.

      Ae year a nurse and seven years a daw.

      Does this very old proverb mean, that if a woman nurses for one year, it takes seven years to recover from the effects of it? Ray has a very ungallant note on the English version of this: "Because, feeding well and doing little, she becomes liquorish, and gets a habit of idleness."

      A' fails that fools think.

      A fa'ing maister maks a standin' man.

      A fair maid tocherless will get mair wooers than husbands.

      A fair offer is nae cause o' feud.

      A' fellows, Jock and the laird.

      "Spoken when unworthy fellows intrude themselves into the company of their betters."—Kelly.

      A fey man and a cursour fearna the deil.

      Meaning literally, that a predestined man and a war-horse (or stallion, as the word "cursour" more immediately implies) fear not the devil.

      Affront your friend in daffin', and tine him in earnest.

      Affront him not in jest, lest you lose him in earnest.

      A fidging mare should be weel girded.

      "A thief does not always steal, but always be on your guard against him."—Russian.

      A findsilly bairn gars his faither be hang'd.

      A fisherman's walk—twa steps and overboard.

      A fleyer wad aye hae a follower.

      This proverb illustrates a song of Allan Ramsay's, after an ode by Horace, referring to a girl running out of the room, in the hope that her lover would follow her.

      A fool and his money are sune parted.

      A fool at forty will ne'er be wise.

      A fool is happier thinking weel o' himself, than a wise man is o' others thinking weel o' him.

      A fool may earn money, but it taks a wise man to keep it.

      A fool may gie a wise man a counsel.

      "'Fair and softly gangs far,' said Meiklehose; 'and if a fule may gie a wise man a counsel, I wad hae him think twice or he mells with Knockdunder.'"—Heart of Midlothian.

      A fool may speer mair questions than a wise man can answer.

      A fool's bolt is sune shot.

      A fool winna gie his toy for the Tower o' London.

      A foul foot maks a fu' wame.

      "Industry will be sure of a maintenance. A man that carefully goes about his business will have foul feet."—Kelly.

      A foul hand maks a clean hearthstane.

      A friend at court is worth a penny in the purse.

      Kelly's note on this proverb is not favourable to the court usances of his time (1721). "A purse seems to be the only friend at court, for, without that, there is nothing there but neglect and empty promises."

      A friend in need is a friend indeed.

      A friend to a' is a friend to nane.

      "Everybody's friend is nobody's friend."—Spanish.

      A friend's dinner's sune dished.

      That is, a true friend is easily served, and will not readily take offence.

      A friend's ne'er ken't till he's needed.

      Aft counting keeps friends lang thegither.

      "Short accounts make long friends."—English.

      After a sort, as Costlet served the king.

      "One Captain Costlet, boasting much of his loyalty, was asked how he served the king when he was a captain in Cromwell's army, answered, 'After a sort.' Spoken when a thing is done slightly."—Kelly.

      After a storm comes a calm.

      After cheese, naething.

      After clouds comes fair weather.

      After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile.

      This advice is unfitted for the dining practices of the present day; but when our ancestors breakfasted at six, dined at eleven, and supped at four or five, the counsel may have been good enough.

      After joy comes annoy.

      After Lammas, corn ripens by day and night.

      After that comes a cow to be shod.

      After words come weird: fair fa' them that ca' me "Madam."

      After libel comes proof: let those who speak ill of me look to themselves.

      After you is gude manners.

      "Spoken when our betters offer to serve us first."—Kelly.

      Aft ettle, whiles hit.

      Often try, occasionally succeed.

      Aft times the cautioner pays the debt.

      A fu' cup is ill to carry.

      A fu' heart is aye kind.

      A fu' heart

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