Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

110
Cha 'n 'eil ait' 'am bi meall nach bi fasgadh mu
'bhonn.
Wherever a height is, there is shelter helow.
Cha 'n 'eil am bonnach beag bruich f hathasd.
TJie little bannock is not toasted yet.
This is a phrase used at hide-and-seek, or blind-man's-buff,
to announce that the players are not ready yet.
Cha'n 'eil am maoidheadh daonnan 'an cois a' cliroin.
Threatening does not always follow mischief.
It depends on who does it !
Cha 'n 'eil an cuid 's an onoir aca.
They haven't kept their goods and honour.
Cha 'n 'eil 'an cùil na 'n cuilidh,
Nach fhaic sùil a' Mhuilich,
S' cha 'n 'eil 'an àird na 'n iosal,
Nach làimhsich làmh an Ilich ;
Na dh' f hàgadh am Muileach,
Ghrad sgrlobadh an CoUach uaith' e,
Ach 's mairg a dh' earbadh a chuid no anam,
Eis a' chealgaire Bharrach.
There s not in nook or corner,
What the Mull man's eye won't see ;
There's not in height or hollow,
What the Islay man won't handle ;
What the Mull man would leave,
The Coll man soon would grasp ;
But woe to him, his goods or life,
Who trusts to treacherous Barra man.
These very calumnioas estimates are, of course, to be taten
cum grcmo. Other similar sayings are —
Muileach 'us Ileach 'us deamhan,
An triuir a 's miosa air an domhain,
'S miosa a' Muileach na 'n t- Ileach,
'S miosa an t- Ileach na 'n deamhuin.
A Mull man, an Islay man, and a devil.
The three worst in creation,
The Mull man is worse than the Islay man.
The Islay man worse than the devil.
Cha 'n fhaic am Muileach nach sanntaich am Muileach ; na
shanntaicheas am Muileach goididh an Collach ; 's na ghoideas an
Collach cuiridh an Tii-isteach am folach. What the Mull man sees