Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

216
Is aotrom gach saoghalach sona.
Light is the htcky lo7ig-livcr.
Is àrd ceann an fheidh 's a' chreachann.
High is the stag's head on the mouiitain crags.
Is bàiglieil duine ris an anam.
A man is tender of his life.
All that a man hatli will he give for his life. — Job. ii. 4.
Life is sweet. — Eng.
In one of the West Highland Tales (Campbell, II. 355), Brian,
son of the King of Greece, is asked by a Giant, whether he would
rather lose his head, or go to steal the White Sword of Light in
the realm of Big Women. ' 'S bàigheil duine ri 'bheatha — kind is
a man to his life,' said Brian, and chose the latter alternative.
Is balbli gach sian ach a' ghaoth.
Dumb is all weather but the wind.
See ' An uair a laidheas '.
Is beadarrach an ni an onoir.
Honour is a tender thing.
This is very Celtic. ' Take my honour, take my life.'
Is beag a dheanadh grot do 'n fhear a dh' òladh crùn.
Little wotdd a groat do for him who drinks a croivn.
This probably refers to a soldier's pay, which was 4d. a day at
no very ancient date.
Is beag a ghearaineas sinn, ge mor a dh' fhiiilingeas
smn.
Little we complain, though we siiffer much.
This saying is given by Macintosh without any note. Wlien-
ever it may have originated, it expressed with native gentleness a
very sad truth in reference to a considerable part of our Highland
population. It was true a century ago, and it is true still.
Is beag a th' eadar do ghal 's do ghàire.
Your crying and laughing are not far removed.
Is beag an dèirc nach fhearr na 'n t-èuradh.
Small is the alms that is not letter than a refusal.
Is beag a rud nach fhearr na ditiltadh. — Ir.
Is beag am fathunn nach cktinn ditliis.
It's a faint rumour that two won't hear.
Is beag an leisgeul a bheir a' chailleach do 'n chill.
It's a little excuse that brings the old ivoman to the
churchyard.
Excuse = cause, and churchyard = death.
Al. Is faoin an gnothach. It's a slight thing.