Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

234
Is e sgèul an duine bheadaidh na gheabh e 'n tigh a
cboimhearsnaich.
The mannerless man tells what he gets at his neighbour's.
Is e sin an toll a mhill an t-seiclie.
That's the hole that spoiled the hide.
Is e sin cnag an sgeòil. Tìiat's the peg of the story.
Is e sin maide 'g an stad e.
That's the stick where he'll stop.
Al. mti'm beil e 'g iomairt — which he's playing ai = He'll come
to that. The reference is to a game played at sticks or pegs, tixed
at certain distances.
Is e sùil a ni sealbh. The eye makes wealth.
Das Auge des Herrn schafFt mehr als seine beiden Hande — The
master's eye does more than both his hands. — Germ.
Is e 'thòn a bha trasda 'n uair a rinn e e.
He sat very aivry when he did it.
Is èasgaidh an drocb ghille air cbuairt.
The had servant is brisk abroad.
Al. 'an tigh a' choimhearsnaich — in the neighbour's house.
Esgud drygfab yn nhy arall. — Welsh.
Is èasgaidlie nòin na madainn.
Noo7i is more lively than morning.
Is èasgaidhe nòin nà maidin. — Ir.
' Nòin, ' derived doubtless like ' noon ' from ' nona,' = 3 p.m.,
means both noon and afternoon in our Gaelic. In Irish and
Welsh it means the former, in Manx, 'traa nonney' = evening.
Most people are more lively in the evening than in the morning.
Is eibhinn an obair an t-sealg.
Hunting is delightful ivork.
This saying occurs in our oldest hunting song, known as ' A
Chomhachag,' The Owl, by Donald MacDonald.
Nid difyrwch ond milgi — ond gwalch — No diversion like a
greyhound — like a hawk. — Welsh.
Every run in the desert exhilarates. — Arab.
Is eigin dol far am bi 'n fhòid.
One mitst go where his grave awaits him.
See 'Bheir fòid'.
Is eigin do 'n fbeumach a blii falbbanacli.
The needy must keep moviiig.
This is a recognised maxim of Metropolitan Policemen.
Is èudar do cbàirdean dealacbadh. Friends must part.