Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

Is i 'n Xollaig dliubli a dli'fhàgas an cladli miatli.
A black Christmas makes a fat churcliijard.
A green Yule maks a fat kirkyard.— Sco^.
Eu gron Juul giver en fed Kirkegaard. — Dan.
A green winter makes a fat churchyard. — Eng.
Is i 'n oidhche 'n oidhche, na'm b'iad ua fir na fir !
The night is the night, were the men the men !
A watch- word in view of a foray.
Is i an taois bhog a ni am mas rag.
The soft dough makes the stiff buttock.
Raw dads make fat lads.— Scof.
Is i 'blio fhein a's luaitbe a mhothaicbeas d' a laogh.
The cow is the first to notice her own calf.
Is i nàmbaid duine a' cheaird uacli cleachd e.
TJie trade vjhich he practises not is a man's enemy.
Is namhaid an cheird gan a foghluim (unless learned). — Ir.
Is iad na h-eòin acrach a's fhearr a ghleacas.
The hungry birds fight best.
Is ioma bo fhada reambar, nach deachaidh riamb air
theadhair.
Many a long fat cow loas never tethered.
Applied to women who never iwdwy.— Macintosh.
Is ioma caocbla 'tbig air an t-saogbal fo cbeann
bliadbua.
Many changes come over the world in a year.
Is ioma car a' tba 'n saogbal a' cur dhetb.
Many a turn the tvorld takes.
Gur mairg a bheir geill
Do 'n t-saoghal gu leir,
'S trie a cliaochail e 'cheuni gàbhaidh. — Mary MacLeod.
Is ioma car a tbig air an oidbcb' fbad Fbogbair,
Many a turn comes in the long Autumn night.
Is iomad taod (change) a thig ann a la Earraigh (Spring). — Ir.
Hverb er Haust-grima — Unstable is the Autumn night. — Iceland.
Is ioma mùtbadb a tbig air an oidbcbe fbada Gbeamb-
raidb.
Many a change comes in the long Winter night.
This is said to have been uttered as a warning to his host by
one of the murderers of Glencoe.
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