Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

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Obair an doill.
The work of the hlind.
Obair gun bhuanuachd, a' cur sil ann an talamh gun
todhar.
Profitless ivorh, sowing in unmanured ground.
Obair gun iarraidh, clia deaunainn do cliliamhuinn
no 'charaid i.
Work uimsked, I woidd not do for son-in-laio or
relative.
Obair gun iarraidh, is e 'fiach a lochd.
Work tinasked, the letter the worse.
Obbyr dyn (gun) oardagh, obbyr dyn booise (hhuidluachas). —
Manx.
Obair 'us atb-obair. Work and work again.
Work hastily or ill done.
Oidhcb' am muigb, 'us oidhch' a's tigh,
Math na caorach, 's olc an eich.
In to-night, out to-morroio,
Good for sheep, hut horse's sorrow.
Oiee mooie, as oiee elley sthie,
01k son cabbil, agh son kirree mie. — Manx.
Oidhche Shamhna, theirear gamhna ris na laoigh ;
Oidhch Fheill-Eoin theirear aighean ris na gamlma.
On Halloween the calf is called a stirk ;
On St. Johns eve the stirk is called a heifer.
Oidhche Challuinn, bu math cuilionn 'us calltuinn a
bhi 'bualadh a cheile.
On Hogmanay-Night it were good that holly and hazel
shoidd he striking each other.
A windy night was considered a good sign of the season.