Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

350
Sradag a' ghobha, tha i duilich a bàthadh.
The smith's sjmrk is hard to quench.
The smith has aye a spark in his throat. — Scot.
Sròn clio biorach 's gun tugadh i biadh a faochag.
A nose so sharp that it would pick a periwinkle.
Sròn ri monadh. Kose hill-ward.
' Nez retrousse'. Applied to persons easily offended, — ' nosey'.
Stiùbhartaich, cinne nan righ 's nan ceard.
The Steivarts, the race of kings and of tinkers.
Stewart is a very common name among tinkers, often adopted
for the sake of the supposed respectability it conferred.
Stoc suiridhche. A wooer s hlock.
In Lochaber a block of old bog-pine was sometimes kept, as a
test of skill and patience in chopping wood, for young men
coming a-courting.
Suas a' luideag ! — 's e 'n duine an t-aodach.
Up with the rag ! — the dress is the man.
'S e an t-èadach a ghni an duine. — Ir.
See ' Ged nacli e 'n duine '.
Suas leis a' chuigeil bharraich ! 's ioma la fada gu
Bealltainn.
Up with the loaded distaff! there's many a long day
till May-day.
Supposed to be the language of procrastination.
Suidh gu h-iosal, 'us diol gu h-uasal.
Sit lowly, and pay nobly.
Suidh' an deigh eiridh a' chuid a's miosa de 'n clieilidh.
Sitting after rising, the worst piart of gossiping.
Suidhe a' gheòidh 'an dorus tigh an t-sionnaich.
The sitting of the goose at the fox's door.
Suidhe bochd 'an tigh na h-airce.
A poor seat in the house of want.
Sùil a' chait air sioman.
A cat's gaze at a straw-rope.
This is applied to the bestowal of much attention on trifles.
Sùil mu 'n t-sròin. Eye to nose.
This is the vnodpa l8(ov of Homer, describing a haughty dis-
dainful look, eye downward to nose.
Suipeir ghabhail soillse la oidhcli' Fheill-Brighde ;
Dol a laidhe soillse la oidhch' Fheill-Pàdruig.