Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

A' bhò a 's mios' a th' anns a' bhuaile, 's i 's cruaidhe
geum.
The worst coiv in the fold lows the loudest.
Al. — A' bho a 's luf:;lia feum, 's i 's mo geum.
See also 'Cha 'n i 'bhò', and ' Geum mor ',
A' buain nan àirneagan searbha, 's a saltairt air na
cirean-meala.
Plucking the hitter sloes, and tramplimj on the honey-
comb.
A' call Ian na leidhe air imlicli a màia.
Losing the ladle-full licking its outside.
A'callnamboiteina'crninneachadh nan sop.
Losing the bundles gathering the wisps.
See ' A' sgaoileadh nan sguab.'
A' caoidli nam buideal falamh.
Bewailing the empty casks.
A chailleach, an gabh thu 'n righ ? Cba ghabh, 's nach
gabh e mi.
Crone, will you have the king? I wont as he wont have
me.
There is a humorous philosophy in this.
A' chaor' a tbtìd anns a.' chreig clia 'n 'eil aic' ach
tigliinn aisde mar a dli' fhaodas i.
The sheep that gets into the rock must get out as best
she can.
A' chiad sgeul air fear an tiglie, 's gach sgeul gulath'
air an aoidh.
The first story from the host, and tales till morning from
the guest.
This is one of the sayings most purely characteristic of the old
manners and customs of the Highlands, carrying one back with-
out difficulty to the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, traces of
which survive in some of the Gaelic Tales.
A' chlach nach tacliair ri m' cliois cha chiùrr i mi.
The stone that doesn't meet my foot ivon't hurt me.
See ' An rud nach laidh '.
The stane that lies not in yir gait breaks not yir taes. — Scot. P.
A' chore 'an ionad a' chuinnseir.
The knife in the place of the sword.