Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

A cbuid de Phàras da !
His share of Paradise to him !
Al. ' de Fhlaitheanas,' of Heaven. The wordF., still in com-
mon use as the Gaelic for Heaven, has been interpreted by good
autliorities (Armstrong, Highl. Soc. Did., &c.) as Flath-innis,
the Isle of Heroes, an etymology which is both j^oetical and prob-
able. A simpler and more scientific etymology (Ebel's Celt. Stud.,
p. 116) makes it Flaithemnas, or Flaitheamhnas, sovereignty,
dignity, glory. In Bedell's Irish Bible, ' Flaitheamhnas',' and
' Flaitheasa ' are used in the Old Test, to denote Heaven and
Heavens ; but ' Neamli ' and ' Neamhdha ' more commonly. In
the New Test. ' Neamh ' only is used for the singular. In our
Gaelic Bible the latter alone is used ia both sing, and plur.
A' chuid nach gabli na leanaban gabbaidh an t-sean-
bbean fbeiu.
Wliat the children won't take the old ivoman ivill.
A' cbùil a bbios fosgailte tbèid na coin innte.
The dogs vnll go into the corner that's opeii.
A' cbuirni a's luaitbe 'bbios ullamb, suidbeamaid uile
g'a gabbail
The feast that's soonest ready let us ail sit down to.
A' diuiseag ruadb a db' fbàsas 's an òtraicb, 's i 's àii'de
'tbogas a ceann.
The red vjced from the dunghill lifts its head the highest.
The proudest nettle grows on a midden. — Scot.
A cbiir a ruitb na cubbaig.
Sending him to chase the cuckoo.
Literally a ' gowk's errand '.
A' cromadb air na beaga.
Stooping to the little.
A' cimntas sblat gun aodacb.
Counting yards without cloth.
A! cur a' bbodaicb as a tbigh fbein.
Putting the old man out of his own house.
A' cur an eicb 's e 'n a fbaUns.
Urging on the sweating horse.
A' cur na snàtbaid air a' cboltar.
Putting the needle on the coulter.