Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

30
An Inid bheadaidh, thig an latha roimh'n oidliche.
The forward Shrove-tide, day comes before the niyht.
This means that the Feast comes before the Vigil.
An inisg 'g a cur, 's a bun aig a' bhaile.
The reproach getting spread, and its root at home.
An la a chi 's nach f haic.
Every day — present or ahsent.
This is one of the most frequently used of familiar sayings —
usually added to a farewell, e.g. 'Beannachd leat, an la 'chi 's nach
fhaic,' or 'a h-uile latha'. Curiously enough, this favourite phrase
was not included in either edition of Macintosh.
An lagh a rinn Solamh fuiligeadh e leis.
Solomon shoidd suffer ty his oivn law.
An la 'bliios sinn ri orach, biomaid ri orach; ach an
la 'bhios sinn ri maorach biomaid ri maorach.
When we are after gold, let us he at it ; hut %vhcn we
are after shell-fish, let us he at it.
The chiefs of the Macleods and of the Macdonalds each kept
a fool, and laid a bet which of the two was the greater fool. Both
were ordered to go to the shore and gather shell-fish. A piece of
gold was placed where it would attract their notice. " Look here,"
said the Macdonald fool to his companion, " here's gold ". " Yes,
yes," said the other, " when we are after gold, let us be," &c. It
is a question, from the point of view of the highest wisdom, which
of the two was the greater fool.
An làmh a bheir 's i a gheabh.
The hand that gives is the hand that gets.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. — Prov. vi. 25.
'An làrach nam bonn.
On the spot.
Literally ' in the print of the soles'.
An leanabh a dh'fhàgar dha f hein cuiridh e 'mhàthair
gu nàire.
The child that's left to himself will put his mother to
shame.
An leanabh nach foghluim thu ri d' ghlùn, cha'n
fhoghluim thu ri d' chluais.
The child ichom you teach not at your knee, you icont
teach at your car.
Al. Am fear nach lùb ri glùn cha liib ri iiilinn.
Betwixt three and thirteen thraw the woodie while it's green.
This wise Scottish maxim is now substantially embodied in