Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

75
Càìrdeas Chonain ris na deamhain.
Conan' s friendship for the devils.
' Cuff for cuff.' See ' Beatha Chonain '.
Càirdeas na cleire — sgiiobadh 'us sgròbadh a cheile.
The friendship of the clergy — scrcqjing and seratching
each other.
' C'àite 'bheil thu, 'dlireathainn-duinn ? ' ars an iolair.
' Tha mis' an so, os do chionn/ ars an dreathann-donn.
Where art thou, wren? said the eagle. I am here,
above thee, said the wren.
The wren and eagle had a trial which would soar highest.
After a considerable ascent, the eagle could see the wren nowhere,
and made the above inquiry. The wren was all the time perched
on the eagle's back !
C'àit' am biodh na puirt nach faigheadh na clàrsairean ?
Where would the tunes he the harpers coidd 7iot findì
Caitb mar a gbeabli, 's gheabh mar a chaitheas.
Spend as you get, and you'll get as you spend.
There is that scattereth and yet Lncreaseth. — Prov. xi. 24.
Caitheamh criontaig air a cualaig.
The seruh's spending of her little faggot.
Caitbidh bo ri bleothann, agus eacb ri treabhadh.
Coios wear ivith milking, and horses ivith ploughing.
Caithidh domhan duine.
The world wears out man.
Call caraid' taghal trie, 's call caraid' taghal ainmig.
Friends are lost by calling often, and by calling seldom.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, lest he be
weary of thee, and hate thee.— Prov. xxvi. 17.
A casa de tu hermano no iras cada serano. — Span.
Calum beag a chur a dliith, gu Murcbadh mor a
reamhracbadh.
Starving little Malcolm to fatten big Murdoch.
Eobbing Peter to pay Paul.
Camaronaicb bhog an ime.
The soft buttery Camerons.
This, like most similar sayings about clans, originated, of course,
among enemies. The Camerons were said to be very fond of
butter ; but who could deny that they were brave ?