Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

158
Cuir do mliuingliinn 's an talamli, cha d' fhàg e
falamh riamh thu.
Put thy trust in the earth, it never left thee empty.
A good motto for farmers.
Cuir innte, 's cuiridh an saoghal uimpe.
Give her food, and the ivorld will clothe her.
Macintosh's note on this is, ' The back will trust, but the belly
will still be craving '.
Cuir manadh math air do mhanadli, 's bidli tu sona.
Interpret good from thy omen, and thou shall he lucky.
As Caesar did, when he fell on the British shore.
Cuireadh cùl na coise. The hack-leg invitation.
Al. Fiadhachadh cùl na h-iosgaid.
That of a person who gives a faint invitation, and escorts one
out of the house, saying, ' I am soiTy you couldn't stay ',
Cuireadh ]\Ihic-Philip — ' gabh no fag '.
M^Killops invitation — ' take or leave \
Cuiridli an teanga snaim nach fuasgail an fhiacail.
The tongue will tie a knot tvhich the tooth can't unloose.
Cuireann duine snaini le n- a theangaidh nach bh- fhuasgloch-
aidh 'fhiacla. — Ir.
The English and Scottish versions are nearly in the same words.
Matrimony is referred to.
Cuiridh aon bheairt as gu lorn
Do dhuine 's gun a chonn fo 'cheill ;
'Us cuiridh beairt eil' e ann,
Ach a gabhail 'n a h-àm fhèin.
One deed may a man undo,
When his reason rulcth not ;
And a step may set him up,
If hut taken in due time.
Cuiridh aon tràth air ais laogh 'us leanabh.
One meal if it lack, ccdf or child icill go hack.
Cuiridh bean ghlic suas duine, ach bheir bean amaid-
each a nuas e le 'da lùimh.
A wise loife will set a man iip, hut a foolish one will
hring him dovm with hoth hands.
Cuiridh beul milis thu 'shireadh na deirce.
A sweet mouth vjill send you to heggary.