Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

163
Dean do shianadh bho 'n Diabhol 's bho chlann an
tighearna.
Sain thyself frae the Deil and the lairds bairns — Scot.
This was probably addressed first by a father to his daughters.
Dean fan aid air do slieana bhrògan, 'n uair a gheabli
thu do blirògan nodlia.
Make game of your old shoes when you get the new ones.
Don't throw out the dirty water till you get in the clean.
Dean maorach 'fhad 's a bhios an tràigh ann.
Get hait lahile the tide is out.
Dean math 'an aghaidh an uilc.
Do good against the ill.
Overcome evil with good. — St. Paul.
Dean math do dheadh dhuine,
'S bidli an deadh dhuine do 'reir ;
Dean math do neo-dhuine,
'S bidh an neo-dhuine dha fhein.
Do good to a worthy man,
And worthy will he be,
Do good to a ivorthless man,
And selfish still is he.
The Ulster version is nearly identical, —
Dean maith air dheagh-dhuine,
A's gheabhaidh tu d' a reir ;
Acht ma ghnidhir maith air dhròch-dhiiine,
Beidh an dròch-dhiiine do lein.
Dean na thig dhut, 's chi thu na 's ait leat.
Do what becomes you, and you'll see what pleases you.
A neat statement of the doctruie of the TrpeVoi/.
Deanadh do bhean fhein brochan dhut.
Let your own wife make gruel for you.
'Deanamh gad de 'n ghainnimh.
Making a rope of sand.
Ex arena funicv;lum nectis. — Lat.
According to tradition, this was a task imposed on his familiar
spirit by Michael Scott, the result of Avhich is still to be seen on
the sands between Leith and Portobello. Another tradition is
tliat it was imposed on the Fairies by Sir Duncan Campbell of
Glenorchy, Black Duncan of the Cowl.
Deireadh feille fag. Leave the fag-end of a fair.
An excellent advice.