Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

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Is trie a bha bean saoir gun chuigeil, 's bean griasaiche
gun bhròig.
A carpenters wife has often vMnted a distaff, and a
shoemakers wife sJwes.
Is trie a bha breagh air an fheill, mosach'n a thigh fhein.
Fine at the fair may he mean at the fireside.
Is trio a bha claidheamh fada 'an làimh gealtair'.
A long stoord has often been in a coivard's hand.
Is trie a bha diehioll air dheireadh.
Diligence has often been behind.
And hick in front.
Per con. Cha bhi diehioll air dheireadh.
Is trie a bha fortan air luid, 's a fhuair trusdar bean.
Slatterns have often had luck, and dirty fellows got wives.
See 'Gheabh foighidinn'.
Is trie a bha gaoid 'an ubhal bòidheaeh.
Often has flaio been in a fair apple.
Is trie a bha mor mi-sheadhail.
Tlu big is often stupid.
Giants are always so represented in the old stories.
Is trie a bha 'n galar a bh' air Aodh air an fhear a
bha ri 'thaobh.
Hugh's neighbour Juts often had the same disease as he.
This is true both physically and morally.
Is trie a bha na h-aimhniehean a' dèabhadh, 'us na
h-uillt a' ruith.
The rivers «rc often dry, while the brooks are running.
Before a flood.
Is trie a bha na loingis nihor a' crionadh, 's na h-amair-
mhùin a' seòladh.
Often have large ships been rotting, while the little pots
are floating.
A 1. Na loingis mhor a' dol fo 'n chuan, 's na h-amair-fliuail a'
seòladh.
Is trie a bha slioehd na seilge air seaehran.
The hunting tribe has often been at fault.
Is trie a bha slaodaire beairteaeh, 'us caonnag air duine
tapaidh.
Many a lout is wealthy, and clever man hard put-to.