Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

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hull was pasturing, and hearing him growling, b^gan to mimic
him, which naturally excited the bull to give him chase, bellowing
furiously. The fool was clever enough to get over a dyke just in
time, and then, safe behind the wall, he addressed the bull as
above. The Lowland version, which I have heard told in Gal-
loway of a baronet, is, ' Boo to yirseV I Who begoo'd it ? '
Is tu thilg a' clilach air a' chaisteal !
What a stone you threvj at tlie castle !
Said ironically, when some small person hits his superior.
Is uaine fiar na faiche a 's fàsaiche.
Green is the grass of the least trodden field.
Is uaisle toll na tuthag.
Hole is genteeler than patch
Per con. Is mios' an cliid na 'n toll — The clout is v:orse than
the hole. See ' Is fhearr breid '.
Is uasal a blii 'n ad shiiidhe, 'n ad ruitli.
It's nolle to he sitting and running.
Said of driving in a carriage.
Is uasal mac an an-uasail an tir nam mèirleach ; is
an-uasal mac an uasail, mur bi e trèubhach.
The lovdy-born is a gentleman among thieves; the
gentleman's son is no gentleman, if he be not brave.
A very characteristic sentiment.
Is ùrachadh atharrachadh.
Change is refreshing.
Caghlaa obbyr aash — Change of ivork is ease. — Manx.
Isean deiridh linne, cinnidh e no tlieid e dholaidh.
The last chicken of a brood comes to either grief or good.
In the case of the more prolific lower animals, the last of a
brood or Litter is generally the weakest. It is not so, however,
with the youngest offspring of the higher animals, especially ot
human beings. But the youngest is sometimes spoiled by petting.
Itli do leòr, 's na pòc dad.
Bat your fill, and i)ocket nothing.
Eat yir fill, but pouch nane, is gairdener's law. — Scot.
Ith na 's Ingha, 's ceannaich e.
Eat less, and hug it.
Lay yir wame to yir winnin'. — Scot.
Itbeadh na goiblire air an nathair.
The goat's eating of the serpent.
It is believed, in some parts of the Highlands, that goats eat