Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

M.
Ma bheir tliu Muile clhiom, cha toir thu rnuir 'us
tir dliiom.
You may take Mull from me, hut you can't take sea
and land from, me.
Ma bheir tliusa dhomhsa dealg fhraoich, gun dliatli
dhubh, gun ghaoid, bheir mise dhutsa buaile de chrodh
geal maol.
If you give me a heather pin ivithout Hack or flaw in
it, I'll give you a fold of white hornless cows.
Ma bhios taod agad, gheabh thu each.
If you have a halter, you'll get a horse.
Ma bhristeas bun-feann, bidh fios aig do cheann, co
dhorchaich an toll.
If the tail breaks, your head ivill know ivho darkened
the hole.
The story is that two men went to a wolf's den, when wolves
still floiu'ished in Scotland, for the purpose of carrying off the
whelps. The den was in a cairn with a narrow entrance,
through which one of the men crept in while the other stood on
guard outside. Presently the yelping of the young ones called
their mother to the rescue, and she bolted past the man outside,
who was dexterous enough, however, to seize her by the tail
while she v.-as disappearing. So they stood, the she-wolf blocking
the entrance and darkening the den, while the man outside held
on like grim death. The man within finding the light suddenlj^
obscured, called out to his companion, 'What's that darkening
the hole ' ? To which the reply was made as above. See Camp-
bell's W. H. T., Vol. I., 273, for a Sutherland version of this story.
Ma bhuaileas tu cù no balach, buail gu math e.
If you strike a dog or a cloum, hit him ivcll.
See ' Balach '.
Ma chaidh i do 'n allt, cha b' ann le clùd nan soith-
ichean.
If she ivent to the hum, it tvas not with the dish-clout.