Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

310
Mar a blia gille mor nam hram — cha 'n flmirich e
thall no bhos.
Like the great windy lad — he won't stay there or here.
Mar a bha 'n t-each ban 'an clorus a' mlmilinn — a'
smaoineachadli tuilleadh 's a bha e 'g ràdh.
Like the white horse at the mill-door, thinJcing more
than he said.
Al. Mar a bha 'n gamhainn 's an dorus, a' feitlieamh 's ag
eisdeachd — Like the stirk at the door, waitiiig and listening.
Mar a b' umhail gu 'm b' fhior.
As foreseen, so has been.
Mar a chàireas duine a leabaidh, 's ann a laidheas e.
As a man snakes his bed, so he must lie.
As you make your bed, so you must lie on it. — Eng., Scot.
Comma on fait son lit, on se couclie. — Fr.
Quien mala cama liace, en ella se yace. — jSjjart.
Som man reder til, saa ligger man. — Dan.
Mar a chaitheas duine a blieatha, bheir e breith air a
choimhearsnach.
As a man leads his life, so he judges his neighbour.
Mar a' mhil air bhàrr nan cuiseag.
Like honey on the top of the stalks.
Mar a's àirde theid an caiman, 's ann a's dòch' an
t-seobhag breith air.
The higher the dove goes, the likelier is tlie hawk to
catch it.
Mar a 's f haide 'bhios sinn gu math, 's ann a's giorraid
a bhios sinn gu h-olc.
The longer we are well, the shorter will our illness be.
Mar a's fhearr iad, cha'n ann a's buain' iad.
The better they are, they live not the longer.
God takes the good, too good on earth to stay,
And leaves the bad, too bad to take away.
Mar a 's gainn' am biadh, 's ann a 's fial' a roinn.
Tlie scarcer the food, the onore bounty to share it.
Mar a's luaithe a' ghaillionn 's ann a's cruaidhe
'ghaillionn.
The swifter the storm, the stronger it is.