J. F. Campbell Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

284
Is olc a' muileann a ctuireas a chuid a dh 'aon taobh.
It's a had mill that sends all its vieal one way.
Is olc a' sgrioban nach lion a' sgròban.
It's 'poor scraping that tvont fill the crop.
Is olc a thig muc-saille air sobhraichean na coille.
The fat sow is ill-fed on the primroses of the wood.
Is olc a tliig saor sàr-bhuilleach, gobha crith-lamhach,
agus leigh tiom-cliridheach.
A heavy-handed joiner, a tremhling-handed smith, and
a soft-hearted leech, do not suit.
A good surgeon must have an eagle's eye, a lady's hand, and a
lion's heart. — Eng.
The use of 'thig' = fit, without a preposition, is peculiar, and
not according to present usage.
Is olc am bodach nacli fheairrde cailleacli eadar i 's
an dorus.
He's a vjretched old man that an old tvife is not the
better of having between her and the door.
Is olc am pàisd' nach cuir sop air dòigh.
It's a bad child that can't arrange a wisp.
Is olc an còcair nach imlich a mhiar.
He's a poor cook that doesn't lick his finger.
Sa er brytinn vestr er sjalfan sik tujlir. — It is the icorst cook that
stints himself. — led.
Is olc an comunn dheth 'm bi dithis diombach.
It's bad company ivith tvhich two are displeased.
Al. an comhradh — the colloquy; an cluich — the game; an
gnothach — tlie business.
Is olc an dithis nach fhoghainn do dh-aon duine.
It's a poor pair that are no match for one.
Is olc an fheòil nach gabh ri salann ; is miosa a' cliol-
uinn nach gabh guth.
It's bad meat that won't take salt; worse is the body
that won't take warning.
Is olc an goile nach teòth a chuid.
It's a bad stomach that its food luon'J; warm.
Is olc an ni a bhi falamh.
It's a bad thing to have nothing.
Proverbs of this liiud must have suggested ' Proverbial Philo-
sophy '.