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

292
Is trie a fliuair gimna urchair-iasaid.
A gun has often got a loan-shot.
It was sometimes believed that an unloaded gim miglit go off
notwithstanding, and kill, if incautiously handled -an exagge-
ration of the proper horror of a reckless handling of fire-arms.
Is trie a mlieall e slieis, an neach a gheall a bhi tairis
da.
Often has one failed his fellow, v:ho jjromised to he true
to him.
Is trie is daoire 'chomain na 'n dubh-cheannach.
A favour often costs more than what's hard-bought
Spesso i doni sono danni — G^ifts are often losses. — Ital.
Is trie a thainig trod mor a aobhar beag.
0/ien has great quctrrel sprung from little cause.
Is trie a thug fear na ciad chèilidh fìor bharail.
The man of first visit has often judged trxdy.
Gloggt es gestz augat — Siiar^ (g^^gj is the eye of a guest. — lal.
Is trie leis an droch-sgeul a blii fior.
Bad news is often true.
Is trie nach tig ath-sgeul air droch-sgeul.
Ill news is not often contradicted.
Is trie nach robh aeh beagan sneachd air tigh a
mhèirlich.
TJiere lias often been but little snow on the roof of live
thief.
He would probably be out at night, and have a fire kept on
while honest people were in bed, which would melt the snow in
the thatch.
Is trom air tigh gun nàire.
A sliamelcss house lias its burden.
Is trom an eat ri 'shìor-ghiùlan.
The cat is heavy if carried constantly.
Children are fond of carrying cats ; but even a grown-up
person would tire in time of alight burden.
Is trom an eire an t-aineolas.
Ignorance is a heavy burdeii.
At. Is cruaidh cuing an aineolaich — Hard is the yoke of iloe
ignorant.
Is trom an t-uallach aineolas. — Ir.