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

312
Mar dean mi spàin, millidh mi adharc.
I'll make a spoon, or spoil a horn.
He'll mak' a spune, or spoil a horn. — Scot.
Mar dli6?jhran 'am bun iiisge,
Mar sheobhag gu ian sleibhe,
Mar chù gu cat, mar chat gu Inch,
Tha bean mic gu 'màtliair-cheile.
Like otter at a river-mouth,
Like hav)k to moiintaiii hircl,
Like dog to cat, like cat to mouse,
The son's tvife is to his mother.
Mar faigh fear d' a dhùthaich, 's math leis a bhi ma
'coinneamh.
If a mail can't get to his country, it's good to he in sight
of it.
Mar fhear air chàrn.
Like a man on a cairn.
An outlaw. See ' Am fear nach meudaicli '.
Mar Fionn nam buadh, na fliasgadh do shluagh na
Fèinne.
Like peerless Fingal, a shelter to the Fcinne.
Mar gu'm biodh cearc air tòir nid.
Like a hen in search of a nest.
Mar gu'm biodh an teine air do chraicionn.
As if the fire were on your skin.
Dean sin mur a bheidlieadh teine air do chraicionn. — Ir.
Mar gu'm biodh e air a leaghadh, mar 'bha caman
Neacail.
As if it had teen cast in a mould, like Nicol's club.
Mar is miann le broinn, bruichear bonuach.
As the belly craves, bannock vMl be baked.
Mar is toigh leis na gobhair na coin.
As goats like dogs.
Mar itheadh na goibhre air an dris.
Like the goat's eating of the brier.