The Proverbs of Scotland Part 101

To work for naething maks folk dead-sweer.

"'Dead-sweer,' extremely averse to exertion."--_Jamieson._

Traitors' words ne'er yet hurt honest cause.

Tramp on a snail, and she'll shoot oot her horns.

Tramp on a worm and she'll turn her head.

Tramping straw makes trottin' owsen.

Travell'd men are sindle trow'd.

Trot faither, trot mither; how can the foal amble?

"It is hard for those who have had a bad parentage, and, consequently, an ill education, to be good."--_Kelly._

True blue will never stain, but dirty red will dye again.

True love is aye blate.

True love kythes in time o' need.

"Kythes," that is, shows itself.

True love's the waft o' life, but it whiles comes through a sorrowfu'

shuttle.

Truth and honesty keep the crown o' the causey.

Truth and oil come aye uppermost.

Truth hauds lang the gate.

Try before you trust.

Try your friend ere you need him.

Twa blacks winna mak ae white.

Twa cats and ae mouse, twa mice in ae house, twa dogs and ae bane, ne'er will agree in ane.

Twa fools in ae house are a pair ower mony.

Twa gudes seldom meet--what's gude for the plant is ill for the peat.

Twa hands may do in ae dish, but ne'er in ae purse.

"Twa heads are better than ane," as the wife said when she and her dog gaed to the market.

Twa heads are better than ane, though they're but sheep's anes.

Spoken when a person offers a suggestion to another who is considering how he will do a thing.

Twa heads may lie upon ae cod, and nane ken whaur the luck lies.

"Spoken when either husband or wife is dead, and the sorrowing party goes back in the world after."--_Kelly._

Twa hungry melt.i.ths makes the third a glutton.

Twa things ne'er be angry wi'--what ye can help and what ye canna.

Twa words maun gang to that bargain.

Addressed to a person who is in too great a hurry to conclude a bargain, indirectly implying that the speaker is not quite satisfied with the article or terms.

Twine tow, your mother was a gude spinner.

"Spoken to those who curse you or rail upon you, as if you would say, take what you say to yourself."--_Kelly._

Unco folk's no to mird wi'.

"Ye ken yoursel best where ye tint the end-- Sae ye maun foremost gae the miss to mend.

'Tis nae to mird wi' unco folk, ye see, Nor is the blear drawn easy o'er their e'e."--_Ross's Helenore._

Under water dearth, under snaw bread.

If a field has been inundated with water the crop will be spoiled; but if covered with snow it will be improved, as the soil is warmed and nourished thereby.

Unseen, unrued.

"Unsicker, unstable," quo' the wave to the cable.

"'Unsicker,' not secure, not safe, unsteady."--_Jamieson._

Upon my ain expense, as the man built the d.y.k.e.

"Taken from an inscription upon a churchyard in Scotland--

"'I, John Moody, cives Abredonensis, Builded this kerk-yerd of fitty (Foot-dee?) upon my own expenses.'"

--_Kelly._

Untimeous spurring spoils the steed.

Up hill spare me, doun hill tak tent o' thee.