The Proverbs of Scotland Part 109

Ye hae gien the wolf the wedders to keep.

"You have entrusted a thing to one who will lose it, spoil it, or use it himself."--_Kelly._

Ye hae got a stipend--get a kirk when ye like.

Ye hae got baith the skaith and the scorn.

Ye hae gotten a ravelled hesp to redd.

That is, you have a very difficult matter to arrange.

"Ance let a hizzy get you in the girn, Ere ye get loose, ye'll redd a ravell'd pirn."--_Allan Ramsay._

Ye hae gotten the chapman's drouth.

"From the severe exercise of a pedlar who travels on foot, _the chapman's drouth_ is a proverbial phrase for hunger."--_Jamieson._

Ye hae grown proud since ye quatted the begging.

Applied satirically to persons who pa.s.s their acquaintance in a proud manner.

Ye hae gude manners, but ye dinna bear them about wi' you.

Ye hae little need o' the Campsie wife's prayer, "That she might aye be able to think enough o' hersel'."

A reflection upon conceited or selfish people.

Ye hae mind o' yer meat though ye hae little o't.

Ye hae missed that, as ye did your mither's blessing.

Ye hae nae mair need for't than a cart has for a third wheel.

Ye hae nae mair sense than a sooking turkey.

"I ken I hae a gude deal o' the cuddy in me, when I'm straikit against the hair; and my mother used to say, I had mair than eneuch o' the sookin' turkey in me!"--_The Disruption._

Ye hae ower foul feet tae come sae far ben.

Spoken jocularly to persons who, when they go to visit a friend, ask, "Will they come in?"

Ye hae ower muckle loose leather about yer chafts.

"Spoken to them that say the thing they should not."--_Kelly._

Ye hae put a toom spune in my mouth.

A country farmer complained of having been fed with a "toom spune,"

when he had listened to the exhortations of a very poor preacher.

Ye hae run lang on little ground.

Ye hae sew'd that seam wi' a het needle and a burning thread.

Spoken facetiously when an article of clothing, which has been hurriedly mended, gives way soon.

Ye hae sitten your time, as mony a gude hen has done.

Ye hae skill o' man and beast and dogs that tak the st.u.r.dy.

Addressed satirically to persons who pretend to be very wise by those who do not admit their pretensions.

Ye hae stayed lang, and brought little wi' ye.

Ye hae ta'en the measure o' his foot.

Ye hae ta'en't upon you, as the wife did the dancin'.

Ye hae the best end o' the string.

Or the best of the argument.

Ye hae the wrang sow by the lug.

Ye hae tied a knot wi' your tongue you winna loose wi' your teeth.

Ye hae tint the tongue o' the trump.

"That is, you have lost the main thing."--_Kelly._

Ye hae tint yer ain stamach an' found a tyke's.

Applied to those who, when very hungry, eat a great deal.

Ye hae wrought a yoken and loosed in time.

You have wrought a day's work in proper time.

Ye ken naething but milk and bread when it's mool'd into ye.

Or you know or care about nothing but your meat.

Ye kenna what may cool your kail yet.

Ye live beside ill neebors.

"Spoken when people commend themselves, for if they deserved commendation, their neighbours would commend them."--_Kelly._

Ye'll beguile nane but them that lippen to ye.