The Proverbs of Scotland Part 31

"A precise woman in the country would not sell her milk on the Sunday, but would give it for as good again. Spoken when we suspect people's kindness to be mercenary."--_Kelly._

For a tint thing, carena.

Do not fret about a thing or opportunity which has been lost.

For better acquaintance' sake, as Sir John Ramsay said when he drank to his father.

"Sir John Ramsay had been long abroad, and coming home he accidentally met with his father, who did not know him; he invites his father to a gla.s.s of wine, and drinks to him for more acquaintance."--_Kelly._

Forbid a fool a thing, an' that he'll do.

Force without foresight aften fails.

Forewarned is forearmed.

For fashion's sake, as dogs gae to market.

For faut o' wise men fools sit on binks.

Forgotten pain, when follows gain.

For gude cheese and cheer mony haunt the house.

Many frequent the house for the sake of what they get to eat.

For my ain pleasure, as the man thrashed his wife.

For puir folk they seldom ring.

Fortune and futurity are no to be guessed at.

Fortune favours the brave.

Fortune gains the bride.

Fortune helps the hardy.

"For I haif aft hard suith men say, And we may see oursells, That fortune helps the hardy aye, And pultrones aye repels."--_Cherrie and the Slae._

For want o' a steek a shoe may be tint.

"A st.i.tch in time saves nine." The old nursery lines fully explain the philosophy of this doctrine. "For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the man was lost."

Foster the guest that stays--further him that maun gang.

Foul fa' nought, and then he'll get naething.

Used in satirical allusion to those who expect a legacy from a very improbable source.

Foul water slockens fire.

Frae saving comes having.

Frae the teeth forward.

He speaks from the lips only, not from the heart.

Freedom's a fair thing.

Fresh fish and poor friends soon grow ill-faur'd.

Fresh fish and unwelcome friends stink before they're three days auld.

Friday flit, short time sit.

Meaning that to remove on a Friday is unlucky.

Friday rules Sunday.

Friends are like fiddle-strings, they mauna be screwed ower ticht.

Friends gree best separate.

Friendship canna stand aye on ae side.

Frost and fausehood hae baith a dirty wa' gang.

Fry stanes wi' b.u.t.ter and the broo will be gude.

Fu' o' courtesy, fu' o' craft.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Gae shoe the goose.

Gae hap and hang yoursel, then you'll dee dancing.

Gae kiss your Lucky--she lives in Leith.

"A cant phrase, from what rise I know not, but it is made use of when one thinks it is not worth while to give a distinct answer, or think themselves foolishly accused."--_Allan Ramsay._

Gae to bed wi' the lamb and rise wi' the laverock.

Gae to the deil, and he'll bishop you.