The Proverbs of Scotland Part 52

That is, hunger is good sauce for common meat, but a wet turf (_vulgariter_, "a damper") to love.

Hunger will break through stane wa's.

The English add to this, "or anything except a Suffolk cheese."

Hungry dogs are blythe o' bursten puddins.

"To him who is hungry any bread seems good, or none comes amiss."--_Ray._

Hungry folk are soon angry.

Hungry stewards wear mony shoon.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

I ance gied a dog his hansel, an' he was hanged ere night.

Used as a reason for not giving a gratuity, intimating that it would harm rather than benefit a person.

I bake nae bread by your shins.

Or, I am not indebted to you for any obligation.

I brought him aff the moor for G.o.d's sake, and he begins to bite the bairns.

"Spoken when they whom we have supported make unhandsome and unthankful returns."--_Kelly._

I canna afford ye baith tale and lugs.

Spoken to a person who is inattentive to what has been said to him, and who asks to have it repeated.

I canna baith spin an' rin.

I canna sell the cow an' sup the milk.

"He cannot eat his cake and have it."--_English._

I can scarce believe ye, ye speak so fair.

I can see as far into a millstane as he that pick'd it.

I carena whether the fire gae about the roast, or the roast gae about the fire, if the meat be ready.

That is, no matter what means are employed to accomplish an end, so that it be done.

I carena whether the tod worry the goose, or the goose worry the tod.

I could hae done that mysel, but no sae weel.

I deny that wi' baith hands and a' my teeth.

Expressive of the most emphatic denial.

Idle dogs worry sheep.

Idle young, needy auld.

If a' be weel I'll be wyteless.

"Spoken with a suspicion that all will not be well, and if so, I have no hand in it."--_Kelly._

If a' bowls row right.

"Ye are right, Mr Owen--ye are right; ye speak weel and wisely; and I trust bowls will row right, though they are awee ajee e'enow."--_Rob Roy._

If ae sheep loup the d.y.k.e, a' the rest will follow.

If a gude man thrive, a' thrives wi' him.

If a lee could hae chokit you, ye wad hae been dead langsyne.

An indirect or jocular manner of intimating to a person that he is guilty of falsehood.

If a man's gaun down the brae ilka ane gies him a jundie.

"If" an' "an" spoil mony a gude charter.

If ane winna, anither will; sae are maidens married.

If ane winna, anither will--the morn's the market day.

If a' thing's true, _that's_ nae lee.

A saying expressive of unbelief of some improbable story.

If a' things were to be done twice, ilka ane wad be wise.

If a' your hums and haws were hams and haggises, the parish needna fear a dearth.

"To 'Hum and Haw,' to dally or trifle with one about any business by indefinite and unintelligible language."--_Jamieson._

If better were within better wad come out.

If Candlemas day be dry and fair, the half o' winter's to come and mair; if Candlemas day be wet and foul, the half o' winter's gane at Yule.