The Proverbs of Scotland Part 80

Kippen, in Stirlingshire, was formerly so very remote and little frequented by strangers, that a visit to it was jocularly deemed equivalent to going out of the world altogether; and the remark pa.s.sed into a proverb, used when a person is going to a strange place. The feudal lord of this district was formerly styled King of Kippen.

Own debt and crave days.

Ower braw a purse to put a plack in.

That is, externally grander or more showy than internal means justify. "Spoken when one builds a magnificent house upon a small income."--_Kelly._

Ower high, ower laigh, ower het, ower cauld.

That is, from one extreme to the other.

Ower holy was hanged, but rough and sonsy wan awa'.

Ower mony cooks spoil the broth.

Ower mony grieves hinder the wark.

Ower mony irons in the fire, some maun cool.

Spoken when a person has too many projects in hand; meaning that some must fail.

"Ower mony maisters," quo' the puddock to the harrow, when ilka tooth gied her a tug.

Ower muckle hameliness spoils gude courtesy.

"Too much familiarity breeds contempt."--_English._

Ower muckle loose leather about your chafts.

A rude but expressive way of saying that a person is not looking well, or is, _Scotice_, "thin."

Ower muckle cookery spoils the brochan.

Ower muckle o' ae thing is gude for naething.

Ower narrow counting culyes nae kindness.

To "culye" is to gain, to draw forth. "When people deal in rigour with us we think ourselves but little obliged to them."--_Kelly._

Ower reckless may repent.

Ower sicker, ower loose.

Or, you are either too harsh and stringent, or the very reverse.

Ower strong meat for your weak stamack.

Ower sune is easy mended.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Patch and lang sit, build and soon flit.

A slow and gradual rise is likely to prove a permanent one; but a rapid or sudden one merely temporary; or, as the Irishman said, "Up like a rocket, and down like its stick."

Paterson's mare aye goes foremost.

Pay-before-hand's never weel ser'd.

The tradesman is said to be troubled with two kinds of bad customers, viz., those who pay in advance, or "before-hand," and those who do not pay at all.

Pay him in his ain coin.

Pennyless souls maun pine in purgatory.

Penny-wheep's gude enough for muslin-kail.

"Penny-wheep," says Jamieson, "is the weakest kind of small beer, sold at a _penny_ per bottle;" and muslin-kail is a common kind of broth. The proverb expresses that poor service merits poor reward.

Peter's in, Paul's out.

"Spoken when, after we had wanted a necessary person a long time, upon his arrival, another equally necessary is gone."--_Kelly._

Pigs may whistle, but they hae an ill mouth for't.

Applied when an awkward person is attempting to perform some work of which he is incapable.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

Pint stoups hae lang lugs.

For a great deal is said over them, which, but for their influence, would not be heard.

Pith's gude at a' play but threading o' needles.

Plack aboot's fair play.

Placks and bawbees grow pounds.

Plaister thick and some will stick.

Play carle wi' me again if you daur.

"Do not dare to offer to contest with me. Spoke by parents to stubborn children."--_Kelly._