The Proverbs of Scotland Part 29

Fair in the cradle may be foul in the saddle.

Fair maidens wear nae purses.

Fair words are nae cause o' feuds.

Fair words hurt ne'er a bane, but foul words break mony a ane.

Fair words winna mak the pat boil.

Falkirk bairns dee ere they thrive.

Falkirk bairns mind naething but mischief.

Fa' on the feeblest, the beetle among the bairns.

"Spoken when we do a thing at a venture, that may be good for some and bad for another; and let the event fall upon the most unfortunate. Answers to the English 'Among you blind harpers.'"--_Kelly._

Fancy flees before the wind.

Fancy was a bonnie dog, but Fortune took the tail frae't.

Fann'd fires and forced love ne'er dae weel.

Far ahint maun follow the faster.

Far ahint that mayna follow, an' far before that canna look back.

Far awa fowls hae fair feathers.

"She wad vote the border knight, Though she should vote her lane; For far-off fowls hae feathers fair, And fools o' change are fain."--_Burns._

Far frae court far frae care.

Far frae my heart's my husband's mother.

Far sought and dear bought is gude for ladies.

Farewell frost, fair weather neist.

Fare-ye-well, Meg Dorts, and e'en's ye like.

A jocose adieu to those who go away in the sulks.

Farmer's fauch gars lairds laugh.

Farther east the shorter west.

Farthest frae the kirk aye soonest at it.

In contradistinction to those who are "near the kirk but far frae grace."

Fas.h.i.+ous fools are easiest flisket.

Troublesome or fretful persons are easily offended.

Fast bind, fast find.

This saying is very old, and common to many countries. Shakespeare terms it "a proverb never stale to thrifty minds."

Fat flesh freezes soon.

Fat hens are aye ill layers.

Fat paunches bode lean pows.

Ray explains this by adding, "Full bellies make empty skulls."

Fause folk should hae mony witnesses.

Fausehood maks ne'er a fair hinder-end.

Meaning, that falsehood is sure to be exposed in the long run.

Favours unused are favours abused.

Feather by feather the goose is plucked.

February, fill the dike, be it black or be it white; if it's white, it's the better to like.

f.e.c.kfu' folk can front the bauldest wind.

"I own 'tis cauld encouragement to sing, When round ane's lugs the blattran' hailstanes ring; But f.e.c.kfu' folk can front the bauldest wind, An' slunk through muirs, an' never fash their mind."

--_Allan Ramsay._

f.e.c.kless folk are fain o' ane anither.

"f.e.c.kless folk," silly people. Fools are fond of one another.

f.e.c.kless fools should keep canny tongues.

Silly or mischievous people should be cautious what they say.

Feed a cauld, but hunger a colic.

Feeding out o' course maks mettle out o' kind.

Feeling has nae fellow.