The Proverbs of Scotland Part 95

There's a sliddery stane before the ha' door.

"Signifying the uncertainty of court favour, and the promises of great men."--_Kelly._

There's as mony Johnstones as Jardines.

Meaning that there are as many on the one side as there are on the other; that the chances are equal.

There's a storm in somebody's nose, licht where it like.

Spoken when we see a person angry, and about to break into a pa.s.sion.

There's a time to gley and a time to look straught.

There's a tough sinew in an auld wife's heel.

There's a whaup i' the raip.

There is a knot in the rope--there is something wrong.

There's a word in my wame, but it's ower far down.

Spoken by a person who is at a loss for a particular word to express himself.

There's aye a glum look where there's cauld crowdy.

Glum looks when there is cold shoulder of mutton for dinner, in England, are proverbial.

There's aye a wimple in a lawyer's clew.

"'The judge didna tell us a' he could hae tell'd us, if he had liked, about the application for pardon, neighbours,' said Saddletree; 'there is aye a wimple in a lawyer's clew; but it's a wee bit o' a secret.'"--_Heart of Midlothian._

There's aye enough o' friends when folk hae ought.

"Daft Will Speirs was sitting on the roadside picking a large bone, when the Earl of Eglinton came along. 'Weel, Will,' said the Earl, 'what's this you've got noo?' 'Ay, ay,' said Will, 'anew o' friends when folk has ocht; ye gaed by me a wee sin', an' ne'er loot on ye saw me.'"--_The Scotch Haggis._

There's aye ill-will among cadgers.

Synonymous with "Two of a trade seldom agree."--_French._

There's aye life in a living man.

There's aye some water where the stirkie drowns.

There's aye sorrow at somebody's door.

"There's baith meat and music here," quo' the dog when he ate the piper's bag.

There's beild beneath an auld man's beard.

Beild, that is, shelter or protection.

There's brains enough ootside his head.

There's but ae gude wife in the warld, and ilka ane thinks he has her.

"This rule admits large exceptions, for some are fully apprised of the contrary."--_Kelly._

There's life in a mussel as lang as it cheeps.

There's little for the rake after the shool.

"There is little to be gotten of such a thing when covetous people have had their will of it."--_Kelly._

There's little wit in the pow that lichts the candle at the lowe.

He has little wit who does a thing in a dangerous or extravagant manner. There is an addition to this saying common in the north, "And as little in the croon, that kindles 't ower far doon."

There's little sap in a dry pea-shaup.

"There's little to reck," quo' the knave to his neck.

There's mair ado than a dish to lick.

There's mair knavery among kirkmen than honesty amang courtiers.

There's mair knavery on sea and land than all the warld beside.

"A facetious bull, upon mentioning of some knavish action."--_Kelly._

There's mair room without than within.

A churlish remark of one who thinks his company is not wanted.

There's mair ways o' killing a dog than hanging him.

There's mair ways than ane o' keeping craws frae the stack.

There's mair ways to the wood than ane.

There's mair whistling wi' you than gude red land.

Or more play than work.

"'Red land,' ground turned up with the plough."--_Jamieson._

There's measure in a' things, even in kail supping.

"There is reason in roasting of eggs."--_English._