-- Bho: -- Gaelic Proverbs and Proverbial Sayings -- With English Translations -- by T.D. MacDonald -- c. 1926 -- -- Thaidhp Seònag NicFhionghainn a-steach seanfhacail 1-108, samhradh 1993. -- Thaidhp Caoimhín Ó Donnaíle a-steach an còrr dhiubh. -- Cha deach verification sam bith a dhèanamh orra fhathast. -- -- Stuth eadar [...] = italics. -- Stuth eadar {...} = sidenote --td 25 MISCELLANEOUS 1. Anail a Ghaidheil, air a mhullach! [The Gael's breathing place - on the summit!] 2. Abair ach beagan agus abair gu math e. [Say but little and say it well.] 3. Abair sin, nuair a chaitheas tu cruach mhòine còmhla ris. [Say that, when you have spent a stack of peats along with it.] 4. A bhliadhn' is gainne a mhin, Dean fuine mhòr aineamh. [During the year when meal is scarce Let big bakings be few.] 5. A'chungaidh leighis is goirte, 'Si is moth'tha deaneamh feum. [The medicine (or liniment) that hurts the most Is generally the best healer.] 6. A cur suas inisg, sa bun aig a bhaile. [Spreading a fama, and its root at home.] 7. A ghaoth ag iarraidh na'm port. [The wind seeking the harbours.] 8. A h-uile cù air a chù choimheach. [All dogs down on the strange dog.] --td 26 9. A sgaoladh na'n sguab 's a trusadh na'n siobag. [Scattering the sheaves and gathering the straws.] 10. Aithnichear an leomhan air scriob de iongann. [The lion is known by the scrath of his claw.] 11. An ràmh is fhaisg air laimh, iomair leis. [The oar that's nearest at hand, row with it.] 12. An neach nach cìnn na chadal, Cha chìnn e na dhuisg. [He who will not prosper in his sleep. Will not prosper when awake.] 13. A mheud 'sa gheibh thu gu math, Se'n lughad a gheibh thu de'n olc. [The more you get of what's good, The less you will get of what's bad.] 14. Am fear is fliuche, rachadh e do'n tobair. [He who is wettest, let him go to the well.] 15. An luigh nach fhaighear cha'n ì a chobhras. [The herb that cannot be found will not give relief.] 16. A taomadh na mara le cliabh. [Bailing the sea with a creel.] 17. A h-uile rud ach an rud bu chòir. [Everything but the right thing.] 18. Adhaircean fada air a chrodh a bhios anns a cheò. [Long horns on the cattle that are seen through the mist.] --td 27 19. Air gnothaich na cuthaig. [On the cuckoo's business.] {A1. - A chuir a ruith na cuthaig. [Sent to chase the cuckoo.] S.P.-[A gowk's errand.]} 20. An ceòl air feadh na fìdhle. [The music throughout the fiddle.] 21. An làmh a bheir 'si a gheibh, Mar a d'thugar do dhroch dhuin'e. [The hand that gives is the hand that will receive, Except when given to a bad man.] 22. Am fear, is fhaide chaidh bho'n bhaile, Chual e'n ceòl bu mhilse leis nuair thill e dhachaidh. [Who farthest away e'er did roam Heard the sweetest music on returning home.] 23. A lion beag ìs bheagan, mar a dh' ith an cat an t-iasg. [Little by little, as the cat eat the fish.] 24. An rud a nithear gu math, chithear a bhuil. [What is well done will be shown by results.] 25. A chuid de Fhlaitheanas dha. [His share of Paradise to him.] {"Flaitheanas" according to our etomologists, is from "Flath Innis", "The Isle of Heroes," the heaven of Celtic Mythology. Here the souls of the brave (none other were deserving), went for enternal and blissful repose, at the end of their warrior-careers. Cowardice was deemed a sin that barred the guilty from entering that coveted place. The other place, in those days, was not the brimstone-fueled --td 28 fire of later beliefs, but a desolated area of ice and snow; cold, not heat, was the meted punishment.} 26. Am facal a thig a Ifrinn -- Se a gheibh, ma 's e 's mo bheir. [The message from hell -- Give to the highest bidder.] 27. An rud a thèid fad o'n t-sùil Thèid e fad o'n chrìdhe. [What goes far from the eye Will go far from the heart.] E.P. - [Out of sight out of mind.] But even proverbs may be mistaken sometimes, as for instance:- ["Kind eyes may speak the heart's desire, When heart for heart doth beat, But fond hearts will communicate When the eyes cannot meet."] 28. An turadh, an t-anmoch, am muir-làn, 's an Dòmhnach. [Fair weather, the evening, high water, and the Sabbath.] {Does this imply a choice of circumstances?} 29. An uair a bhios sinn ri òrach Bidheadhmaid ri òrach; 'S nuair a bhios sinn ri maorach, Bidheadhmaid ri maorach. [When we are seeking gold, let us be seeking gold; And when we are seeking bait let us be seeking bait.] {E.P. -[One thing at a time, and everything in its own time.]} --td 29 30. An uair a chluinneas tu sgeul gun dreach na creid i. [When you hear a tale that is not pleasant, do not believe it. {This means that one should turn a deaf ear to scandal mongerig.} 31. Am fear nach gheidh na h-airm 'nam na sìth, Cha bhi iad aige 'n am a chogaidh. [Who keeps not his arms in times of peace, Will have no arms in times of war.] 32. An car a h' anns an t-seana mhaide, Is duilich a thoirt as. [Straightening the bend in old wood Is a difficult job.] 33. Air rèir do mheas ort fhèin 'S ann a mheasas càch thu. [According as thou esteemest thyself Others will esteem thee.] 34. Am boll' air an sgillinn Is gun an sgillinn ann. [The boll (of meal) at a penny And no penny in hand.] 35. A cheud sgeul air fear an taighe, Is sgeul gu làth' air an aoidh. [The first story from the host, And tales till morning from the guest.] {This one recalls old Highland manners and customs, with an "Arabian Nights" atmosphere about them.} --td 30 36. Am fear a bhios fad aig an aiseig Gheibh e thairis uaireigin. [He that waits long at the ferry Will get across sometime.] (E.P. - Everything comes to him that waits.) 37. Am fear nach seall roimhe Seallaidh e as a dheigh. [He who will not look before him Will look behind him.] 38. An triuir nach fuiling an cniodachadh, Seann bhean, cearc, agus caora. [Three that won't bear caressing, An old woman, a hen, and a sheep.] 39. A bheairt sin a bhios cearr, 'Se foighidinn is fhear a dheanamh ris. [The loom (or engine) that has gone wrong Patience is best for putting it right.] 40. An ràthad fada glan, is an ràthad goirid salach. [The long clean road, and the short dirty road.] {The latter is taken by those who are in a hurry to get rich, irrespective of the means adopted.} 41. A bhò is miosa 'th' anns a bhuaile 'S is cruaidh ni gèum. [The worst cow in the fold Lows the loudest.] 42. An rud nach gabh leasachadh, 'S fheudar cur suas leis. [What cannot be helped Must be put up with.] {E.P. - [Crying over spilt milk, etc.]} --td 31 43. An ni 's an teid dàil theid dearmaid. [What is delayed will be forgotten.] 44. An rud is fhiach a ghabhail, 's fhaich e iarraidh. [If it is worth taking, it is worth asking for.] 45. An rud a thig gu dona falbhaidh e leis a ghaoith. [What is got by guile will disappear with the wind.] 46. A mire ri cuilein, cha sgur e gus an sgal e. [Playing with a pup ends in a howl.] 47. Be sin an conadh a chuir do 'n choille. [That were sending fuel to the wood.] {E.P. - [Sending coals to Newcastle.]} 48. Bu mhath an sgàthan sùil caraid. [A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.] 49. Buinidh urram do'n aois. [Honour belongs to old age.] 50. Bheir an èigin air rud-eigin a dheanamh. [Necessity will get something done.] {E.P. - [Necessity is the mother of invention.]} 51. Bheirear comhairle seachad ach cha toirear giùlan. [Council can be given, but not conduct.] 52. Bheir duine beath' air èigin, ach cha toir e rath air èigin. [A man may force a livelihood, but he cannot force fortune.] --td 52 53. Bheir aon fhear each gu uisge Ach cha toir a dhà-dheug air òl. [One man can lead a horse to the water, But twelve cannot make it drink.] {Ae man may lead a horse to the water, But ane and twenty winna gar him drink. - Allan Ramsay's Proverbs.} 54. Bior a d'dhòrn na fàisg; Easbhuidheachd ri d' nàmhaid na ruisg; Ri gearradh-sgian a d' fheol na èisd; Beisd nimheil ri d' bheò na duisg. [A thorn in your grasp, do not squeeze; Thy wants to thine enemy do not bare; The dagger's point to your flesh do not hear; A venomous reptile do not rouse.] 55. Bu mhath ìmpidh a choilich mu shiol a thoirt do na cearcan. [Well was the cock's petition for corn for the hens.] 56. Be sin ìm a chuir do thaigh àraich. [That were sending butter to the farmhouse.] 57. Bithidh bean-mhuinntir aig an fheannaig 's an Fhoghar. [The crow has her maid-servant at harvest time.] 58. Beiridh caora dhubh uan geal. [A black ewe may have a white lamb.] 59. Beus na tuath, far am bithear se nithear. [The manners of the folk where thou art thou must adopt.] {E.P. - When in Rome do as the Romans do.} --td 33 60. Balach, is balgaire tighearna, dithis nach còir a leigeil leòtha. [A conceited fellow and a laird's tyke Two who should not be allowed their own way.] 62. Buail am balach air a charbad, Is buail am balgair air a shròin. [Strike the knave on the neck, And knock the tyke on the nose.] 63. Bithidh sonas an lorg na caitheamh. [Felicity follows generosity.] 64. Bhiodh sonas aig an strodhaire Na'm faigheadh e mar a chaitheadh e. [The squanderer would be happy were he to get as he squandered.] 65. Bithidh cron duine cho mòr ri beinn mas leir dha fhèin e. [A man's faults will be as large as a mountain ere he himself sees time.] 66. Bithidh na gabhair bodhair 's an fhoghar. [The goats will be deaf at harvest time.] {E.P. [There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.]} 67. Brisidh an teanga bhog an cneath. [A smooth tongue will blunt wrath.] {E.P. - [A soft answer turneth away wrath. - Solomon.]} 68. Bithidh an osnaich dheireanach càidhteach. [The last sigh will be painful.] --td 34 69. Biodh earlas meirleach agad air gach neach, Ach na dean meirleach de neach idir. [Have the caution of a thief over every one, But make no one a thief.] 70. Bha iasad ga ghabhail 's ga thoirt riamh air feadh an t-saoghal. [Borrowing and lending have always been world-wide habits.] 71. B'olc-an-airidh gun deanadh aimsir thioram dolaidh. ['Twere a pity that dry weather should do harm.] 72. Bòidheach, cha'nn ann dàicheil. [Pretty, not plausible.] 73. Beiridh am beag tric air a mhòr ainmig. [The little frequent will overtake the infrequent large.] 74. B' i sin reul 's an oidhche dhoilleir. [That were a star on a dark night.] 75. B'fhearr a bhi gun bhreith na bhi gun teagasg. [Better be without being than without instruction.] 76. B'fhearr gun tòiseachadh na sguir gun chriochnachadh. [Better not to begin than stop without finishing.] 77. Bheir eu-dochas misneachd do'n ghealtair. [Desperation will give courage to a coward.] 78. Bidh an ùbhal ìs fhearr air a mheangan is àirde. [The best apple will be on the highest bough.] --td 35 79. Cha bhi am bochd-soghail saoibhir. [The luxurious poor will not be rich.] {An apt companion to the above is:-} 80. Cha bhi aon duine crionna 'A measg mille amadan. [There will not be one wise man Among a thousand fools.] 81. Cha tig as a phoit ach an toit a bhios innte. [No fumes from the pot, but from what it contains.] 82. Cha bhi luathas agus grinneas an cuideachd a' cheile. [Quick and fine don't combine.] 83. Cha d'thug gaol luath Nach d'thug fuath clis. [Quick to love, quick to hate.] 84. Cha do chuir a ghuallain ris Nach do chuir tùr thairis. [None ever set his shoulder to That did not what he sought to do.] 85. Cha toir an uaisle goil air a phoit. [Gentility will not boil the pot.] 86. "Cha'n eil mi na m' sgoileir, 's cha'n àill leam a bhi," Ma'n d'thuairt a mhadadh-ruadh ris a mhadadh-allaidh. ["I am not a scholar, and don't wish to be", As the fox said to the wolf.] {There are several versions of the story from which the above saying originated. Campbell's "West Highland Tales," and Nicholson give slightly different versions, --td 36 The following is one:- The fox and the wolf, walking together, came upon an ass quietly grazing in a meadow. The fox pointed out an inscription on one of the ass's hind hoofs, and, addressing the wolf, said: "Go you and read that, you are a scholar and I am not." The wolf, flattered by the request, went proudly forward, and coming too close to the ass, got knocked in the head, leaving the fox to enjoy their common spoil. 87. Cha'n i a mhuc is sàimhche Is lugh a dh'itheas de'n drabh. [It is not the quietest sow that eats the least.] 88. Ceud maìlle fàilte. [A hundred thousand welcomes.] 89. Cha robh naigheachd mhòr riamh Nach robh na chall do dhuin'eigin. [There never was great news But was a loss to somebody.] {Rather the opposite of the English proverb, which says: "['Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good.]" But the import is the same in both.} 90. Chaidh theab le creag, Is theab nach deachaidh. ["Almost" went over a rock, And almost didn't.] 91. Cha'n aithnich thu duine Gus am bi do ghnothaich ris. [You will never know a man, Until you do business with him.] 92. Cha'n fhiach gille gun char, 'S cha'n fhiach gille nan car. [The man without a turn is worthless, And the man of many turns is worthless.] {The man of many turns implies a "twister".} --td 37 93. Cha'n eil mòran lochd 's an crìdh a bhios a gabhail òran. [There is not much guile in the heart that is aye singing songs.] 94. Cha'n eil ùaill an aghaidh tairbh. [Pride is not against profit.] 95. Cha'n eil bàs fir gun ghràs fir. [There is no man's death without another man's gain.] 96. Cha sheas càirdeas air a lèth-chois. [Friendship will not stand on one leg.] 97. Coin bhadhail is clann dhaoin eile! [Stray dogs and other people's children!] 98. Cha'n fheum an ti a shealbhaicheas an toradh am blàth a mhilleadh. [He who would enjoy the fruit must not spoil the blossom.] 99. Cha'n fhiach bròn a ghnàth, 'S cha'n fhiach ceòl a ghnàth. [Sorrowing always is not good, And music (mirth) always is not good.] 100. Cha cheòl do dhuin' a bhròn uil' aithris. [It is no music to a man to recite all his woe.] 101. Cha toir muir no mònadh a chuid bho dhuine sona, Ach cha ghleidh duine dona allt. [Neither main nor mountain can deprive a prosperous man of his possessions, But the unfortunate man cannot retain a rivulet.] --td 38 102. Cha do bhris deagh urram ceann duine riamh, Agus is mòr-am-beud a bhi uair 's am bith as aonais. [Due civility never broke a man's head, And great the pity to be at any time without it.] 103. Cha chuirear gad air gealladh. [A promise can never be tied (or tethered.)] 104. Cha'n eil fealladh ann cho mòr ris an gealladh gun choimhlionadh. [There is no deceit so great as a promise unfullfilled.] 105. Cluinnidh am bodhar fuaim an airgead. [The deaf will hear the clink of money.] 106. Cha dean cridh misgeach breug. [The inebriated heart will not lie.] 107. Cha robh na sgeulaiche nach robh breugach. [There ne'er was a tale-bearer but was un-truthful.] 108. Cha'n uaisle duine na cheird. [No man is above his trade.] {The tradition associated with the above is that, when Alastair MacColla (Alexander MacDonald), the Great Montrose's principal liutenant, found himself pent up with a handful of followers, surrounded by the Covenanters, a tinker of the name of Stewart, from Athol, made his appearance among MacDonald's men, and with his claymore hewed down the Covenanters till but few were left. MacDonald, astonished at the timely succour and the successful onslaught of the unknown warrior, bade him be called to his presence after the fray, and asked him who and what he was. The tinker modestly replied that he was but a tinker, and hardly deserved to be named among men, far less --td 39 among such brave men as were then present. MacDonald, turning round to his followers, proclaimed the heroic tinker's praise, citing the words quoted, and which are now a proverb, as above. 109. Cuiridh aon bheart as an duine gu lom, is gun bhonn fo cheill, Is cuiridh beart eil' e ann, ach a bhabhail na am féin. [One hapless act may undo a man, And one timely one will re-establish him.] 110. Cumaidh a mhuc a foil fhéin glan. [The pig will keep its own stye clean.] 111. Cha toill iarratas achmhasan. [A request merits no reproof.] 112. Cha bhi fuachd air ualachan air fuaraid an làtha. [The coxcomb feels no cold no matter how cold the day.] 113. Cha mhisde sgeul mhath aithris da uair. [A god tale is not the worse of being twice told.] 114. Ceannaich mar t-fheum, Is reic mar's àill leat. [Buy according to your needs, And sell as you may desire.] 115. Cha deanar buanachd gun chall. [There is no profit without loss.] 116. Cha d' dhùin dorus nach d'fhosgail dorus. [No door closes without opening another door.] 117. Còrdadh a reubeadh reachd. [Agreements breaking the law.] --td 40 118. Ceilichidh seirc aineamh. [Freindship conceals blemishes.] 119. Cha d'thainig eun glan riamh a nead a chlamhain. [There ne'er came a clean bird out of a kite's nest.] 120. Cha bhi uaill gun dragh. [Vanity is not without trouble.] 121. Cha bhris mallachd cnaimh. [A curse breaks no bones.] 122. Cha bheathaich beannachd neach 's am bi. [A blessing feeds no one.] 123. Cha'n fhaighear math gun dragh. [Good is not obtained without trouble.] 124. Cha'n eil cleith air an olc, Ach gun a dheanamh. [There is no concealment of evil But by avoiding it.] 125. Cha'n eil saoi gun choimeas. [There is no hero without compare.] 126. Cha bhi luathas is grinneas còmhla. [Quickness and neatness do not go together.] {E.P. - [The more hurry the less speed.]} 127. Cha'n eil air a mheirleach ach dà shùil, Ach tha dà-shùil-dheug ga fheitheamh. [The thief has only two eyes, But there are a dozen eyes watching him.] 128. Cha robh ceileach nach robh breugach. [There ne'er was reticent, but was untruthful.] --td 41