Scots proverbs

Proverbs in Scots, a language similar to English spoken in parts of Scotland.

A

• A close mouth catches nae flees.
  • English equivalent: A closed mouth catches no flies.
  • Meaning: It is wise not speak when it is not necessary.
  • Henderson, Andrew (1832). Scottish proverbs. p. 2. 

• A fule may gie a wise man counsel.
  • Idiomatic translation: A fool may give a wise man counsel.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 40. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Anger begins wi' folly, and ends wi' repentance.
  • English equivalent: Whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad.
  • Henderson, Andrew (1832). Scottish proverbs. p. 1. 

• As the old Cock craws, the young Cock lears.
  • English equivalent: As the old cock crows, so crows the young.
  • Meaning: Children will become like older generations.
  • Stampoy, Pappity (2004). A Collection Of Scotch Proverbs. Kessinger Publishing. p. 7. 

B

• Bees that hae honey in their mouths, hae stings in their tales.
  • Literal translation: Who wants to lick honey must not shy away from the bees.
  • Idiomatic translation: Honey is sweet, but the bees sting.
  • Meaning: Suffering is the acceptable in the quest for something great.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 837. ISBN 0415096243. 

• By chance a cripple may catch a hare.
  • Idiomatic translation: A blind may sometimes hit the mark.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0415096243. 

D

• Delays are dangerous.
  • English equivalent: There is danger in delay.
  • Henderson, Andrew (1832). Scottish proverbs. p. 11. 

• Diffidence is the mother o' safety.
  • English equivalent: Diffidence is the right eye of prudence.
  • Meaning: Diffidently pondering something will often lead to a sensible solution.
  • Henderson, Andrew (1832). Scottish proverbs. p. 12. 

E

• Eild should hae honour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Gray hairs are honorable.
  • Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 35. 

H

• He that canna do as he would maun do as he may.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do as you may, if you can't do as you could.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 707. ISBN 0415096243. 

• He that keeks through a keyhole may see what will vex him.
  • English equivalent: Eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 238. ISBN 0415096243. 

I

• In at ae lug and out at the ither.
  • Translation: In at one ear and out at the other.
  • English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.
  • Meaning: For various reasons a good advice or a genuine warning is often disregarded or considered of no importance.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• It is a mean mouse that has but ae hole.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is a poor mouse that has only one hole.
  • Meaning: It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 375. ISBN 0415096243. 

N

• Naething venture, naething have.
  • Idiomatic translation: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Meaning: It is necessary to take risks in order to achieve something.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 955. ISBN 0415096243. 

O

• Our ain reek's better than ither folk's fire.
  • Idiomatic translation: Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 754. ISBN 0415096243. 

R

• The remedy is worse than the disease.
  • English equivalent: The remedy is often worse than the disease; Burn not your house to rid it off the mouse.
  • Ray, John (1855). A Hand-book of Proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). H.G. Bohn. p. 514. 

S

• Seldom lies the dell dead by the dyke side.
  • Meaning: You are not to expect that difficulties and dangers will vanish without any effort on your own.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 72. 

• Speak well of the highlands, but dwell in the laigh.
  • Idiomatic translation: Praise the mountains, but love plains.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 661. ISBN 0415096243. 

T

• The smiths mear and the souters wife are aye warst shod.
  • Idiomatic translation: Cobblers' children are worst shod.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 661. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Time and tide for nae man bide.
  • Idiomatic translation: Time and tide waits for no man.
  • Meaning: The Future will forsake those who forsake him; Focus on the major worries you have today, because you will have even more major worries tomorrow.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 723. ISBN 0415096243. 

W

• What carlins hain, cats eat.
  • Idiomatic translation: Cats eat what hussies spare.
  • Note: "Cat" is a slang term for prostitute.
  • Meaning: An inferior workman might defeat his competition by making the services he provides more remarkable.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 661. ISBN 0415096243. 

• When ae door steeks anither opens.
  • Idiomatic translation: When one door closes another opens.
  • Meaning: When your life seems to be changing, it is better to adapt to the changes rather than be stubborn.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 845. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Weel is that weel does.
  • Idiomatic translation: Handsome is that handsome does.
  • Meaning: Being pleasant is more important than good looks.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 879. ISBN 0415096243. 

Y

• Ye maun tak the will for the deed.
  • Idiomatic translation: Take the will for the deed.
  • Meaning: Judge by the well intentioned effort, and not its effects.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 881. ISBN 0415096243. 

See also

• English proverbs
• Shakespearian proverbs