Part 161

The deil made souters sailors that can neither steer nor row.

Applied to those who undertake work of which they are incapable.

The deil ne'er sent a wind out o' hell but he sail'd wi't.

The deil's a busy bishop in his ain diocese.

The deil's aye gude to his ain.

The deil's cow calves twice in ae year.

The deil's greedy, but ye're mislear'd.

The deil's greedy, sae are ye.

The deil's gude when he's pleased.

The deil's journeyman ne'er wants wark.

The deil's no sae black as he's ca'd.

"'Hout tout, neighbour, ye maunna tak the warld at its word,' said Saddletree; 'the very deil is no sae ill as he's ca'd; and I ken mair than ae advocate that may be said to hae some integrity as weel as their neighbours; that is, after a sort o' fashion o' their ain.'"--Heart of Midlothian.

The deil's ower grit wi' you.

"Ower grit," too familiar.

The deil's pet lambs lo'e Claverse's lads.

A saying of the Covenanters, that the followers of Graham of Claverhouse were on affectionate terms with the favourites of the Evil One.

The deil was sick, the deil a monk wad be; the deil grew hale, syne deil a monk was he.

Meaning that promises of amendment made on a sick-bed are seldom kept.

"All criminals preach under the gallows."--Italian.

The deil will tak little or he want a'.

The dorty dame may fa' in the dirt.

"Dorty," says Jamieson, "is applied to a female who is saucy with her suitors." That she may have to marry a more ineligible person than the one refused is here implied.

The drucken sot gets aye the drucken groat.

The e'ening brings a' hame.

The Englishman greets, the Irishman sleeps, but the Scotchman gangs till he gets it.

"A pretended account of the behaviour of these three nations when they want meat."--Kelly.

The farther ben the welcomer.

The farther in the deeper.