Part 169

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.

There's mirth among the kin when the howdie cries "A son."

There's mony a true tale tauld in jest.

There's mony a tod hunted that's no killed.

"'Oh, I hae nae friend left in the warld!--O, that I were lying dead at my mother's side in Newbattle kirkyard!'--'Hout, lassie,' said Ratcliffe, willing to show the interest which he absolutely felt, 'dinna be sae dooms doon-hearted as a' that; there's mony a tod hunted that's no killed. Advocate Langtale has brought folk through waur snappers than a' this, and there's no a cleverer agent than Nichil Novit e'er drew a bill o' suspension.'"--Heart of Midlothian.

There's mony chances, baith o' gude and ill, befa' folk in this warld.

There's muckle ado when dominies ride.

When people engage in a thing to which they are unaccustomed the necessity must be urgent. A Peeblesshire couplet embodies the same meaning:--

"There's muckle ado when muirland folk ride-- Boots and spurs, and a' to provide!"

There's muckle between the word and the deed.

There's muckle hid meat in a goose's ee.

There's muckle love in bands and bags.

"There's meikle good love in bands and bags, And siller and gowd's a sweet complexion; But beauty and wit, and virtue in rags, Have tint the art of gaining affection."--Tea-Table Miscellany.