Part 174

They are eith hindered that are no furdersome.

They who are unwilling to do a thing are easily hindered.

They are sad rents that come in wi' tears.

They buy gudes cheap that bring hame naething.

They craw crouse that craw last.

Because they who "craw" last exult that a matter is definitely known to be in their own favour.

They hae need o' a canny cook that hae but ae egg to their dinner.

They draw the cat harrow.

"That is, they thwart one another."--Kelly.

"For every lord, as he thought best, Brocht in ane bird to fill the nest; To be ane watcheman to his marrow, They gan to draw at the cat-harrow."--Sir David Lyndsay.

They'll flit in the Merse for a hen's gerse.

"They will flit for a matter of very small importance. Formerly in Berwickshire every hind was allowed to keep a few hens; and some of them actually removed for the sake of the hen's keep. Hence the saying."--G. Henderson.

They gang far aboot that never meet.

They'll gree better when they gang in by ither kirk doors.

Spoken of two persons who have quarrelled, meaning that they should avoid each other.

They maun be sune up that cheat the tod.

They maun hunger in frost that winna work in fresh.

They may dunsh that gie the lunch.

"Dunsh" is a word for which there is no perfect equivalent in English. It means to jog or thrust in a violent manner; but those who know its proper application will see how feeble these meanings are. Jamieson approaches it when he says it is to "push as a mad bull." The proverb here means that they upon whom we depend can do with us as they please.

They may ken by your beard what ye had on your board.

They need muckle that will be content wi' naething.

They ne'er baked a gude cake but may bake an ill ane.

They ne'er gie wi' the spit but they gat wi' the ladle.

Or they never confer a small favour, or give a trifling gift, but they expect a greater in return.

They ne'er saw great dainties that thought a haggis a feast.

They're a' ae sow's pick.

Or all one kind--all bad alike.

"They're a bonny pair," as the craw said o' his feet.