Part 182

Anglice, Good luck to everything by which we earn money.

"We hounds slew the hare," quo' the messan.

Welcome's the best dish in the kitchen.

We'll bark oursels ere we buy dogs sae dear.

Addressed to persons who ask exorbitant prices for their wares: meaning that sooner than agree to their terms, we will do without the article altogether.

We'll bear wi' the stink when it brings in the clink.

We'll meet ere hills meet.

"Men may meet: but mountains never."--English.

We'll ne'er big sandy bourochs thegither.

"This refers," says Jamieson, "to the custom of children building houses in the sand for sport." The proverb means, after such an occurrence we need never expect to be on terms of intimacy again.

We maun a' gang ae gate.

"'Ay--and is it even sae?' said Meg; 'and has the puir bairn been sae soon removed frae this fashious world? Ay, ay, we maun a' gang ae gate--crackit quart-stoups and geisen'd barrels--leaky quaighs are we a', and canna keep in the liquor of life--Ohon, sirs!'"--St Ronan's Well.

We maun live by the living, and no by the dead.

We maun tak the crap as it grows.

We may ken your meaning by your mumping.

"To mump, to hint, to aim at."--Jamieson.

"Ye may speak plainer, lass, gin ye incline, As, by your mumping, I maist ken your mind."--Shirref.

We ne'er ken the worth o' water till the well gae dry.

Were it no for hope the heart wad break.

Wersh parritch, neither gude to fry, boil, or sup cauld.

West wind north about never hauds lang out.

Wet your wizen or else it'll gizen.

Spoken to a person who is telling a story. It may be either meant kindly or as a signification that the story is too "long-winded."

Wha burns rags will want a winding-sheet.

Wha can haud wha will awa?

Wha can help misluck?

"Wha can help sickness?" quo' the wife when she lay in the gutter.

Wha canna gie will little get.