Part 190

Ye cangle about uncoft kids.

Literally, quarrel about unbought goods.

Ye canna do but ye ower-do.

Ye canna fare weel but ye cry roast-meat.

"Bolt thy fine meal, and eat good paste without report or trumpet blast. They that are thirsty drink silently."--French.

Ye canna gather berries aff a whinbush.

Ye canna get leave to thrive for thrang.

Literally, you are so busy that you have no time to get rich.

Ye canna mak a silk purse out o' a sow's lug.

Ye canna preach oot o' your ain pu'pit.

Applied to persons who are diffident in the house of a stranger, or who are backward in describing an article out of their usual way of business.

Ye canna put an auld head upon young shouthers.

Ye canna see the wood for trees.

On a par with the man who went to London, but could not see the town for houses!

Ye come o' the house o' Harletillem.

"To 'harle,' to draw to one's-self by gripping or violent means."--Jamieson.

Ye come o' the M'Taks, but no o' the M'Gies.

That is, you take all you can get, but take care to give nothing.

Ye come to the gait's house to thig woo.

Or, you come for a thing which I have not to give. "You beg of him who is ready to steal."--English.

Ye crack crousely wi' your bannet on.

A hint to a person that his conduct is too familiar.

Ye cut before the point.

Ye cut lang whangs aff ither folk's leather.

Spoken to persons who are very liberal with things which do not belong to them.

Ye daur weel but ye downa.

Or try to do well, but cannot.

Ye didna draw sae weel when my mear was in the mire.