Part 192

Ye hae been smelling the bung.

That is, you have been tippling.

Ye hae brought the pack to the pins.

"You have dwindled away your stock."--Kelly.

Ye hae ca'd your pigs to an ill market.

Ye hae come aff at the loupin-on-stane.

"'Loupin-on-stane,' a stone, or several stones, raised one above another, like a flight of steps, for assisting one to get on horseback. Metaphysically, to leave off any business in the same state as when it was begun; also, to terminate a dispute without the slightest change of mind in either party."--Jamieson.

Ye have fasted lang, and worried on a midge.

Ye hae come in time to tine a darg.

To "tine a darg," is to lose a day's work: you have arrived too late.

Ye hae found a mear's nest, and laugh at the eggs.

Ye hae gien the wolf the wedders to keep.

"You have entrusted a thing to one who will lose it, spoil it, or use it himself."--Kelly.

Ye hae got a stipend--get a kirk when ye like.

Ye hae got baith the skaith and the scorn.

Ye hae gotten a ravelled hesp to redd.

That is, you have a very difficult matter to arrange.

"Ance let a hizzy get you in the girn, Ere ye get loose, ye'll redd a ravell'd pirn."--Allan Ramsay.

Ye hae gotten the chapman's drouth.

"From the severe exercise of a pedlar who travels on foot, the chapman's drouth is a proverbial phrase for hunger."--Jamieson.

Ye hae grown proud since ye quatted the begging.

Applied satirically to persons who pass their acquaintance in a proud manner.

Ye hae gude manners, but ye dinna bear them about wi' you.

Ye hae little need o' the Campsie wife's prayer, "That she might aye be able to think enough o' hersel'."

A reflection upon conceited or selfish people.

Ye hae mind o' yer meat though ye hae little o't.

Ye hae missed that, as ye did your mither's blessing.

Ye hae nae mair need for't than a cart has for a third wheel.