Part 22

As menseless as a tinkler's messan.

As merry's a mautman.

A smith's house is aye lowin'.

As mony heads as mony wits.

As muckle upwith as muckle downwith.

A's no gowd that glitters, nor maidens that wear their hair.

"It was the fashion some years ago (1721) for virgins to go bareheaded. The proverb means that everything is not so good as it appears."--Kelly.

A's no help that's at hand.

A's no ill that's ill like.

A's no part.

A's no tint that fa's bye.

A's no tint that's in hazard.

A sorrowfu' heart's aye dry.

"Spoken when widows or widowers drink liberally, alledging it was to quench their sorrow."--Kelly.

A sooth bourd is nae bourd.

"'D'ye hear that, Provost?' said Summertrees. 'Your wife's a witch, man; you should nail a horse-shoe on your chamber door. Ha, ha, ha!'

"This sally did not take so well as the former efforts of the laird's wit. The lady drew up, and the Provost said, half aside, 'The sooth bourd is nae bourd; you will find the horse-shoe hissing hot, Summertrees.'"--Redgauntlet.

As poor as a kirk mouse.

A spunefu' o' stink will spoil a patfu' o' skink.

"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour."--Ecclesiastes, x. 1.

A spur in the head's worth twa in the heel.

As sair fights the wren as the crane.

As sair greets the bairn that's paid at e'en as it that gets its paiks in the morning.

As sib as sieve and riddle that grew in ae wood.

"Spoken of them who groundlessly pretend kindred to great persons."--Kelly.

As sune comes the lamb's skin to the market as the auld tup's.

"Of young die many, of old 'scape not any."--English.

As sure's death.