Part 50

"Every one pays court to him who gives him protection."--Jamieson.

Every man buckles his belt his ain gate.

Every man does his work after his own fashion.

Every man can guide an ill wife weel but him that has her.

Every man can tout best on his ain horn.

"Tout," to blow. Meaning, that every man knows best how to tell his own story.

Every man for himself, and God for us a'.

Every man for his own hand, as Henry Wynd fought.

"Two great clans fought out a quarrel with thirty men of a side, in presence of the king, on the North Inch of Perth, on or about the year 1392; a man was amissing on one side, whose room was filled by a little bandy-legged citizen of Perth. This substitute, Henry Wynd--or, as the Highlanders called him, Gow Chrom, that is, the bandy-legged smith--fought well, and contributed greatly to the fate of the battle, without knowing which side he fought on;--so, 'To fight for your ain hand, like Henry Wynd,' passed into a proverb."--Sir Walter Scott, Note to Rob Roy.

Every man has his ain bubbly-jock.

Every man has his ain draff poke, though some hang eider than others.

The two last sayings are similar in meaning, viz., that every man has his imperfections or faults. The latter qualifies the proverb by admitting that in some these appear more prominently than in others.

Every man kens best where his ain sair lies.

Every man kens best where his ain shoe binds him.

Every man's blind to his ain cause.

Every man's man had a man, and that gar'd the Threave fa'.

"The Threave was a strong castle belonging to the Black Douglases. The governor left a deputy, and he a substitute, by whose negligence the castle was taken."--Kelly.

Every man's no born wi' a siller spoon in his mouth.

Every man's nose winna be a shoeing horn.

Certain things can only be used for certain purposes.

Every man's tale's gude till anither's tauld.

Every man thinks his ain craw blackest.

"Every man to his ain trade," quo' the browster to the bishop.

Every man to his taste, as the man said when he kiss'd his cow.

Every maybe hath a may not be.

Every miller wad weise the water to his ain mill.

"Every miller draws the water to his own mill."--English.

Every play maun be played, and some maun be the players.