Part 70

He has the best end o' the string.

He has the gift o' the gab.

"'I wish,' said Dumbiedikes, 'I were as young and as supple as you, and had the gift o' the gab as weel.'"--Heart of Midlothian.

He has wit at will that wi' an angry heart can sit still.

He hauds baith heft and blade.

That is, he has a thing entirely at his own option.

He hearsna at that ear.

He hears wi' his heels, as the geese do in hairst.

"That is, he heard, had he been pleased to answer."--Kelly.

He hid a bodle and thought it a hoard.

He hides his meat and seeks for mair.

"Spoken when covetous people pretend poverty, and conceal their wealth to plead pity."--Kelly.

He is not a merchant bare, that hath either money, worth, or ware.

"A good merchant may want ready money."--Kelly.

He jump'd at it, like a cock at a grossart.

"'I had quite forgotten,' said Tyrrel, 'that the inn was your own; though I remember you were a considerable landed proprietor.' 'Maybe I am,' replied Meg, 'maybe I am not; and if I be, what for no? But as to what the laird, whose grandfather was my father's landlord, said to the new doings yonder--he just jumped at the ready penny, like a cock at a grossart.'"--St Ronan's Well.

He keeps his road weel enough wha gets rid o' ill company.

He kens a'thing that opens and steeks.

He kens his ain groats amang other folk's kail.

He kens how many beans mak five.

He kens how to butter a whiting.

The import of the two preceding sayings is, that a man is very sharp in looking after his own interests.

He kens how to turn his ain cake.

"'Never fash your beard, Mr Bide-the-Bent,' replied Girder; 'ane canna get their breath out between wives and ministers. I ken best how to turn my own cake. Jean, serve up the dinner, and nae mair about it.'"--Bride of Lammermoor.

He kens muckle wha kens when to speak, but far mair wha kens when to haud his tongue.

He kens nae a mavis frae a madge-howlet.

He kens nae a selgh frae a salmon.

He kens nae the pleasures of plenty wha ne'er felt the pains o' poverty.