Part 76

He's ane o' snaw-ba's bairntime.

"That is, such as wealth and prosperity make worse, or who insensibly go behind in the world."--Kelly.

He's a poor beggar that canna gang by ae door.

He's a poor man that's never missed.

He's a proud beggar that maks his ain awmous.

That is, he is proud or well pleased who succeeds in realising his own expectations or wishes.

He's a proud horse that winna carry his ain corn.

He's a sairy cook that canna lick his ain fingers.

He's as bare as the birk at Yule.

He's as bauld as a Lammermuir lion.

"A sheep is called a Lammermuir lion; and the proverb is applied, in a sarcastic way, to a boasting or assuming person, or to a braggadocio fellow, who is a coward at bottom."--G. Henderson.

"As fierce as a lion on Cotswold."--English.

He's as gleg as a gled.

He's as happy as a dead bird.

He's a selfish skyte that cares but for his ain kyte.

He's as fu' as a fiddler.

Equivalent to being as "drunk as a lord."

He's as gleg as M'Keachen's elshin, that ran through sax plies o' bend-leather into the king's heel.

Quoted in the Heart of Midlothian when Sharpitlaw, accompanied by Ratcliffe and Madge Wildfire, go to Muschat's Cairn in search of Robertson.

He's as hard wi' me as if I had been the wild Scot o' Galloway.

He's a silly chield that can neither dae nor say.

He's as stiff as if he had swallowed the poker.

He's as welcome as snaw in hairst.

He's as welcome as water in a riven ship.

He's auld and cauld, and ill to lie beside.

He's awfu' big ahint the door.

To be "big ahint the door," is to be very courageous when there is no occasion for it.

He's a wise man that can tak care o' himsel.