Part 77

He's aye for out o' the cheese-fat he was moulded in.

"'Keep back, sir, as best sets ye,' said the bailie, as Andrew pressed forward to catch the answer to some question I had asked about Campbell; 'ye wad fain ride the forehorse an ye wist how. That chield's aye for being out o' the cheese-fat he was moulded in.'"--Rob Roy.

He's aye wise ahint the hand.

"Ye noo hae hit the nail upo' the head, I better wi' less travel micht hae deen, Had I been tenty as I sud hae been; But fouks, they say, are wise ahint the han', Whilk to be true unto my cost I fan."--Ross's Helenore.

He's as wise as Wudsie's calf, that kent milk frae water.

He's been at the kirk o' Crackabout, whaur the kail pat was the minister.

He's better fed than bred.

He's blind that eats marrow, but far blinder that lets him.

He's but Jock the laird's brither.

"The Scottish lairds concern and zeal for the standing and continuance of their families, makes the provision for their younger sons very small."--Kelly.

He's cooling and supping.

"That is, he has nothing but from hand to mouth."--Kelly.

He's cowpet the crans.

"It's a great misery to me that I hae nae books to let you look ower to see my losses; but what gude, when I think on't, would the sight o' losses do to you? It wouldna put a plack in your pouch--aiblins every twa or three pages ye wad see this ane or that ane cowpet the crans, and deep in my debt."--Laird of Logan.

He seeks nae mair than a bit an' a brat.

Meaning that he is content with little.

He's either a' honey or a' dirt.

He is either exceedingly affectionate and kind, or vice versa.

He sell't his soul for a cracket saxpence.

He's failed wi' a fu' hand.

When a man "fails wi' a fu' hand," he defrauds his creditors with the assistance of the Bankruptcy Act.

He's frae the tap o' the wing, but ye're a grey-neck quill.

Meaning, we presume, that a man is not so good as he would like to be thought, or as some person he may have compared himself with.

He's free o' fruit that wants an orchard.

He's fond o' barter that niffers wi' Auld Nick.

He's gane aff at the nail.

Or "destitute of any regard to propriety of conduct; mad; wrongheaded; tipsy."--Jamieson.

He's gane a' to pigs and whistles.