Part 78

"Hech, sirs, what a kyteful o' pride's yon'er! and yet I would be nane surprised the morn to hear that the Nechabudnezzar was a' gane to pigs and whistles, and driven out wi' the divors bill to the barren pastures of bankruptcy."--The Entail.

He's gane ower the buss taps.

"To behave extravagantly; to go over the tops of the bushes."--Jamieson.

He's gane to seek his faither's sword.

He's gane to the dog-drave.

He's got his leg ower the harrows.

He's got his nose in a gude kail pat.

Meaning that a person has been well provided for. Generally applied to a poor man who has married a rich wife.

He's gude that never failed.

He's his faither's better, like the cooper o' Fogo.

"Fogo is a small decayed village near Dunse. It appears that each generation of its coopers improved upon the plans or workmanship of their ancestors, and the son became better than the father."--G. Henderson.

He's horn deaf on that side o' his head.

That is, he has already made up his mind upon that matter.

He should be seldom angry that has few to mease him.

He's idle that might be better employed.

He's ill-faur'd that dogs bark at.

"'I have had that wad sober me or ony ane,' said the matron. 'Aweel, Tib, a lass like me wasna to lack wooers, for I wasna sae ill-favoured that the tikes wad bark after me.'"--The Monastery.

He's in the wrang when praised that glunshes.

He sits fu' close that has riven breeks.

"This elegant speech was made by the Earl of Douglas, called Tineman, after being wounded and made prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury, where

"'His well-labouring sword Had three times slain the semblance of the king.'" --Fortunes of Nigel.

He sits wi' little ease wha sits on his neighbour's coat tail.

He's John Tamson's man.

"'Atweel, Cuddie, ye are gaun nae sic gate,' said Jenny, coolly and resolutely. 'The deil's in the wife!' said Cuddie, 'd'ye think I am to be John Tamson's man, and maistered by women a' the days o' my life?' 'And whase man wad ye be? And wha wad ye hae to maister ye but me, Cuddie, lad?'"--Old Mortality.

He's laid down the barrow.

That is, "he's cowpet the crans," q. v.

He sleeps as dogs do when wives sift meal.

Meaning that a person is very sharp, and that he, figuratively, sleeps with one eye open.