Part 79

He's lifeless that's faultless.

Implying that no one is without fault.

He's like a bagpipe, ne'er heard till his wame's fu'.

He's like a chip amang parritch--little gude, little ill.

He's like a cow in a fremit loaning.

That is, strange, or out of place. "Fremit loaning," strange lane.

He's like a flea in a blanket.

He's like a singet cat--better than he's bonny.

He's like the craws, he eats himsel' out o' ply.

He's like the smith's dog--so weel used to the sparks that he'll no burn.

Spoken of people who are so much accustomed to tipple, that they never seem any the worse of it.

He's like the wife's bawty--kens naething about it.

He slippet awa like a knotless thread.

He's loose in the heft.

He's mair buirdly i' the back than i' the brain.

He's mair fleyed than hurt.

He's mair worth hanging than hauding.

He's nae gude weaver that leaves lang thrums.

No good workman who wastes material, or leaves work in a slovenly state.

He's nae sma' drink.

He's ne'er at ease that's angry.

He snites his nose in his neighbour's dish to get the brose himsel.

This rude but expressive saying is used when a person has done another an injury in order to benefit himself.

He's no a man to ride the water wi'.

"A phrase applied to one who, it is believed, cannot be depended on."--Jamieson.

He's no a stirk o' the right stock.

"I was a friendless lad, and ye took me by the hand,--and could I sit still and see scathe befa' my benefactor, I wouldna be a stirk o' the right stock, that's bred on the land o' Scotland."--Sir Andrew Wylie.

He's no gude to creel eggs wi'.