Part 81

He's sometimes i' the air, but ye're aye on the grund.

He's the bee that maks the honey.

He's the best spoke o' your wheel.

He's the slave o' a slaves wha ser's nane but himsel.

He's twice fain that sits on a stane.

"That is, glad to sit down, because he is weary, and glad to rise, because the stone is hard."--Kelly.

He starts at straes, and lets windlins gae.

This saying is, we think, exclusively Scotch. It very briefly but pithily applies to those who, while anxiously correcting trifling errors, allow greater ones to pass unheeded: who strain at gnats, and swallow camels.

He streaks reem in my teeth.

"Spoken when we think one only flattering us, and not earnest or sincere in what they pretend."--Kelly.

He struts like a craw in the gutter.

He stumbles at a strae and loups ower a linn.

He's unco fond o' farming that wad harrow wi' the cat.

He's unco fu' in his ain house that canna pick a bane in his neighbour's.

Satirically applied to those who are unwilling to partake of a meal in a friend's house.

He's waur to water than to corn.

Fonder of his meat than his drink.

He's weel boden there ben that will neither borrow nor lend.

Meaning that a person must be very well off indeed who can afford to dispense with all assistance.

He's weel eased that has o' his ain.

He's weel worthy o' sorrow that buys it wi' his ain siller.

He's wise that kens when he's weel enough.

"This is a pitch of wisdom to which few attain."--Kelly.

He's wise that's timely wary.

He's worth gowd that can win it.

He's worth nae weel that can bide nae wae.

He that ance gets his fingers i' the dirt can hardly get them out again.

He that bides weel betides weel.