ULSTER SCOTS COLUMN - Things mae granny ustae sae

A bonny bride is soon buskit (a pretty bride is soon dressed).

A burnt bairn dreads tha fire.

A gangin’ fut is aye gettin’, an’ it be but a thorn. A green Yule maks a fat kirkyaird.

A hairy man’s a gairy man ; a hairy wife’s a witch. (Gairy -- wealthy).

An auld maids bairn’s aye weel bred. A wife’s a bairn, an a cottar’s a coo,

(Tha yins ne’er weel and tha ither’s ne’er fu). As blin as a bat.

As deef as door nail. As dry as a whistle.

Better wear oot shoon than sheets.

Birds and bairns mann aye be pickin’.

Tha lassies ir a’ guid, but whaur dae ill wifes come frae ?

Fools and bairns shouldnae see half dane wark.Gantin’s wantin’ sleepin’, meat, or makin’ o’. (One yawns for want of sleep, meat or attention).

If ye fry stanes in butter, tha saace will be guid.

He coorted ower tha moon and merried ower tha middin’.

He needs a lang spoon that sups wae tha deil.

Whaur the coo calved the cuddy. (i.e. no place).

Lang may your lum reek. (Long may your chimney smoke -- i.e. may you live long).

May a moose niver rin ower your meal chist wi’ a tear in it’s ee. (May you have plenty).

May birds are aye cheepin’ ; May brides are aye weepin’.

Muckle cry and little oo’. Quo’ tha deil when he clipt the soo.

Mony a bride breaks her elbow on the kirk lintil (grows lazy after marriage).

Ne’er cast a cloot or May be oot.

Providence aye tak’s care o’ bairns, fools, and fu folk.

Quick at meat, quick at wark.

She wudnae tak’ tha trevellers and tha riders gaed by.

Sticks and stanes will break yer banes, But names’ll nivir herm ye.

It’ an ill bird that fouls it’s ain nest.

Weemin’s kittle cattle (ticklish customers).

You canny whistle an chow meal.

Yer mair bother than yer worth.

Better a sma’ fire tae heat ye, Nir a big yin tae burn ye.

It’s nae odds amang tinkers wha carries the bag.

A bat on tha elbow like the death o’ a man’s wife -- ye feel it for a time, but no for lang.

A shoemakker’s wife an a blacksmith’s mear aye weel shod.

I cannae see a stime.

I couldnae knock a bee aff a daisy.

A lad (or a boy) o’ a tooth. (a bad tooth).

I nivir let on I heard him.

As sure as death.

Sit on yer hunkers.

Tha burn’s doon. (in flood).

Dinna deeve me wi’ your din.

He wud skin a louse for it’s hide an’ tallow.

Wha’s she gettin’ (who is she going to marry).

She wuz fair geezen’d fur her tay.(thristy for her tea).

Timmer tae timmer (said of persons when they knock their heads together).

Yoke tha machine (put the horse in the car).

He got his dander up. (got angry).

Yer fingers ir a’ thumbs ( of an awkward person).

Keep it Ullans

Tha Poocher October 2015