Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/226

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Proverbs and Sayings

“Black is the stane that a' man spits on.”
“Never may the wal (well) be empty that a'body thinks fu'."
“He that gets the name o' early risin', can lie as lang as he laeks.”

The following sayings are more difficult to classify :

“Everyene röses the förd as he fin's it.”
“Everyene röses the gyurd as he gets it.”

Röse means to praise; förd signifies a find, something to be carried away; and gyurd is a gift or reward. Hence the meaning conveyed by these expressions is that everyone speak of things as they find them.

“Show me the calf, but no the cog.”

This expression is used as a reply to a boastful braggart.

“It's ill to break a strae and look at baith its ends.”
“Hairy butter 'ill do for siddie bread.”
“Better to wear out than rust out.”
“Better to hae the finger aff than aye blödin'.”
“Beauty is but skin deep.”
“Nane sae deaf as they that winna hear.”
“Boil stanes in butter an' the brö 'ill be guid.”

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