Scottish Journey     

Scottish Phrases and sayings:

Giving to charity increaseth a man’s store.

Give to charity and you will grow in stature.

Gae yer neighbours aw chances. 

Try and love your neighbours  

Pleasure comes from doin’ good.

The gain in doing something good is to have done it.

When petticoats woo, breeks may come speed.

When the fair sex indicate interest, the males come running.

If cow may want her tail yet.

You may want to favour in the future from me, though you’re not giving me one right now.

Time and thinking tame the strongest grief.

Time and contemplation are the greatest healers of grief.

A wee bi disagreement keeps the talk lang.

Too much agreement kills a conversation.

Aye pat the richt end o’ the wean.

Child rearing is merely knowing which end of your child to pat.

The waur o’ the wear needs replacing.

Worn implements need to be replaced.

A dug or cat can be a freen.

When you’re lonely, don’t forget that your pets are also your friends.

Guid company on a journey is worth a coach.

Good company improves any journey.

Crones wi’ wrinkles hae nae pain.

Be thankful in old age that wrinkles don’t hurt.

Better a sma’ fish than an empty dish.

Better to have something to eat than nothing at all.

A happy wean is a happy wean.

If you believe you are happy – you are. 

There’s nae fools like auld fools.

The silliest fools are old ones who should know better.

Pit a fastin’ spittle on yer pimples.

Put saliva on your spots before you eat breakfast. (an old Scottish remedy for warts and pimples)

A body should be in the fashion and smile.

Smile – you don’t need a special size for it to fit.   

 Picnic spots are always better further on.

Be content with your lot.

Wet sheep don’t shrink – they shak aff the water.

Don’t give in to misfortune.

The rain is God’s way o’ cleanin the coos.

Even bad weather has its uses.

Auld folk are twice bairns.

Remember to care for older citizens.  

Grandpas aye snore first.

The grandparent who snores is always the first to fall asleep.

He disnae ken the pleasures o’ plenty, wha’ ne’er felt the pains o’ penury.

If you once had nothing then you appreciate it when you have something.

Never throw yer granny aff a bus.

Don’t be careless with grandmothers, they’re priceless.

Lock yer door and keep yer neighbour honest.

Don’t put temptation in the way of your neighbour.

Gae it oot and get it back.

What we give, we have.

The plain truth is sometimes no’ pretty.

The truth is not always easy to accept.

Gae aye person yer charity.

Charity may begin at home but it should not end there.

Daylight will leek thru a sma’ hole.

You cannot cover every eventuality.

Busy tars are happy tars.

He who rows the boat doesn’t have time to rock it.

Trade wi’ honest men and ye talk to few.

Honest businessmen are few and far between.

Tell the truth an’ shame the deil.     

Always tell the truth.

Dinna mind other folk’s thochts. 

What other people think is not important.

A wee keek back keeps ye on the right path.

Let life’s experiences guide you forward.

Ower rest causes nae movement.

Too much resting causes stagnation.

True love’s fearless.

Love conquers all.

Lovers fool awfy easy.

Love impairs your judgment.

Guid folks mak a guid village.

It’s the people, not the houses, that make the village.  

They that get the name o’early rising may lie in bed a’ day.

You can hide behind a good reputation.

We’ve a’ got auld Scotland fur a gardin.

Keep Scotland tidy – it’s your back garden.

Meat feeds, claith cleeds, but manners make the man.

A gentleman is known by his manners.       
       

Lang may yer lum reek.
Long may your chimney smoke.

Trust in the lord but keep yer e’en on yer man.

Be faithful to God, but watch your partner below.

Better do it than wish it.

Just wishing is no good – you need to do it.

Nae pleasure pleases some.

You can be sure if you are not pleased, you are giving pleasure to someone else.

Haste ye back.      

Come back to visit us soon.

Awa' an' bile yer heid!
Go and boil your head, (get lost).

A short grace is guid for hungry folk.

Don’t waste time, get on with the job.

Fallin’ weans are sorry but wiser.

By making mistakes, we can only become wiser.

Fit Like?
How are you? (Aberdeen).   

Dinnae fash yersel.
Don't trouble yourself.

Hae life right to the end.

Live as though tomorrow were your last.

If ye dinna see the bottom, dinna wade.

Don’t go into a venture if you can’t see your way through with it.

First offer’s ne’er accepted.

People who advertise – first reasonable offer accepted – never accept it.

A’ folks hae the same illnesses.

You’re not unique. 

If the de’il finds an idle man, he sets him to work.

If you’re not busy you may end up doing the wrong things.

Guid shortbread an’ promises aye crumble.

Promises are as fragile as shortbread.

He that winna be counselled, canna be helped.

If you ignore advice, you only have yourself to blame.

Nae whip cuts sae sharp as the lash o’ conscience.

There’s nothing worse than a guilty conscience.

Ca’ again – you’re no a ghaist.

You’re always welcome.

We a’huv a’ the time there is.

We all have the same chances.

A bald head is soon shaven.

Every situation has some advantage.

Even some Sassenachs are guid.

There are good people everywhere.    

Folk may die, but the toon clock will chime again.

People die but life goes on.

Falsehood maks ye false.

Lying is self betrayal.

Cast not a clout till May be oot.

Don’t assume it’s summer until the May blossom comes.

Keep busy wi’ yer life and ‘ll no see auld Nick approach.

Bust out – don’t rust out.

He wha’s poor when he marries shall be rich when he’s buried.

Marriage improves your lot in life.

Guid husbands fix the bairn – ithers only wake you.

Poor husbands won’t attend to a baby in the middle of the night.

Mony ane for land, taks a fool by the haun.

Some people marry for one reason only – money.

Rainbows come out o’ rain’s drips.

To know joy you must know sorrow.

A contented mind beats bein’ the king.

It is better to be content than be in a high position.

A guid laugh shows yer a’ aboot.

Laughter is the sound of feeling good all over.

It’s as plain as the nose on yer face.

The solution is surely clear.

The bigger the cheese, the bigger the smell.

The biggest cheeses have the strongest smell.

Some thieves are honest men wi’ temptation.

Opportunity makes thieves of honest men.

Spend, and God will send; spare, and be bare.

Be generous in your giving and your life.

Contentment is gey rich.

If you are happy, then you are rich.

Clean yer wallies thrice and they stay in twice as lang.

Clean your teeth three times a day; they’ll live to bite another day.

Ane hour in the morn is worth twa at nicht.

You achieve more when you’re fresh and energetic.

Being sorry for yersel’s nae medicine.

Self pity won’t cure you ills.

Dinna fash yersel.

Don’t worry.

There’s naething got by delay, but dirt and lang nails.

Don’t procrastinate.

A wumman buys, a man supplies.

Women look for the bargains, the men pay for them.

Eat peas wi’ a prince and cherries wi’ a chapman.

Treat all men equally.

Yin brave beats a’ feart.

Once courageous person is better than any number of cowards.

Anger’s mair hurtful than the wrang that’s caused it.

Anger is always more damaging than its cause.

Ne’re let your gear gang you.

Don’t just pride yourself in material things.

Baith sexes moan.

Nobody’s perfect.

Bad temper maks a problem worse.

Losing your temper won’t cure anything, only makes a problem worse.

Speak o’ the deil and he’ll appear.

Talk about someone and they’ll surely appear.

Wink at sma’ faults. Ye hae great anes yourself.

Don’t criticise people. We’ve all got our faults.

Read old books fae folks long awa’.

Respect the teachings of wise folk long since passed on.

Dinna remove ancient landmarks fae oor fathers.

Keep the standards established by past generations.

Better be the head O’ the commons than the tail O’ the gentry.

Better to be top of your league than bottom of a higher one.

Awa' an' bile yer heid!
Go and boil your head, (get lost).

Gaelic pits new soul intae ye.

Understanding Gaelic enlightens the mind.

Only measure yer shadow wi’ a high sun.

Don’t be bigheaded.

The first step to virtue is to love it in anither.

Appreciate virtue in others and gain it yourself.

Look after your loving always or it gangs wrang.

Be attentive to those who love you or their love may fade.

Love is as warm amang cottars as courtiers.

Love is special regardless of your position in life.

The plain truth is sometimes no’ pretty.

The truth is not always easy to accept.

Busy tars are happy tars.

He who rows the boat doesn’t have time to rock it.

Dinna mind other folk’s thochts.

What other people think is not important.

Guid folks mak a guid village.

It’s the people, not the houses, that make the village.

Meat feeds, claith cleeds, but manners make the man.

A gentleman is known by his manners.

In the name of the wee man.
Oh for goodness' sake. (In the name of God).

Crones wi’ wrinkles hae nae pain.

Be thankful in old age that wrinkles don’t hurt.

There’s nae fools like auld fools.

The silliest fools are old ones who should know better.

Sodger,, The only “warhorse” he saw was in his pipe.

Your grandpa was never a soldier, the closest he got to the war was smoking his warhorse tobacco.

Never throw yer granny aff a bus.

Don’t be careless with grandmothers, they’re priceless.

An auld knave's nae bairn.
An old fox needs learn no new tricks.

Some Scottish phrases are as old as Scotland, most of them are not used anymore; even native Scots may fail to understand some of them.

On this page you'll find some Scottish phrases and sayings along with their meanings, (in English off course). Why don’t you use them with your non-Scottish friends, some of these sayings will have your friends scratching their head, as I did.

Age should bring wisdom and time to men.

A good grandpa should remember your birthday but not your age.

Dae weel and hae luck.

The better you prepare, the luckier you become.

A balanced opinion’s due a wean.  

Compliment children when they do well; reassure them when they fail.

Be busy like bees, naw wasps wha’ get clipped.

Be a busy bee, wasps get swatted 

You're a long time deid.
Enjoy life while you can.

Up to high doh.
In a state of anxiety.

Love owercomes the reasons o’ mind.  

The heart always rules the head 

Weans wi big ears take it a’ in.

Watch how you speak in front of children.

Sic as ye gie, sic wull ye get.
You'll get out of life as much as you put in.

Weans hae nae policies.

Be childlike and you’ll see the world without prejudice.

Love runs oot suspicion’s gate.

Suspicion and love are incompatible.

Ye'll get yir heid in yir hauns an yir lugs ti pley wi.
You'll get your head in your hands and your ears to play with!

A guid hame has guid children.

A loving family produces well-balanced children.

Oot on the branch, the fruit is gey ripe.

The most successful ventures entail the greatest risks.

Birds and blethers fly.

Rumours travel as quickly as birds.

Haud yer wheesht.     

Be quiet.

Dree oot the inch as ye hae done the span.

Get the most out of life right to the end.

It's a sair fecht.
It's a hard life.

A blind man’s wife needs nae painting.

Don’t carry out unnecessary tasks.

A beard on a man only helps sup the oats.

Beards are only good for soaking up porridge.

A common blot is nae stain.

Don’t worry about small faults which are common to everyone.

High heid yin.
The boss is the highest in rank.

Pigs may whistle but they hae an ill mouth for’t.

It’s most unlikely,

Never marry a widow, unless her first husband was hanged.

The good first husband of a widow is a difficult act to follow.

A body's no broke while they hae a gude kail stock.
When all is not lost, all can be recovered.

Better marry ower the midden that ower the muir.

It is better to marry in your own circle of people.

You and him should get merrit – nae use spilin twa hooses.

Some folks should marry each other rather than spoil other marriages.

Yer grandpa canny stop watchin’ his work. 

Your grandpa loves his work. He could watch it all day.

Bonnie gryce may mak an ugly sow.
Fair in the cradle may be foul in the saddle.

Being busy improves yer mind.

Work expands the mind.

Bad mistakes provide a man wi’ quick experience.

Experience comes quickly when we learn from our mistakes.

Dae ye think I come up the clyde on a bike?

Do you think I’m an idiot?

A close mouth catches no flies.
A shut mouth keeps me out of strife.

A nod’s as guid as a wink tae a blind horse.

Always ensure you make your meaning clear.

Nae post then send a post.

When you don’t receive a letter, send a letter.

Tell anither, tell yersel.

Instruct another and learn twice yourself.

A dog winna yowl if ye fell him wi' a bane.
Pelt a dog with bones, and you will not offend him.

Sufferin for a freen doubleth freenship.

Putting yourself out for a friend strengthens the relationship.

A friend to all is a friend to no one.
Everybody's friend is nobody's friend.

Gae attention to those who attend you.

Be good to those who are good to you.

Yer freen’s jeelie piece always tastes better than yer ain.

People are never satisfied with what they’ve got.

A friend's dinner's soon dished.
A true friend is easily served, and will not easily take offence.

Ae scabbit sheep will smit a hirsel.
One bad character may pollute a whole company.

A helpin haun helps twa.

Helping another helps improve yourself too.

The nod o’ an honest man is enough.

Honest men don’t need contracts.

Aft counting keeps friends lang thegither.
Short accounts make long friends.

Double check your measure afore you cut.

Consider well before you make final decisions.

Ae shook o' that stook's enough.
One specimen of a bad article is sufficient 

Crooked hooses cam fae committees.

It is better to make your own decisions.

Say NO and ye’ll no go far wrang.

Sometimes, saying NO is a positive thing to say. (or do)

Affront your friend in daffin', and tine him in earnest.
Affront him not in jest, lest you lose him in earnest.

It’s no the ramblin’ cart that fa’s first ower the brae.

Its not always the person you expect who dies first.

Here’s yer meat , tak it or leave it.

You’ve two choices in many situations.

After you is gude manners.
Spoken when our betters offer to serve us first.

A fidging mare should be wed girded.
A thief does not always steal, but always be on your guard against him.

A full heart never lied.
The truth generally comes out under the impulse of the feelings.

Twa’ wrongs can dim the morrow.    

Two wrongs may not make a right but they do make a dangerous precedent.

Old boots and freens are a comfort.

Friends are like old boots: comforting, dependable, durable and warm.

Want a freen, be a freen.

Treat others as you would expect them to treat you.

A full man's a true man.
A man under the influence of drink, if he speak at all, usually speaks truth. 

Suppin’ loud’s nae company.    

Don’t slurp when supping soup.

Sufferin’ for a freen doubleth freenship.

Putting yourself out for a friend strengthens the relationship.

Generous folks are happy yins.

Helpful people are happy people.

A full wame makes a straight back.
A full stomach makes a man walk erectly.

Laughin’ folk are a’ rich.

You’re never poor if you can laugh.

Greatest wealth is contentment wi’ little.

Accepting what you’ve got makes you wealthy.

Follow his path and know the man.

You can only know someone by his deeds.

Be the thing ye would be ca’d.

To be admired you must be admirable.

A given game was never won.
A voluntary concession may be no tribute to the skill of the opponent.

Those no present are aye tae blame.

People always blame those who aren’t there to defend themselves.

Naething is got without pains but an ill name.

Only bad reputations are gained without effort.

A given horse shouldna be looked in the mouth.
A given piece is soon eaten.

Awa’ an’ dry yer chin.

It’s time for you to be quiet.

Pleasure comes wi enemies woes.

We enjoy our enemies sorrows.

Aw thing clangs but yer shadow.

Only your shadow has no substance.

A gowk at Yule'll no be bright at Beltane.
He that is a fool at Christmas will not be wise in May.

Stay young wi an open mind.

Be willing to accept change. 

Lang may yer lum reek, an’ may he huv the coal tae fill it.

May you live long and well.

Better health than wealth.

Health is more important than wealth.

A great rooser was ne'er a good rider.
A great boaster is rarely a great performer.

This won’t hurt, aye did.

When they say (this won’t hurt) watch out.

A sair back maks ye think.

Pain can make us consider our life.

Only clean oot yer ear wi’ yer elbow.

Don’t damage your own health.

A greedy eye never got a full wame.
A greedy eye never got a good pennyworth.

He what eats but ane dish seldom needs the doctor.

Don’t overeat. 

Hanger is the best kitchen.

Food tastes better when you’re hungry.

A hen that lays thereoua should hae a white nest-egg.
Some attractions should be provided at home for those who are not naturally attached to it.

Hae freens and hae life.

Good friends result in a full life. 

A long tongue has a short hand.
They, who are lavish in their promises, are often short in their performances.

Try and mak freens o’ the unlikely.

Don’t be put off by appearances,

Peace o’ mind’s not in the shops.

You cannot buy peace of mind.

Happiness within gaes a glow.

Inner peace is the ultimate joy.

As the sow fills. The draff sours.

The more you eat, the less you relish your food.

Guid beginin mak guid ending.
Good beginning make a good ending.

Comfort come in auld clothes.

Familiar friends are the best to comfort you.

Hunger wid break through stane wa’s.

Hunger can drive people to desperation.

A good name is sooner tint than won.
Good repute is like the cypress; once cut, it never puts forth leaf again.

Ye canne sell the cow and sup the milk too.

You cannot have it both ways.

Kindly words are best for the mooth.

Say gentle words only, you may have to eat them later.

A good year winna mak him, nor an ill year mar him.
A beggar will never be bankrupt."

Naething to be done in haste but grippin’ o’ fleas.

Never act hastily – unless you’re trying to kill flies.

It’s nae loss, what a freen gets.

You don’t really lose something if your friend gets it.

Mony freens gae a happy life.

Friendship brings happiness.

A handful of trade is worth a gowpen of gold.
The knowledge of a trade is worth a handful of gold.

Eening orts are guid morning’s fother.

Items thrown out today may be valuable in the future.

Love’s wan e’e and ower deef.

Love is almost bling and a bit deaf.

Gae yer neighbours aw chances.

Try and love your neighbours.

When petticoats woo, breeks may come speed.

When the fair sex indicate interest, the males come running.

Be busy like bees, naw wasps wha’ get clipped.

Be a busy bee, wasps get swatted.

Love owercomes the reasons o’ mind.

The heart always rules the head.

Love runs oot suspicion’s gate.

Suspicion and love are incompatible.

The waur o’ the wear needs replacing.

Worn implements need to be replaced.

 Author: Bill Mneimneh ... Tell us your views.