{"id":153493,"date":"2021-02-20T15:21:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-20T15:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.english-culture.com\/?p=153493"},"modified":"2021-02-24T19:10:26","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T19:10:26","slug":"scottish-proverbs-and-sayings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.english-culture.com\/scottish-proverbs-and-sayings\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottish proverbs and sayings"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Scottish<\/a>
Scottish proverbs and sayings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scottish proverbs and sayings, the old and popular wisdom of Scotland and its people, with some typical Scottish words and definitions explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The day has eyes, the night has ears.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Give more holiday to your tongue than to your head.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

The devil’s boots don’t creak.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

There never came ill of good advisement.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

They are good that are away.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

They talk of my drinking but never my thirst.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Twelve highlanders and a bagpipe make a rebellion.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Be happy while you’re living, For you’re a long time dead.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing him.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Proverbs
Proverbs of Scotland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn young, learn fair; learn old, learn more.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Little folk are soon angry.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Luck never gives; it only lends.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

A man is a lion in his own cause.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

A Scottish man is wise behind the hand.<\/span>
\nProverb<\/span><\/p>\n

A Scottish mist will wet an Englishman to the skin.<\/span>
\nProverb<\/span><\/p>\n

A tale never loses in the telling.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Never draw your dirk when a blow will do it.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Never let your feet run faster than your shoes.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Never marry for money. You can borrow it cheaper.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Get what you can and keep what you have; that’s the way to get rich.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Scottish
Scottish old wisdom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What may be done at any time will be done at no time.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

When the cup is full, carry it even.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Willful waste makes woeful want.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Egotism is an alphabet of one letter.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Fools look to tomorrow. Wise men use tonight.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Open confession is good for the soul.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Confessed faults are half mended.<\/span>
\nScottish proverbs<\/span><\/p>\n

Old Scottish Sayings<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ah dinnae ken. \u2013 I don\u2019t know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ah umnae \u2013 I am not.<\/span><\/p>\n

Am a pure nick \u2013 I am not looking my best.<\/span><\/p>\n

Am pure done in \u2013 I am pretty tired.<\/span><\/p>\n

Auld Lang Syne – old long since\u201d or “old long ago” meaning “days gone by” and when sung at New Years really means “let\u2019s drink to days gone by.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aye, Right!! – When you answer to something really unbelievable<\/span><\/p>\n

Black as the Earl of Hell\u2019s Waistcoat! \u2013 the colour Black.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dinnae marry fur money! \u2013 It\u2019s cheaper in the long run to borrow money than marry for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dinnae teach yer Granny tae suck eggs! \u2013 Stop teaching someone something they already know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do yer dinger. \u2013 Showing disapproval.<\/span><\/p>\n

Failing means yer playin! \u2013 Trying and failing, but at least you are trying.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gie it laldy. \u2013 Doing something with energy or inappropriateness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gonnae no\u2019 dae that! \u2013 Don\u2019t do that.<\/span><\/p>\n

Haste Ye Back! \u2013 Return back with speed \u2013 said as a farewell.<\/span><\/p>\n

Haud yer wheesht! \u2013 Shut up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Scottish
Scottish sayings and proverbs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hell slap it intae ye! \u2013 It is your own fault.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll gie ye a skelpit lug! \u2013 I\u2019ll hit you on the ear.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m fair puckled! \u2013 I\u2019m out of breath.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to the pictures – I\u2019m going to the cinema, once known as the picture house<\/span><\/p>\n

Is the cat deid? \u2013 Has the cat died? This means your trousers are too short, similar to \u201cis your budgie\/parrot dead?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a dreich day! \u2013 A miserable, cold, wet day in reference to the weather.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a braw bricht moonlit nicht the nicht – It\u2019s a good (or brilliant), bright, moonlight night tonight. Truth is, it\u2019s very rarely used.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep the heid! \u2013 Keep your head or stay calm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lang may yer lum reek! \u2013 Literally meaning long may your chimney smoke, this is typically a toast to one\u2019s health, wishing one lives long and healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ma heid\u2019s mince \u2013 My head is mince, meaning I\u2019m a bit confused.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mony a mickle maks a muckle! \u2013 Small amounts of savings soon build up to large amounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Noo jist haud on! \u2013 Now just hold it, take your time, you\u2019re speaking too fast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pure dead brilliant \u2013 Amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scran \u2013 food.<\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s away for the messages – She has gone to get the grocery shopping<\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s up tae high doh – She\u2019s stressed and flustered – \u2018doh\u2019 being the high musical note<\/span><\/p>\n

Skinny Malinky Longlegs! -A tall and skinny person.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speak o\u2019 the Devil! \u2013 When someone you are speaking about shows up.<\/span><\/p>\n

T\u2019 Auld Yin \u2013 The old one.<\/span><\/p>\n

That wid gie yi the boke – That would make you sick<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s gee-in me the boak – That makes me feel sick<\/span><\/p>\n

The baw is up on the slates – Game over – the ball is up on someone\u2019s roof<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re a\u2019 Jock Tamson\u2019s bairns! \u2013 Everyone is God\u2019s children, nobody is better, everyone is equal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whit\u2019s fur ye\u2019ll no go by ye! \u2013 What is for you will not go by you, meaning, what will be, will be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whit dae ye cry thon yin? – What do you call that one?<\/span><\/p>\n

Yer aff yer heid \u2013 You\u2019re off your head \u2013 crazy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yer a chancer! – You are pushing your luck<\/span><\/p>\n

Yer lookin a bit peely wally – You look pale or ill<\/span><\/p>\n

Yer bum\u2019s oot the windae \u2013 You are lying or exaggerating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yer oot yer face! \u2013 You\u2019re extremely intoxicated from the effects of alcohol.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Scottish
Scottish words and definitions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scottish Words and Definitions<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Aye: Yes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bairn: child
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Bampot: Either and idiot or a character of a shady disposition<\/span><\/p>\n

Belter: extremely good
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Blootered: Drunk<\/span><\/p>\n

Boggin: Disgusting<\/span><\/p>\n

Boke: Sick<\/span><\/p>\n

Bonnie: beautiful
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Brae: hill
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Braw: Good, good-looking, handsome
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Canny: Cannot<\/span><\/p>\n

Clatty: disgusting
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Clipe: Tell tale<\/span><\/p>\n

Crabbit: Grumpy or agitated<\/span><\/p>\n

Craic: Usually said \u201cgood craic\u201d meaning good fun or \u201cwhat\u2019s the craic\u201d meaning what is happening<\/span><\/p>\n

Dae: Do<\/span><\/p>\n

Dafty: Someone who is stupid or an idiot<\/span><\/p>\n

Dinnae: Don\u2019t<\/span><\/p>\n

Dreich: a terrific Scottish saying, meaning dull and depressing weather; usually grey and overcast
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Drookit: wet
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Eejit: Idiot (see \u2018Dafty\u2019)<\/span><\/p>\n

Eh: What or an invitation for someone to respond or agree<\/span><\/p>\n

Glaikit: Stupid or gullable
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Glen: valley
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Greet\/Greetin: Cry or crying<\/span><\/p>\n

Hackit: Ugly<\/span><\/p>\n

Haud: Hold<\/span><\/p>\n

Haver: Lie<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoachin: Busy<\/span><\/p>\n

Hunners: Literally hundreds but usually to describe a large quantity<\/span><\/p>\n

Jake\/Jakey: Someone poor. Used as an adjective, jakey means scummy<\/span><\/p>\n

Ken: know. \u201cDo you ken what I mean?\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Lad: young boy.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Lassie: girl
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Loch: lake
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Mad Wae It: Drunk<\/span><\/p>\n

Mockit: Dirty<\/span><\/p>\n

Munter: Ugly<\/span><\/p>\n

Nae: no
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Och aye the noo: oh yes, just now. (This phrase is never really used by Scottish people, but it is often used by non-Scottish people attempting to recreate a Scottish accent for reasons best known to themselves)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Patch: Abandon plans, stop<\/span><\/p>\n

Peely-wally: Not 100%. A bit out of sorts<\/span><\/p>\n

Puggled: Tired, short of breath
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Randan: Causing carnage under the influence<\/span><\/p>\n

Reekin: Either smelly or drunk
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Scran: Food<\/span><\/p>\n

Scunnered: to be irritated and\/or bored with something. \u201cI\u2019m scunnered wae that!\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Skelped\/Scudded: Hit<\/span><\/p>\n

Sl\u00e0inte mhath: Cheers – here\u2019s to your health. This is a traditional Gaelic toast and is pronounced slan-ge-var.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleekit: Sly
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Steamin: Drunk<\/span><\/p>\n

Stoter: Idiot<\/span><\/p>\n

Swally: Swallow; to have a drink of an alcoholic beverage. \u201cCome in and have a swally!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tap: Top<\/span><\/p>\n

Tattie: Potatoe<\/span><\/p>\n

Weapon: Dangerous or out of control<\/span><\/p>\n

Wee: Wee<\/span><\/p>\n

Whitey: Sick<\/span><\/p>\n

Winch\/Winchin: Kiss<\/span><\/p>\n

Wopper: Someone embarrassing<\/span><\/p>\n

Yaldy: Excitement<\/span><\/p>\n

Yon: That or those<\/span><\/p>\n

Young Team: Gang of teenagers usually focused aroung council estates\/government housing areas<\/span><\/p>\n

Dictionaries of the Scots Language<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Dictionary English Scottish<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

If you want to find out more about Scotland you can also read:<\/span><\/p>\n

Scotland history and future<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Scotland a great country<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Scotland brave and creative<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Quotes and aphorisms on Scotland<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Scottish proverbs and sayings<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Aphorisms and quotes on Scoltand<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"YouTube