The Proverbs of Scotland Part 76

Nae friend like the penny.

Nae gain without pain.

Nae great loss but there's some sma' 'vantage.

Nae man can baith sup and blaw at ance.

That is, sup his soup and cool it together; or, plainly, do two things at once.

Nae man can live langer in peace than his neighbours like.

"For an ill neighbour, with his scolding noise, complaints, lawsuits, and indictments, may be very troublesome."--_Kelly._

Nae man can mak his ain hap.

Or plan his own destiny.

Nae man can seek his marrow i' the kirn sae weel as him that has been in't himsel.

"Spoken to those who suspect us guilty of a thing in which they take measure of us by their practices and inclinations."--_Kelly._

Nae man can thrive unless his wife will let him.

Nae man has a tack o' his life.

Nae man is wise at a' times, nor on a' things.

Nae mills, nae meal.

Nae penny, nae paternoster.

Nae plea is the best plea.

Nae rule sae gude as rule o' thoom--if it hit.

Nae service, nae siller.

Nae sooner up than her head's in the aumrie.

Applied to lazy or greedy servants; implying that the first thing they do in the morning is to go to the "aumrie" or cupboard for something to eat.

Nae swat, nae sweet.

Naething but fill and fetch mair.

A philosophic way of meeting troubles. If a thing be wrong done, do it over again; or if it be lost, procure another.

Naething comes fairer to light than what has been lang hidden.

Naething comes out o' a close hand.

Naething freer than a gift.

Naething is got without pains but an ill name and lang nails.

Naething is ill said if it's no ill ta'en.

Naething is ill to be done when will's at hame.

Naething like being stark dead.

Meaning there is nothing like doing a thing thoroughly. "A vile, malicious proverb," says Kelly, "first used by Captain James Stewart against the n.o.ble Earl of Morton, and afterwards applied to the Earl of Strafford and Archbishop Laud."

Naething's a bare man.

"A jocose answer to children when they say they have gotten nothing."--_Kelly._

Naething's a man's truly but what he comes by duly.

Naething sae bauld as a blind mear.

"Who so bold as blind Bayard?"--_English._

"Ignorance breeds confidence; consideration, slowness and wariness."--_Ray._

Naething sae crouse as a new wash'd louse.

"Spoken of them who have been ragged and dirty, and are proud and fond of new or clean clothes."--_Kelly._

Naething sooner maks a man auld-like than sitting ill to his meat.

"To sit ill to one's meat, to be ill fed."--_Jamieson._

Naething to be done in haste but gripping fleas.

In his introduction to Henderson's _Proverbs_, Motherwell relates a humorous anecdote in connection with this proverb. An indefatigable collector of "rusty sayed saws," a friend of his, was in the habit of jotting down any saying new to him on the back of cards, letters, &c., and thrusting them into his pocket. On one occasion he had an altercation with a stranger at a friend's house. The quarrel becoming warm, ended by Motherwell's friend excitedly handing the other (as he thought) his card. On the gentleman's preparing to vindicate his honour next morning, it occurred to him to learn the name of his antagonist. On looking at the card he found no name, but, in place of it, traced in good legible characters, "Naething should be done in a hurry but catching fleas." The effect of this was irresistible, and the result an immediate reconciliation.

Naething to do but draw in your stool and sit down.

Everything is so far advanced that the finis.h.i.+ng stroke only is wanting. Applied to a man who is courting a widow or spinster already in possession of a well-furnished house.

Naething venture, naething win.

Nae weather's ill an the wind be still.

Nae wonder ye're auld like, ilka thing fashes you.

That is, because you allow every little trifling occurrence to vex you.