Is olc an t-eun a shalaicheas a nead fèin. = It’s a poor bird that dirties her own nest.
Cha tig eun glan às nead salach. = A clean bird will not arise from a dirty nest.
Bheir an t-anabarr molaidh an t-anabarr dolaidh. = Too much praise does too much harm.
Cha phàigh taing sibh. = Thanks never pays.
Cha bhi an t-uisge air a’ mhuileann an-còmhnaidh. = Water is not always found at a mill.
Cha do chìr thu ceann liath sheann fathast. = You’ve never combed an old grey-head yet.
Airgead mar na sligean. = Money like the shells, i.e. abundant.
Chan eil mar a bhiodh air. = It’s not that it should be.
Sin rud nach biodh coire. = That’s something where blame isn’t apportioned.
Thachair struth ri steall. = A stream met a torrent.
Bheir teas teas à feòil. = Heat will remove heat from flesh.
Le ‘n t-Urramach Tormod Dòmhnullach
(Faodaidh mi ag ràidhtinn gum bheil a cheart rud fìor sin mu dheidhinn bheir fuachd fuachd à feòil agus chuir mi fhìn dearbhadh air an sin nar a bha mi thall ann an Canada bha mi a-muigh feasgar fuar geamhraidh mar a tha a h-uile feasgar anns an àite ud le fuar reòthadh uamhasach. Agus dh’fhalbh mi go gòrach, bha agam ri dhol dà mhìle, tha, mach go ruige taigh air ceann-coinneamh. Agus bha còir agam a bhith…a bhith air còmhdach cinn a chuir orm a’ còmhdach air mo chluasan mar a bha a’ dèanamh an-còmhnaidh nar a bhithinn air falbh ann an uidheam-shiùbhlain a bha fosgailte. Ach ge b’e air bith gu dè bu choireach, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur h-e bu choireach e ris gun robh an t-astar cho goirid – ’s cha robh ann ach dà mhìle ’s bha mi a’ smaoineachadh nach b’ urrainn dhomh fuachd mòr fhaireachadh gus a ruiginn. Ach ’s mi a bha gòrach nar a ràinig mise an ceann-uidhe ’s chaidh mi a-staigh, sheall an gille a bha cuide rium agus chunnaic e gun robh mo chluas agam air a reòthadh. ’S chaidh e a-mach agus fhuair e dà chnap sneachda agus deigheadh agus chuir e dà chluas agam eadar an dà chnap agus chum e ann an sin e co-dhiù airson cairteal na h-uarach agus thug am fuachd a tha an sin reòthadh a-mach às mo chluais. Nan mise air mo làmh a chur air mo chluais, bha mi air mo chluas a thoirt dhìom agus ’s e fuachd a thug a-mach am fuachd ’s an reòthadh agus tha e ann an seo againn mar shean-fhacal ach ’s ann timcheall air teas: bheir teas teas à feòil.)
Guirean air tòn baintighearna. = Pimples on a lady’s bottom, mar shampla, a storm in a teacup.
(Tha sin a’ ciallachadh rud beag air nach bu chòir do dhuine sam bith gearain a dhèanamh do bhrìgh agus nach robh e a thighinn go ceann-adhbhair dha.)
Mus ruig thu ceann nan ròpan. = Before you reach the end of the ropes, i.e. at the outset of something.
Cho dearg ri measair fhaladh. = As red as an enclosed powder-husk.
’S e bàs a’ chinn-adhairt a bh’ ann. = It was a natural death.
Na gearain gu bràth air bàs a’ chinn-adhairt. = Never complain about a natural death.
Dh’èigh e na creachan. = He shouted for plunder, mar shampla; he cried blue murder.
’S ann ort a tha coltas do ghnothaich. = It appears that you’re about your business.
Chan e cuid aon duine a th’ ann. = It’s not one person’s share.
(Bhiodh an sean-fhacal sin ga chur a dh’fheum glè thrice aig àm a’ Chiad Chogaidh Mhòir (1914 gu 1919). ’S ainneamh latha nach tigeadh sgeul-bàis go cuidigineach anns an sgìreachd agus ’s e theireadh athair an teaghlaich nar a gheibheadh e fios gun do mharbhadh a mhac anns an Fhraing: chan e cuid aon duine a th’ ann.)
Caolanan a’ seangachadh leis an acras. = Guts withering away through starvation.
Thug thu às mo bheul e, is tu as luaithe a gheibh biadh annasach. = You took it out of mouth, and you were quick to get unusual food.
Le Tormod Dòmhnullach
(Faodaidh mi beagan mìneachaidh a thoirt air an sin. Nam biodh dithist anns an siud a’ seanchas air rud sam bith agus gun tachradh gun canadh duine rud a bha an duine eile a bha a’ dol a ràdh air thoiseach air, theireadh am fear sin: thug thu às mo bheul e, is tu as luaithe a gheibh biadh annasach.)
Cha bhiodh e agam airson na chuir a’ mhuir air tìr. = I wouldn’t have that which has been washed ashore by the sea.
Cha bhithinn ris airson na chuir a’ mhuir air tìr. = I wouldn’t wish for that which has been washed ashore by the sea.
Eadar-dhealachadh beag eadar a dhà dhòigh sin. = An insignificant difference between these two sayings.
B’ fheàrr leam a bhith nam aiseal aig ceàrd. = I’d rather be the tinker’s ass.
An cuthach bideanach. = The utter madness.
Ta e air a dol anns an treas cèill. = He has entered his third sense, i.e. dotage.
’S ann an còmhnaidh timcheall air daoine glè shean a bha am facal seo air a labhairt: ta e air a dol an treas cèill. = This was always said of very old people.
Na ruith ’s na leum. = Running and jumping.
Cha tuirt mi na thuirt thu. = I didn’t say what you said.
Cha bhi ceò an taigh na h-uiseig. = No smoke rises from the lark’s house.
Air a tobhtaichean mòra. = On the big ruins.
Tha e coltach ri rud a chuireadh a’ mhuir air tìr. = It appears like something that the sea would bring ashore.
Le Tormod Dòmhnullach
Cho mòr ri Tighearna Chluainidh. = As big as lord Mac a’ Phearsain na Cluainidh.
(Sin a’ ciallachadh duine a bha caran mòr às fhèin. ’S tha e coltach gun robh Tighearan Chluainidh air leth os air ceann-feadhna a thaobh mòr-chùis. Bha e cho mòr co-dhiù agus gun robh air ag ràithtinn gun robh…nar a thigeadh na h-ìochdaran fa chomhair na an tuath gum feumadh iad clais a dhèanamh agus dh’fheumadh àsan a bhith air taobh isle na claiseadh.)
Is ioma rud buidhe nach òr, is ioma rud bòidheach as còir a sheachnadh. = Many a thing that shines yellow is not gold, many a beautiful thing should be shunned.
Cha mharbh cruach arbhair luch. = A haystack never killed a mouse.
Ghabh e peighinn an amair. = He took the penny of the pool.
Nam biodh e na b’ fheàrr cha b’ fhiach e. = It if could be any better it wouldn’t be worth it, i.e. top notch.
Cha dèan a h-uile ceàrd spàin. = Not every tinker can make a spoon.
Uisge ’s grian, rud nach do mhair fada a-riamh. = Rain and sunshine, things that never lasted long.
Saoilidh am fear a ta gun ghob gur h-e am modh am mì-mhodh. = The man who is without speech thinks that politeness is impolite.
Thèid an sgadan marbh leis an t-sruth. = The dead herring flows with the current.
Is mairg a nì uaill. = Pity him who is vain.
Le Tormod Dòmhnullach