nag's
heels; and if ye find him in confinement, ye maun stay beside him
night and day for a day or twa, for he'll want friends that hae
baith heart and hand; and if ye neglect this, ye'll never rue but
ance, for it will be for a' your life."--_Guy Mannering._
He'll no gie an inch o' his will for a span o' his thrift.
That is, regardless of expense, his wishes must be gratified.
He'll no gie the head for the washing.
To "keep the head for the washing" is to retain possession of an
article which has been made to order or repaired until all charges
upon it are paid.
He'll no let the grass grow at his heels.
He'll no sell his hen on a rainy day.
He will not sell his wares at an unpropitious time.
He'll rather turn than burn.
He'll shoot higher that shoots at the moon, than he that shoots at the
midden, e'en though he may miss his mark.
He'll soon be a beggar that canna say "No."
He'll tell it to nae mair than he meets.
He'll wag as the bush wags.
That is, he will do as circumstances compel him.
He loes me for little that hates me for nought.
His love has never been very strong if it turns for a trifle.
He'll wind you a pirn.
"An my auld acquaintance be hersel, or onything like hersel, she may
come to wind us a pirn. It's fearsome baith to see and hear her when
she wampishes about her arms, and gets to her English, and speaks as
if she were a prent book--let a-be an auld fisher's wife."--_The
Antiquary._
He lo'ed mutton weel that lick'd where the ewie lay.
"Spoken to them who will sip the bottom of a glass where good liquor
was, or scrape a plate after good meat."--_Kelly._
"He loved mutton well that dipped his bread in wool."--_English._
He looks as if he could swallow a cow.
This saying and the four which follow are expressive of
peculiarities in the appearance of persons.
He looks as if the wood were fu' o' thieves.
He looks like a Lochaber axe fresh frae the grundstane.
He looks like the far end of a French fiddle.
"Gin ye wad thole to hear a friend,
Tak tent, and nae wi' strunts offend,
I've seen queans dink, and neatly prim'd
Frae tap to middle,
Looking just like the far-aff end
O' an auld fiddle."--_The Farmer's Ha'._
He looks like the laird o' fear.
He loses his time that comes sune to a bad bargain
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