wer
to see my losses; but what gude, when I think on't, would the sight
o' losses do to you? It wouldna put a plack in your pouch--aiblins
every twa or three pages ye wad see this ane or that ane cowpet the
crans, and deep in my debt."--_Laird of Logan._

He seeks nae mair than a bit an' a brat.

Meaning that he is content with little.

He's either a' honey or a' dirt.

He is either exceedingly affectionate and kind, or _vice versa_.

He sell't his soul for a cracket saxpence.

He's failed wi' a fu' hand.

When a man "fails wi' a fu' hand," he defrauds his creditors with
the assistance of the Bankruptcy Act.

He's frae the tap o' the wing, but ye're a grey-neck quill.

Meaning, we presume, that a man is not so good as he would like to
be thought, or as some person he may have compared himself with.

He's free o' fruit that wants an orchard.

He's fond o' barter that niffers wi' Auld Nick.

He's gane aff at the nail.

Or "destitute of any regard to propriety of conduct; mad;
wrongheaded; tipsy."--_Jamieson._

He's gane a' to pigs and whistles.

"Hech, sirs, what a kyteful o' pride's yon'er! and yet I would be
nane surprised the morn to hear that the Nechabudnezzar was a' gane
to pigs and whistles, and driven out wi' the divors bill to the
barren pastures of bankruptcy."--_The Entail._

He's gane ower the buss taps.

"To behave extravagantly; to go over the tops of the
bushes."--_Jamieson._

He's gane to seek his faither's sword.

He's gane to the dog-drave.

He's got his leg ower the harrows.

He's got his nose in a gude kail pat.

Meaning that a person has been well provided for. Generally applied
to a poor man who has married a rich wife.

He's gude that never failed.

He's his faither's better, like the cooper o' Fogo.

"Fogo is a small decayed village near Dunse. It appears that each
generation of its coopers improved upon the plans or workmanship of
their ancestors, and the son became better than the father."--_G.
Henderson._

He's horn deaf on that side o' his head.

That is, he has already made up his mind upon that matter.

He should be seldom angry that has few to mease him.

He's idle that might be better employed.

He's ill-faur'd that dogs bark at.

"'I have had that wad sober me or ony ane,' said the matron. 'Aweel,
Tib, a lass like me wasna to lack wooers, for