"A phrase applied to one who, it is believed, cannot be depended
on."--_Jamieson._

He's no a stirk o' the right stock.

"I was a friendless lad, and ye took me by the hand,--and could I
sit still and see scathe befa' my benefactor, I wouldna be a stirk
o' the right stock, that's bred on the land o' Scotland."--_Sir
Andrew Wylie._

He's no gude to creel eggs wi'.

"Not safe or easy to deal with."--_Jamieson._

He's no nice but needfu'.

He's no sae daft as he lets on.

He's no steel to the bane.

He's no the best wright that casts maist spails.

He's no the fool that the fool is, but he that wi' the fool deals.

He's no the happiest wha has maist gear.

He's no worth kissing caps wi'.

To "kiss caps wi'," is to keep company with, to associate together
in drinking.

He's out and in, like a dog at a fair.

He's ower auld a cat to draw a strae before.

"The rents and the lands are but a sair fash to me," re-echoed
Ailie; "and I'm ower failed to tak a helpmate, though Wylie
Mactrickit, the writer, was very pressing, and spak very civilly;
but I'm ower auld a cat to draw that strae before me--he canna
whilliwhaw me as he's done mony a ane."--_Old Mortality._

He's ower-shot wi' his ain bow.

Overreached with his own weapons.

He's ower soon up that's hanged ere noon.

He's soger bred but major minded.

He's ta'en a start and an owerloup.

"The usual expression for a slight encroachment on a neighbour's
property."--_Sir Walter Scott._

He speaks like a prent book.

He speaks in his drink what he thinks in his drouth.

He spoke as if every word would lift a dish.

In allusion to a person who has addressed another in a very pompous
or affected manner.

He's poor enough that's ill faur'd.

He's poor that canna promise.

He's rich that has nae debt.

He's sairest dung that's paid wi' his ain wand.

That is, he suffers most who injures himself by his own folly, or by
means which may have been intended to injure another.

He's silly that spares for ilka speech.

He's sometimes i' the air, but ye're aye on the grund.

He's the bee that maks the honey.

He's the best spoke o' your wheel.

He's the slave o' a slaves wha ser's nane but himsel.

He's twice fain that sits on a stane.

"That is, glad to sit down, because he is weary, and glad to rise,
because the stone is hard."--_Kelly._

He starts a