Irish Sayings Page 4
WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER
THE OLDER THE FIDDLE THE SWEETER THE TUNE
IT’S NO USE BOILING YOUR CABBAGE TWICE
THERES NO NEED TO FEAR THE WIND IF YOUR HAYSTACKS ARE TIED DOWN
DO NOT MISTAKE A GOATS BEARD FOR A FINE STALLIONS TAIL
DRINK IS THE CURSE OF THE LAND.
IT MAKES YOU FIGHT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOUR.
IT MAKES YOU SHOOT AT YOUR LANDLORD
AND IT MAKES YOU MISS HIM.
IF YOU LIE DOWN WITH DOGS YOU’LL RISE WITH FLEAS
A WILD GOOSE NEVER REARED A TAME GOSLING
A BOYS BEST FRIEND IS HIS MOTHER AND THERES NO SPANCEL STRONGER THAT HER APRON
STRING
THERE NEVER WAS AN OLD SLIPPER BUT THERE WAS AN OLD STOCKING TO MATCH IT
FIRELIGHT WILL NOT LET YOU READ FINE STORIES BUT IT’S WARM AND YOU WON’T SEE
THE DUST ON THE FLOOR
AS THE OLD COCK CROWS THE YOUNG COCK LEARNS
HUMOUR TO A MAN IS LIKE A FEATHER PILLOW . IT IS FILLED WITH WHAT IS EASY TO
GET BUT GIVES GREAT COMFORT
MANY AN IRISH PROPERTY WAS INCREASED BY THE LACE OF A DAUGHTERS PETTICOAT
THE BEST WAY TO KEEP LOYALTY IN A MAN’S HEART IS TO KEEP MONEY IN HIS PURSE
A NARROW NECK KEEPS THE BOTTLE FROM BEING EMPTIED IN ONE SWIG
A TROUT IN THE POT IS BETTER THAN A SALMON IN THE SEA
IF THE KNITTER IS WEARY THE BABY WILL HAVE NO NEW BONNET
IT’S FOR HER OWN GOOD THAT THE CAT PURRS
EVEN A TIN KNOCKER WILL SHINE ON A DRITY DOOR
AN OLD BROOM KNOWS THE DIRTY CORNERS BEST
ONE BEETLE RECOGNIZES ANOTHER
TO THE RAVEN HER OWN CLUCK IS WHITE
WHEN THE SKY FALLS WE’LL ALL CATCH LARKS
ANY MAN CAN LOSE HIS HAT IN A FAIRY-WIND
IF YOU HAVE ONE PAIR OF GOOD SOLES ITS BETTER THAN TWO PAIRS OF GOOD UPPERS
IT’S NO USE CARRING AN UMBRELLA IF YOUR SHOES ARE LEAKING
IT’S DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO BLIND GOATS
A SILENT MOUTH IS SWEET TO HEAR
IT’S AS HARD TO SEE A WOMAN CRYING AS IT IS TO SEE A BAREFOOTED DUCK
HE’D OFFER YOU AN EGG IF YOU PROMISED NOT TO BREAK THE SHELL
IT’S A BAD HEN THAT WON’T SCRATCH HERSELF
NO MATTER HOW OFTEN A PITCHER GOES TO THE WATER IT IS BROKEN IN THE END
THERE WAS NEVER A SCABBY SHEEP IN A FLOCK THAT DIDN’T LIKE TO HAVE A COMRADE
A NOD IS AS GOOD AS A WINK TO A BLIND HORSE
THE FOX NEVER FOUND A BETTER MESSENGER THAN HIMSELF
THERE’LL BE WHITE BLACKBIRDS BEFORE AN UNWILLING WOMAN TIES THE KNOT
SHOW THE FATTED CALF BUT NOT THE THING THAT FATTENED HIM
A BUCKLE IS A GREAT ADDITION TO AN OLD SHOE
IN WINTER THE MILK GOES TO THE COWS HORNS
MEN ARE LIKE BAGPIPES NO SOUND COMES FROM THEM TILL THEY’RE FULL
SNUFF AT A WAKE IS FINE IF THERE’S NOBODY SNEEZING OVER THE SNUFF BOX
YOU MUST CRACK THE NUTS BEFORE YOU CAN EAT THE KERNEL
EVERY PATIENT IS A DOCTOR AFTER HIS CURE
NEITHER GIVE CHERRIES TO PIGS NOR ADVICE TO A FOOL
SOFTWORDS BUTTER NO PARSNIPS BUT THEY WON’T HARDEN THE HEART OF THE CABBAGE
EITHER
YOU’LL NEVER PLOUGH A FIELD BY TURNING IT OVER IN YOUR MIND
THERE ARE FINER FISH IN THE SEA THAN HAVE EVER BEEN CAUGHT
A TYRONE WOMAN WILL NEVER BUY A RABBIT WITHOUT A HEAD FOR FEAR IT’S A CAT
A WINDY DAY IS NOT THE DAY FOR THATCHING
THE OLD PIPE GIVES THE SWEETEST SMOKE
MARRIAGES ARE ALL HAPPY . IT’S HAVING BREAKFAST TOGETHER THAT CAUSES ALL THE
TROUBLE
A SCHOLARS INK LASTS LONGER THAN A MARTYRS BLOOD
TAKE GIFTS WITH A SIGH , MOST MEN GIVE TO BE PAID
A TURKEY NEVER VOTED FOR AN EARLY CHRISTMAS
WHAT BUTTER AND WHISKEY WILL NOT CURE THERE’S NO CURE FOR
THE IRISH FORGIVE THEIR GREAT MEN WHEN THEY ARE SAFELY BURIED
THE LONGEST ROAD OUT IS THE SHORTEST ROAD HOME