Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens

transcribed at

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656911]

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens Weather

If one sees a black lamb (the first he sees in a particular year it is considered an unlucky omen if the lamb has its back to the person. 

If one meets a funeral he is supposed to turn and walk three steps with the funeral procession else ill luck will ''dog'' that person.

You were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth.

The hen with the chickens never broke her ''craw'' (A mother does not commit gluttony)

The day you choose your wife you choose your children.

You may do without your friends but not without your neighbours.

Everyone has his own story and the pisín has the cats' (story)

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656912]

If one hears the cuckoo for the first time in any year before he has taken food in the morning misfortune is in store for that person.

If God's mill is slow it grinds finely
Don't ''be'' too friendly with the clergy and don't ''fall out'' with them.

It's a poor priest has no clerk.

He has not the respect of a dog in the ashes.

You did not burn seven stacks of turf with him yet (not long married and therefore don't know him)

Keep the bad dog on your side

Nature breaks through the eyes of the cat

The bad drop is in him and it goes seventeen generations

Bought sense is the best sense.

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656913]

She burned her coal but she did not do her roasting (coal locally means a burning red turf) The whole means ''she married a useless husband''

The man of the cow in the tail

Put silk on a goat, and it is a goat all the time.

When rogues ''fall out'' the honest man gets his share

God never closed a gap without opening another.

No news is good news.

He'd drinks Lough Erne dry

When he has a wisp in his boots his cattle are fed. He has no stock or land.

He's looking for work and praying to God not to get it.

Hills are green far away. Yes, but not grassy.

The curse of the crows on you.

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656914]

What's bred in the bone can't be taken out of the flesh

He was not behind the door when the wit was being divided (He is witty or clever)

If God did not put sense in him you cannot put it in him with a stick.

It's a terrible war than no one comes safe out of it.

The proof of the pudding is in ''its eating''

What would kill one person that's what would cure another.

He always had the foal's share of the harrow (never worked)

You would be a good messenger to send for death.

You cannot put your hand in the fire and draw it out safe.

The butter went through the ''culcannon'' on him = his plans miscarried

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656915]

Bad egg, bad bird

A simpleton in a family brings luck to that family

There's little between the good and the bad.

Ill got, ill gone.

It's no secret and three knowing it.

I can't whistle and chew meal.

You did not break or ''strain'' your crupper (..exert yourself very much)

He's in his own way and other people's ways. Very old fable.

Nothing like help - except at the pot.

The early bird catches the worm.

The smith's rest (to you) from the anvil to the bellows.

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656916]

Big head little sense.

It's an ill wind that does not be in somebody sails

A patch is better that a hole, but ''devil in it'' but that

He'd steal the cross ''off'' an ass

God never sent a mouth without a bit for it.

There's as good fish in the sea is ever ''was'' caught.

When I burn the candle i'll burn the inch I ''may as well'' burn the inch

Time enough lost the ducks. Answer: And wait a while got them.

He like a bag-pipe he does not play till his belly is full Silent except after eating and drinking

When his cap is on his head his house is thatched (he is homeless)

There will be ''the devil to pay'' (cause trouble) if she does not get her way.

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656917]

If you're doomed to be hanged you''ll never be drowned.

It's time enough to bid the devil good-morrow when you meet him.

May you comb a grey head.

Many a man in the graveyard would be glad to have it. (A cold or cough)

The four worst things:
Ploughing in frost,
Harrowing in rain,
Making ditch (= a dyke) in summer,
Building a wall in winter.

A ''still'' foot gets nothing.

Never go between the skin and the tree (interfere between relatives)

He's a buchallan outside and a thistle inside. Pleasant abroad
            unpleasant at home

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656918]

Good luck is better than early rising

Curses don't fall on stciks or stones

Live horse and you'll get grass

It's ''manys'' the day we'll be in the grave and none of them in yet.

He's a man at the table only (a poor workman)

The child must creep before it walks.

Boots in the cradle and none in the stubble '' when I'm able

Don't exchange horses crossing the stream

Between two stools he came to the ground

It's a long road without a turn.

A green xmas, makes a fat graveyard

Proverbs, Superstitions and Omens  [duchas:4656919]

From her head the cow is milked

It was not off the grass he licked it

When your hand is in the dog's mouth pull it gently.

He is tearing a sack to make a bag.

You have your hook in a stump (in a fix difficulty)

One swallow makes no summer.

If a person who is the subject of a conversation in a house enters that house at the time he is being spoken of, it is believed that the person who entered cannot die that year. They say in a joke: ''Speak of the devil and he'll appear''

To prevent cattle from being overlooked tie a red rag to the animals' tail. It is said that some people unconsciously have the power of ''overlooking'' animals (except the ass that cannot be overlooked owing to the cross) though they may have no intention of injuring the animal concerned, or the owner of the animal. To prevent this occurring all say, ''That a fine...God Bless him her'' as the case may be.