Irish Phrases and Proverbs Kindly donated to Killorglin Archive Society by Maureen FitzGibbon (nee O’Mahony) of Langford Street, Killorglin Fuair mé treascairt Cuíosach gan a beith maíteach Go maireann tú céad Go mbeirimíd beo ag an ám seo arís Sláinte Mhaith Buíochas le Dia Le cúnamh Dé Imithe ar shlí na firinne Níl in aon rud ach seal Go gcastar ar a chéile áris Go dté sibh slán Níl aon dá seód níos luachmhaire ná an óige agus an tsláinte Ni sheasann sac folamh Is minic a bhris béal duine a shrón Is iad na muca ciúine a itheann an mhin Maireann croí éadrom I bhfad Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde An té a chaillfeas a chlú, caillfidh sé a náire Is leor don dreoilín a nead Ní dhíolann dearmad fiacha Is trom an t-ualach an leisce Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolb Is leor nod don ealach Ní bhíonn meas ar an aonphort Teas gaoithe aduaidh nó fuacht gaoithe aneas, sin báusteach Is deas an rud an beagán ach é a dhéanamh go maith Ní bhíonn an duine críonna go dtéann an beart thart Ní ioctar as an bhuille nach mbuailtear Ná diol caor dhubh, ná ceannaigh caora dhubh, agus ná bí gan caora dhubh Is neamhbhuan cogadh; má bhíonn sé crua, ní bhíonn sé fada An rud nach bhfuil agus nach mbeidh, nead ag an luch I bhféasóg an chait Sceal an chait, a phiscín Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird Chomh sean leis an cheo agus níos sine faoi dhó Ní cleas é go ndéantar trí huaire é Caill do chlú agus faigh ar ais é, agus ní hé rud céanna é
I got overthrown (I fell) Ok, can’t complain May you live to 100 May we be alive at this time again Cheers D.G. Thanks be to God D.V. God willing Away with the fairies Nothing lasts forever Until we meet again Stay safe and well There are no two jewels more precious than youth and health Peig Sayers An empty sack won’t stand Many a time a person’s mouth broke his or her nose It is the quiet pigs that eat the meal A light heart lives longest Beware of the anger of a patient man He who loses his reputation, loses his shame A wren only has need for its nest A debt is still unpaid, even if forgotten Laziness is a heavy burden A windy day is no day for thatching A hint is sufficient for the wise There is little respect for the single tune The north wind’s heat or the cold of the south wind, means rain Little is best if well done The person is not wise until the deed is done A blow not given isn’t paid for Neither buy or sell a black sheep, but never be without one A row between friends is short lasting, even if bitter it is never long What isn’t and never will be – a mouse’s nest in the cat’s beard The cat’s life, its kitten The craft comes from the head As old as the mist and older by two It isn’t a trick until it is done three times Lose your reputation to regain it, but it is never the same
Dochtúir na Sláinte an codladh Ná glac pioc comhairle gan comhairle ban Tabhair do chuid dod’ chomharsa is bí féin I d’ óinseach Bíonn fáilte agus fiche roimh chuireadh gan iarraidh Ná cuir dailtín le teachtaireacht An té a bhíonn díomhaoin óg, bíonn sé buan críonna Is faide a théann an dúchas ná a fhoghlaim An té a luíonn le madraí, éiroidh sé le dreancaidí Is gaire cabhair Dé ná an doras Is garbh mí na gcuach Caith agus ná coinnigh an muileata Chomh díomhaoin le laidhricín píobaire Faigheann an tseanbhróg an seanstoca Is minic a bhain seangán léim as gearrán An té a bhíonn siúlach, bíonn sé scéalach agus an té a bhíonn scéalach bíonn sé bréagach Níor tháinig stoirm ariamh gan báisteach ina dhiaidh Is cuma le tae cé ólfas é Taephota sa teallach, ‘sé a shásóidh an chailleach Is treise toil ná tuiscint Téann iseal agus uasal chuig tórramh An té is ciúine is é is buaine Ná bí beag ná mór leis an chléir Oíche aerach is maidin bhrónach Mol an óige is tiocfaidh sí Ná mol agus ná cáin thú féin Ná leathnaigh do bhrat muna féidir leat é a chosaint Lig dom agus ligfidh má duit Moladh luath agus cáineadh mall Más maith leat do cháineadh, pós Ná gearradh do theanga do shrón féin An rud nach gcluinfidh do chluas, ní bhainfidh sé caint asat An rud is gaire do do chroí is gaire don bhéal An rud is annamh, is iontach Is maith an scéalai an aimsir Ní bhíonn airgead amadain I bhfad ina phóca chomh folláin le bradán Siúlann na cait seacht n-acra in oiche Tús maith leath na hoibre Faigheann an fharraige a cuid féi Chomh glan lis an fhíoruisce Is é buille an phinn an buille is fealltaí Chomh salach le teach na gcearc Ní haon ualach an chiall
Health’s doctor is sleep Never take advice without a woman’s guidance Give yours to the neighbor and be a fool yourself There is great welcome in an unrequested invitation Never send a youngster with a message He who is single in youth, is forever wise. Nurture goes further than learning He who sleeps with dogs, rises with fleas God’s help is nearer than the door The month of the cuckoo is severe Play and don’t keep the card with diamonds As idle as a piper’s little finger The old shoe gets the old stocking It is often an ant made a horse jump He who travels is talkative, and he who is talkative tells untruths A storm never comes without the rain after Tea doesn’t mind who drinks it A teapot on the stove is what satisfies an old woman Will is stronger than understanding Both poor and rich attend funerals He who is silent is the stronger Be neither friendly nor unfriendly with clergy A lively night and a sad morning Praise the youth and they will bloom Neither praise nor criticize yourself Don’t unfurl your flag if you are unable to defend it Let me be and I will let you be Early praise and delayed criticism If you like to be criticized, get married Let your tongue not cut off your nose What your ear doesn’t hear won’t make you talk What is nearer your heart is closest to your mouth What is rare is wonderful Time is a good messenger (Time will tell) A fool’s money doesn’t remain for long in his pocket As healthy as a salmon A cat walks seven acres in a night A good start is half the work The sea receives its own As pure as spring water The pen’s blow is the most treacherous As dirty as the hen house Sense is not a heavy burden
Bíonn cluasa fada ar mhuca beaga Ní féidir an ghobadán an dá thrá a fhreastal Is le gach bó a lao agus is le gach leabhar a chóip Is minic a rug cú mall ar ghiorria Is fear rith maith ná drochsheasamh Bíonn saibhir agus daibhir le chéile ar neamh Ní féidir an dubh a chur ina gheal ach seal Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán An té a bhíonn thuas óltar deoch air, an té a bhíonn thíos buailtear cic air Is cuma leis an bhacach cé a líonann a mhála Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid Trí ní nach féidir a cheilt: tart, tochas agus ocras Tri ní nach mothaítear ag teacht: cíos, aois agus féasóg Nuair a bhíonn an t-ól istigh, bíonn an chiall amuigh Is minic paidrín fada ag rógaire Is minic ubh mhór ag cearc bheag Fág an drochscéal san áit a bhfuair tú é Mó bhíonn tú ar lorg cara gan locht, beidh tú gan cara go deo Is fear beagán cuidithe ná mórán trua Cuir síoda ar ghabhar ach is gabhar I cgónaí é Níl leigheas ar an ghrá ach pósadh Níl saoi gan locht An té nach gcuireann san earrch, ní bhainfidh sé san fhómhar Is dóigh le fear gan chiall gurb é féin fear na céille Is fear lúbadh ná briseadh An té nach bhfuil láidir, ní mór dó a bheith glic Is minic ciúin ciontach An té a bhíonn amuigh, fuaraíonn a chuid Is namhaid í an cheird gan í a fhoghlaim Is trom cearc I bhfad Tig maith mhór as moill bheag Níl fhois ag fear an tí thall caidé mar atá fear an tí ‘bhus Is minic a bhí fear maith I seanbhríste Chuirfeadh sé cosa faoi chearca duit Ní scéal rúin é más fios do thriúr é Dá ghile an t-éadach, is fusa é a shalachadh Is fear réal inniu ná scilling amárach Ceannaigh an maor is ni baol duit am máistir Nuair a stadann an ceol, stadann an rince Ní hé an té is fear a thuilleann is mó a fhaigheann
Little pigs have long ears The sandpiper cannot attend to two beaches To every cow its calf and to every book its copy It is often that a slow hound captures a hare A good run is better than a poor standing Rich and poor are together in heaven You can only deny the truth for a while A little tastes well He who is successful is saluted with a drink, he who is down is kicked The beggar cares little as to who fills his bag We all exist in each others’ shadow Three things that cannot be concealed: thirst, itch and hunger Three things that come unawares: rent, age and beard-growth When the drink is in, the sense is out The rogue frequently has a long prayer A small hen often has a large egg Leave the bad tale where you found it If you seek a friend without fault, you will be without one forever A little help is better than a lot of sympathy Dress a goat in silk and he still remains a goat Love’s only remedy is marriage A wise man is not without fault He who doesn’t sow in spring will not reap in the autumn The man without sense thinks that he is the sensible one Bending is better than breaking He who is weak needs to be clever Silence frequently signals guilt He who is absent, his food goes cold A craft is an enemy if not learned Even a hen becomes a burden on a long journey Often great good comes from a short delay One neighbor doesn’t know what the other is doing There’s often a good man in old trousers He’d build a nest in your ear It isn’t a secret if three know it The whiter the cloth the easier soiled It is better to have sixpence today than a shilling tomorrow Buy the steward and you won’t fear the master When the music stops, so does the dance The most deserving isn’t always the best rewarded
Ná héiligh do cheart go bhfeicfear do neart An t-ualach is mó ar an gcapall is míne Is olc an chearc ná scríobfaidh di féin I dtosach na h-aicíde is fusa í a leigheas Aimsíonn an dall a bhéal Is dána gach fear go tulaigh Is minic bean an ghréasaí ag caitheamh drochbhróga Ní bhíonn bua mór gan chontúirt An gad is giorra don scornach is gá a réiteach ar thús Is minic a bhain dealg bheag braon Roghnaigh do chuideachta sul a dtéann tú ag ól Bíonn an fhírinne searbh ach ní fhaigheann sí náire go deo Is geall le sos malairt oibre Ná glac duine choíche ar a thuaraisc fhéin Níl cíos, cás nó cathú air Níl luibh nó leigheas in aghaidh an bháis Is fear a bheith ag lorg bidh ná goile Seachain an duine a bhíonn ina thost Ná tabhair braith ar an chéad scéal Ní fhanann tráigh le héinne Tar éis a thuigtear gach beart Ní raibh feall riamh nach bhfillfeadh Mol an lá um thráthnóna Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhair breac Ní dheachaigh fial ariamh go hIfrean Más gear é do scéal is greannmhar Déanann ceann ciallmhar béal iata Galar an grá nach leigheasann luibheanna Is fear an tsláinte ná na táinte Is í an lámh a shíntear, an lámh a cháintear An rud nach fiú é a lorg, ní fiú í a fháil Ní raibh an cuibheasach ina thaoiseach maith ariamh Fiche bliain ag fás, fiche bliain faoi bhláth agus fiche bliain ag trá Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam Beidh lá eile ag an hPaorach Is glas iad na conic I bhfad uainn Mair a chapaill is gheobhair féar Ní breac go port é Ní neart go cur le chéile Ní mar a shíltear a bítear Ní h-aithne go h-aontíos
Don’t demand your rights until you know your strength The willing horse gets the most work It is a poor hen that won’t scratch for herself It is easier to cure illness at the start A blind man can find his mouth Every man is brave until he reaches the battle It is often the shoemaker’s wife that wears the worst shoes There is never a great victory without danger The most pressing problem should be resolved first It is often a small thorn drew blood First choose your company before drinking Truth is bitter but never ashamed A change is as good as a rest Never accept anyone’s own opinion of themselves He is without troubles There is no cure for death Looking for food is preferable to looking for an appetite Beware of the person of few words Never judge on first opinion Time and tide await no person It is easy to be wise after the event Evil always returns on the evildoer Don’t praise the day until evening Listen to the river and you will get a trout A generous person never went to Hell The shorter the story the funnier A wise man keeps his counsel No known herb cures love Health is better than wealth A helping hand gets the blame What is not worth seeking, is not worth finding The mediocre never make great leaders 20 years a’growing, 20 years in bloom and 20 years in decline A country without a language is a country without a soul There will be another day Faraway hills are green Live horse and you will get grass A trout isn’t caught until landed Unity is strength Things are not always as they seem You won’t know someone until you live with him or her
Molann an obair an fear The work praises the man Is maith an chearc ná beireann amuigh The good hen doesn’t lay outside Is é do mhac do mhac nó go bpósfaidh sé, ach is í A son is a son until he marries, a daughter is forever d’iníon d’iníon go deo Is buan fear ina dhúiche fhéin A man is brave in his own backyard Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile It takes one to know one Ní bhíonn saoi gan locht ná daoi gan tréith There is no expert without fault or fool without worth Is minic cuma aingil ar an diabhal féin The devil himself often has an angel’s appearance Ní mhealltar an sionnach faoi dhó The fox is not tempted twice (once bitten twice shy) Béatha teanga í a labhairt The life of a language is in its speaking Ní túisce deoch ná scéal Drink should precede news (story) An té a thabharfaidh scéal chugat tabharfaidh sé The person who would give you a story would take dhá scéal uait two stories away from you An té is mó a osclaíonn a bhéal is é is lú a osclaíonn The person who opens his or her mouth most is the a sparán one who opens his or her purse least Ní haon tairbhe a bheith ag seanchas nuair a There is no benefit in talking about it when the harm bhíonn an anachain déanta has been done Dá mbeidh soineann go Samhain, bheadh breall ar If there was good weather until November (end of dhuine éigin Celtic year) someone would have cause for complaint Ní bheidh sé ag fearthainn I gcónaí It won’t always be raining [said to encourage a depressed person] Ná mol fear go bás ná an lá go tráthnóna Don’t praise a man until he is dead nor a day until it is evening Ní fuacht go hEarrach is ní teas go Fómhar No cold compares with the Spring’s cold, nor heat with Autumn’s heat Is maith an cuan an cúinne The corner is a good harbour Is fada a bhíonn an fear ag fás agus is gear a Man takes a long time to grow, but death a short bhíonn an bás á chloí time to overcome him An rud ná cloiseann an chluas ní chuireann sé What the ear does not hear does not worry the heart buairt ar an gcroí Is fear a bheith beagán sprionlaithe ná mórán It is better to be a little miserly than to have a lot lost caillte Am lao ite I mbolg na bó aige He has eaten the calf in the cow’s stomach [He has gone into debt, assuming future assets will clear it] Chuillfeadh éinne airgead, ach is fear gasta a Anyone can earn money, but it is a cute man who can choimeádfadh é keep it Is fear suaimhneas ar sop ná céad bó ar chnoc Peace is better than a hundred cows on a hill An té is mó airgid is é is mó dúil ann He who has the most money has the most regard for it Capall na hoibre an bia Food is the horse of work Nuair a bhíonn an cupán lán is ea is giorra dó é a The filled cup is closer to being spilt dhoirteadh An té ná faigheann an fheoil is mór an seó leis an He who does not get meat will get great satisfaction anraith from the soup Féasta anocht agus gorta amárach A feast tonight and a famine tomorrow Nuair is gann é an bia is ea is fial é a roinnt When food is scarce it is generous to divide it Nuair a bhíonn an bolg lán is mian leis na cnámha When the stomach is full, the bones like to stretch síneadh Ní thagann ciall roimh aois Sense doesn’t come before age Is treise an dúchas ná an oiliúint Nurture is stronger than training
Ní bhíonn uasal ná íseal ach thuas seal thíos seal Ceileann searc ainimh ‘s locht An té a phósfas an t-airgead, pósfaidh sé óinseach. Imeoidh an t-airgead, fanfaidh an t-óinseach Dearg aniar – soineann agus grian; Dearg anoir – sneachta agus sioc Dearg aneas – doineann agus teas; Dearg aduaidh – clagar agus fuacht Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras Dá mbeifeá chomh láidir le crann dadach, gheobhaidh an bás an ceann is fear ort An té nach leigheasann im nó uisce beatha, níl aon leigheas air Ith do sháith agus ól do sháith agus dean do sháith den obair, agus nuair a gheobhas tú an bás, féadfaidh tú do sháith do sháith a chodladh Mol an bodach agus bain obair as Is ait an mac an saol Is binn béal ina thost Is fear mall ná go brách Chomh dubh leis an tsúiche Buail an t-iarann te
Noble and poor are both up and down a while Love is blind He who marries money, marries a fool. The money will go but the fool will remain Red in the west – sunshine and sun; Red in the east – snow and frost Red in the south – storm and heat; Red in the north – hail and cold Hunger is a tasty sauce If you are as strong as an oak tree, death will still vanquish you That which butter or whiskey doesn’t cure, there isn’t a remedy for it Eat and drink your fill and do your work as best, and when you die you can sleep your rest Praise the rich man and make him work Life is strange Silence is golden Better late than never As black as soot Strike when the iron is hot