cha dèan aon smeòrach samhradh

one swallow does not a summer make
one swallow does not a summer make


nuair a thig air duine, thig air uile

it never rains but it pours
it never rains but it pours

it never rains but it pours (literally "when it befalls one, it befalls all")


is tighe fuil na bùrn

blood is thicker than water
blood is thicker than water


head

bu dual do dh'isean an ròin a dhol chun na mara

like father, like son
like father, like son

like father, like son (literally "it is a puppy seal's heritage to go to the sea")


am fear nach dèan cur rè latha fuar, cha dèan e buain rè latha teth

no pain, no gain (lit. "The man who doesn't plant during a cold day, he won't harvest during a hot day")


's tric a bhios cridhe gheal ann an seiche dhonn

don't judge a book by its cover
don't judge a book by its cover

don't judge a book by its cover (lit. "Often a bright heart is in a brown skin")


na h-abair diug a choidhche ris an eun gus an dig e às an ugh

don't count your chickens before they're hatched (lit. "don't say 'here chick chick' to the bird until he's hatched from the egg")


le sìor iarraidh thig furtachd lath'-eigin

le sìor iarraidh thig furtachd latha eigin

if at first you don't succeed, try try again


am fear a labhras olc mu a mhnaoi, tha e a cur mì-chliù air fhèin

am fear a labhras olc mu a mhnaoi (canonical)
tha e a cur mì-chliù air fhèin (canonical)

am fear a labhras olc mu a mhnaoi, tha e a' cur mì-chliù air fhèin

The man who speaks ill of his wife, he ruins his own reputation/ disgraces himself.


bidh an t-ubhal as fheàrr air a' mheangan as àirde

The best apple will be on the highest branch.


is treasa tuatha na tighearna

The common people are stronger than a lord.


's àirde tuathanach air a chasan na duine-uasal air a glùinean

's àirde tuathanach air a chasan na duine-uasal air a ghlùinean

A peasant on his feet is more powerful than a nobleman on his knees.


is sona gach cuid an comaidh; is mairg a chromadh 'na aonar

is sona gach cuid an comaidh (canonical)
is mairg a chromadh 'na aonar (canonical)

Everything shared brings happiness; pity he who would stoop by himself.


an leanabh a dh'fhàgar dha fhèin, cuiridh e a mhàthair gu nàire

The child who is left by himself, he shall bring his mother to shame.


sluagh gun cànan, sluagh gun anam

sluagh gun chànan (canonical)
sluagh gun anam (canonical)

A country without a language is a country without a soul.


cha nigh na tha de uisge anns a' mhuir ar càirdeas

All of the water in the sea could not wash away our kinship.


's beò duine an dèidh a shàrachaidh, ach cha bheò e an dèidh a nàrachaidh

A person may live after his harassment, but he will not survive his disgrace.


tagh do bhean mar as math leat do chlann

Choose your wife as you would like your children.


pàighidh am feamann am feurach

The fertilizer will pay for the grazing.


is fheàrr an teine beag a gharas na an teine mòr a loisgeas

is fheàrr teine beag a gharas na teine mòr a loisgeas#Scottish_Gaelic

Alternative form of is fheàrr teine beag a gharas na teine mòr a loisgeas


far am bi toil, bidh gnìomh

where there's a will
where there's a will#English

where there's a will (literally “here a will is, action will be”)


an dubh-isean ag iarraidh an dubh-gheòidh

birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together


buain am maorach nuair a tha an tràigh ann

make hay while the sun shines
make hay while the sun shines

make hay while the sun shines (literally "harvest the shellfish when there is low tide")


sùil airson sùla is fiacaill airson fiacla

an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth


an car a bha san t-seana mhaide 's duilich a thoirt às

you can't teach an old dog new tricks
you can't teach an old dog new tricks

a leopard cannot change his spots
a leopard cannot change his spots

you can't teach an old dog new tricks, old habits die hard, a leopard cannot change his spots (literally "the twist which is in the old stick is difficult to take out")


's e miann na lacha an loch air nach bi i

the grass is always greener on the other side


aithnichear fear air a' cuideachd a chumas e

aithnichear fear air a' chuideachd a chumas e

a man is known by the company he keeps
a man is known by the company he keeps


am fear a laigheas sa pholl, togaidh e an làthach

if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas (lit. the man who lies in the bog, he rises in sludge)


théid capall don choille ach brisidh aon uallach a cridhe

théid capall don choille ach brisidh aon uallach a chridhe

the straw that broke the camel's back
the straw that broke the camel's back

the straw that broke the camel's back (lit. the colt will go to the forest but one burden will break his heart)


fada bho'n t-sùil, fada bho'n chridhe

fada bho'n t-sùil (canonical)
fada bho'n cridhe (canonical)

fada bhon t-sùil, fada bhon chridhe#Scottish_Gaelic

obsolete spelling of fada bhon t-sùil, fada bhon chridhe


an rud nach cluinn cluas, cha ghluais e cridhe

an rud nach cluinn cluas (canonical)
cha ghluais e cridhe (canonical)

an rud nach cluinn cluas, cha gluais e cridhe

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind

out of sight, out of mind (lit. the thing that an ear won't hear, it won't move a heart)


cha d'fhuair droch-bhuannaiche a-riamh deagh-chorran

a bad workman always blames his tools
a bad workman always blames his tools

a bad workman always blames his tools (lit. a bad harvester never got a good scythe)

cha d'fhuair droch-ràmhaich ràmh math a-riamh


cha d'fhuair droch-ràmhaich ràmh math a-riamh

a bad workman always blames his tools (lit. a bad oarsman never got a good oar)


is fheàrr teine beag a gharas na teine mòr a loisgeas

too much of a good thing
too much of a good thing

You can have too much of a good thing; less is more etc. (literally "better is the small fire that warms than the great fire that burns")


cho fad 's a bhios an deò, bidh an dòchas

while there's life, there's hope
while there's life, there's hope

where there's life, there's hope
where there's life, there's hope

while there's life, there's hope, where there's life, there's hope


ruigidh each mall muileann

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race


comhairle do dhuine glic, slat do dhruim an amadain

a nod is as good as a wink
a nod is as good as a wink

a nod is as good as a wink (literally "advice to a wise man, stick to the back of the fool")


am fear, is fhaide chaidh bho'n bhaile, chual e'n ceòl bu mhilse leis nuair thill e dhachaidh

"Who farthest away e’er did roam heard the sweetest music on returning home."


an uair a bhios sinn ri òrach bidheadhmaid ri òrach; 's nuair a bhios sinn ri maorach, bidheadhmaid ri maorach

When we are seeking gold, let us be seeking gold; and when we are seeking bait, let us be seeking bait.


An uair a chluinneas tu sgeul gun dreach na creid i.

When you hear a tale that is not pleasant, do not believe it. (This means that one should turn a deaf ear to scandalmongers.)


an car a th' anns an t-seana mhaide, is duilich a thoirt as

an car a bha san t-seana mhaide 's duilich a thoirt às#Scottish_Gaelic

Alternative form of an car a bha san t-seana mhaide 's duilich a thoirt às (“you can't teach an old dog new tricks.”)


am fear nach seall roimhe seallaidh e as a dheigh

He who will not look before him will look behind him.


b'fhearr gun tòiseachadh na sguir gun chriochnachadh

"Better not to begin than to stop without finishing."


bidh an ubhal as fheàrr air a mheangan is àirde

"The best apple will be on the highest bough."


chan uaisle duine na cheàrd

cha’n uaisle duine na cheàrd (canonical)


a' chungaidh leighis as goirte, 's i as moth' tha dèanamh feum

The medicine that hurts the most is generally the best healer.


is motha mo shùil na mo bhrù

one's eyes are bigger than one's stomach


am fear a nì obair na thràth, bidh e na leth-thàmh

The man who does his work in time will always have leisure time.


am fear nach dèan cuir ri là fuar, cha bhuan e ri là teth

He who will not sow in March will not reap in the Autumn.


am fear nach dèan obair na ghnìomh chan fhaigh e biadh air feadh nam preas

He who will not work or act will never find food on any track.


dùnan math innearach, màthair na ciste-mine

A good dung heap, mother of the grain bin.


cha bhi toradh gun saothair

There will be no production without labour.


cha leasachadh air droch obair-latha a bhi fada gum tòiseachadh

A late beginning will not mend a bad day's work.


ged is e an duine an tuathanach, is e an t-each an saothraiche

Although the human is the farmer, the horse is the labourer.


is fheàrr èiridh moch na suidh anmoch

early to bed, early to rise
early to bed, early to rise


is fheàrr dìcheall an duine laig, na neo-shunnt' an duine làidir

Better the diligence of the weak than the indifference of the strong.


is fheàrr aon diugh na dà mhàireach

no time like the present
no time like the present

never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.


is fheàrr deagh-eòlas na droch-chàirdeas

better a good acquaintance than a bad friendship.


is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na éirigh ann am fiachan

is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na èirigh ann am fiachan#Scottish_Gaelic

Alternative spelling of is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na èirigh ann am fiachan


's fheàrr a bhith cinnteach na caillteach

better to be safe than sorry
better to be safe than sorry


is ionnan aithreachas crìche ri 'bhi cuir siol mu Fheill-Màrtainn

too little, too late
too little, too late

death-bed repentance is like sowing seed on Martinmas (i.e. "too little, too late").


a' bheinn is àirde a th' a anns an tìr, is ann oirre is tric a chithear an ceò

The highest mountain in the land is most often covered by mist.


is i an dias is truime is ìsle chromas a ceann

The loveliest ear of grain bends its head the lowest.


an seanfhacal fada, fìor; cha bhreugnaichear an seanfhacal

The old proverb, long proved true, shall never be belied.


cha do shèid gaoth riamh nach robh an seòl cuideigin

No wind ever blew that did not fill someone’s sails.


is e an ceò Geamhraidh nì an cathadh Earraich

Winter mists portend springtime snow-drifts.


'san Earrach, nuair a bhios a' chaora caol, bidh am maorach reamhar

In Springtime, when the sheep will be thin, the shellfish will be fat.


tha currac air a' bheinn siud an t-uisge a tighinn

Yonder mountain has a cap on, the rain is coming.


èisd ri gaoth nam beann gus an tràigh na h-uisgeachan

Listen to the mountain wind until the streams abate.


fèath Faoilteach is gaoth Iuchair, cha mhair iad fada

A February calm and a Dog Day's breeze, they never last long.


is e an Geamhradh luath an Geamhradh buan


is fheàrr aon là sa' Mhàirt na trì là 'san Fhoghair

Better one day in March than three days in autumn.


bonnach air bois, cha bhruich e is cha loisg

Bonnach air bois, cha bhruich 's cha loisg.

1882, proverb, A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection, page 70:

nothing ventured, nothing gained
nothing ventured, nothing gained

nothing ventured, nothing gained; no pain, no gain (lit: "a scone on the palm, it does not toast nor does it burn")

a man who does not plant on a cold day, he will not harvest on a hot day

am fear nach dèan cur rè latha fuar, cha dèan e buain rè latha teth

the scratching chicken gets something, the squatting chicken gets nothing at all

gheibh cearc an sgrìobain rudeigin, chan fhaigh cearc a' chrùbain dad idir


bris mo chlaigeann air thùs, is an sin ciùrr mo chorrag

Bris mo chlaigeann air thùs, 's an sin ciùrr mo chorrag.

First break my skull, then hurt my finger.

add insult to injury
add insult to injury

add insult to injury (lit: "first break my skull, then hurt my finger")


fada bhon t-sùil, fada bhon chridhe

fada bhon t-sùil (canonical)
fada bhon cridhe (canonical)

Fada bho'n t-sùil, fada bho'n cridhe.

1882, proverb, A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection, page 174:

Far from eye, far from heart. Out of sight, out of mind.

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind

out of sight, out of mind (lit. far from the eye, far from the heart)

an rud nach cluinn cluas, cha gluais e cridhe


am fear a thèid san droigheann dhomh, thèid mi san dris dha

Literally, “the man who goes into the thorny bush for me, I'll go into the thorny bush for him”

lit

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours


mol an deireadh

trust the process, don't count your chickens before they're hatched (lit. "praise [it] in the end")


head

chan eil am bonnach beag bruich fhathast

it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings
it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings

it ain't over till it's over
it ain't over till it's over

it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings; it ain't over till it's over (lit: "the little bannock isn't toasted yet")

Cha 'n 'eil am bonnach beag bruich fhathasd.

1882, proverb, A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection, page 110:

The little bannock is not toasted yet. This is a phrase used at hide-and-seek, or blind-man's-buff, to announce that the players are not ready yet.

a phrase used in children's games such as hide-and-seek or blind man's buff when not all players are ready for the game to begin


is binn guth an eòin far an do rugadh e

there's no place like home
there's no place like home

there's no place like home; literally "sweet is the voice of the bird where it was born"


is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na èirigh ann am fiachan

better to go to bed supperless than to rise in debt.


beul a labhras ach gnìomh a dhearbhas

actions speak louder than words
actions speak louder than words

by their fruits you will know them
by their fruits you will know them

actions speak louder than words, by their fruits you will know them


cha suaicheantas corra air cladach

Literally, “a heron on a rocky shore is not a novelty”.

lit

nothing new under the sun
there is nothing new under the sun