Haud Yer Wheesht: Your Scottish Granny's Favorite Sayings (English and Scots Edition)

This is one of the smallest books I have ever read, and was amusingly illustrated by Rupert Besley, who has worked on several other Scottish humor books. The book has over 500 sayings in Lollands (Lowland Scots English -- Robert Burn's language) grouped into 34 categories such as Business, Death, Observations on Life, Love, Marriage, Money, and Work. A one-page glossary of a few of the Scots words is included, but readers unfamiliar with Scots English would be advised to also have Collins' "Scots Dictionary" handy for some of the other words not listed. Under each proverb is the author's interpretation of the meaning, usually based on the category it is filed under. I did not always agree with Mr. Morrison's "translation", as I felt many of the sayings had broader applications than he allowed, or the translations could have been phrased differently to better bring out the point of the proverb. But that is minor quibbling over personal taste. The real beauty of the book is that, here in one slim volume, are several generations worth of shrewd comments on life, as seen through the eyes of our Scottish ancestors. I found it interesting that many sayings I have seen elsewhere called "old English proverbs" had a close relative in Scots. It makes one wonder which actually came first, and whether the saying is actually English, or has been misattributed. All-in-all a fun little book, and a great "bathroom reader". If nothing else, it will help you practice sounding like a canny auld Scot! [This review appeared in somewhat different form in the March issue of "The Tartan Tattler", the newsletter of the Scottish Club Of Tulsa.]

More of a humorous look on Scotland and the oddball sayings you heard your Gran pronounce at every turn. Billed as "gannies' common sense", Scottish grannies are known for taking every thing in stride and always have a saying for each situation. The wee look into these staid philosophises that anchored a way of life is a delight. Accompanying the sayings are cute pen and ink cartoons.

This slim book has over 500 sayings and is a great present for that Yank with Scottish roots!

I love Allan Morrison's wee little books with Scottish colloquialisms. This one is quite a little gem, especially if you're trying SASL. (Scots As a Second Language ;-)

It's neat, compact, cute, hilarious, easily fits in your pocket and comes complete with a glossary (something curiously lacking in some other Scottish tomes). I'd also like to add that learning even a handful of these little sayings to memory will endear you to any Scot. A couple of favorites:

"De ye think I'm up the Clyde on a bike?"

(Do you think I'm an idiot?)

"Sodgers wi' big guns beat sodgers wi' pretty dresses."

(Being practical is more important than being presentable)

"Som would flay a louse fer it's skin."

(Some people are so mean that they'd skin a flea for it's skin).

A true delight, well worth the money and easy to understand. A charming volume for anyone studying Scots.

If I had had this translation of granny's sayings when I was a kid I might have endured fewer raps on the head. This is a great little book, especially if you had a Scottish granny like I did.

A splendid little volume. I had two Scottish grandmothers and I could imagine quite vividly the phrases in this book coming from their very wise old mouths. A real blast back to my happy childhood in Penicuik.

I am Scottish born and raised in Glasgow and find some of the sayings in this book to be utter nonsense and not written in a Scottish dialect. Don’t know where the author is from but the only thing in this book that has any authenticity of a Scottish nature is the Title. We have always said “A nod is as good as a wink to a blind bat” - Never have I heard to a blind horse. Don’t waste your money.

I knew the book already, ordered another copy as gift to an American Scot.
A good present for anyone proud of their Scottish culture as well as ancestry.
How to sound like a Scot: roll yer "R" and swallow yer "T"!

Delightful Scottish sayings!

Hysterically funny!

Pure old country fun!