Scots Language
Idioms

Please note that the words underlined are a link to a RealAudio file

• A'll drap in on ye i the bygaun: I will call in to see you in the passing
• A'll see ye at the back o thrie: I will see you shortly after three o'clock
• A'm feelin a bittie wabbit: I am feeling somewhat tired  
• A braw pennie: A large sum of money
• A cadger's curse: A worthless thing
• A cat's lick: A hasty wash
• A driepin roast : A good source of income
• A fiddler's biddin: A last-minute invitation
• A guid few: A good many
• A hae nae brou o this: I have no liking for this 
• A haun's turn: A stroke of work
• A Scotch grauvit: An embrace
• A Scotch kizzen: A distant relation
• A wad raither dae this as that: I would rather do this than that
• A while syne:  A while ago
• Aff the gleg: Off the mark
• Are ye throu?:  Have you finished?
• At the hinner end: In the long run   
• Atween the wind an the wa: In dire poverty
• Auld i the horn: Wise, astute
• Be cried: Have marriage banns read in church
• Be i the wey o: Be in the habit of
• Be on ane's tap: be consistently criticising one
• Bou ane's hoch: Sit down 
• Cauf kintra: native district
• Cauld comfort: Niggardly hospitality
• Cauld kail het agane: A speech, sermon or story gone stale with telling
• Chow the chafts: Gnash the teeth
• Cock the wee finger: Drink; tipple
• Cowp somedody's hurlie: Upset someone's plans
• Cowp the cran: Be ruined
• Craw crouse:  Talk confidently
• Creep in/out:  Shorten/lengthen, of daylight
• Crouse i the craw: Confident in speech 
• Cruppen doun:  Bent with age
• Cry baurley-fummil: Ask for a truce
• Dee a fair strae daith: Die a natural death
• Deid o the yeir: Winter
• Deil a haet did A get: Not a whit did I get
• Doun i the mou: Downcast  
• Dreip a dyke: Let oneself down from a wall with arms stretched 
• Drive a prey:  Make a cattle raid
• Drive on:  Pass by, of time
• Droun the miller:  Put too much water in whisky
• Fair to middlin: Quite well
• Fidgin fain: Fidgeting with anticipation
• Fiddler's news: Stale news
• Fine A ken: I know well 
• Gae doun the brae: Deteriorate in health or circumstances
• Gang agley: Go awry, of human affairs
• Gang hale-headit fir:  Be absolutely engrossed in
• Gee ane's ginger: bestir oneself; bother oneself
• Get on the crack wi: Start a conversation with
• Get yokit ti: Get started on   
• Gie's yir crack: Give me your news 
• Go on the bash:  Go on a drinking bout  
• Hae an ee til: Covet; have a liking for
• Haud a wee: Stop a minute
• Haud ane's wheesht: Be silent
• Haud hame: Make for home
• Haud the stick owre: Dominate
• Haud up: Keep fair, of weather 
• Haud wide o : Keep clear of 
• He got the bree o’t: He bore the brunt of it
• He nivver lat bug: He gave no indication
• He's by his best : He is past his best days
• He wis anerlie a bit laddie: He was only a little boy
• Hing the lugs:  Mope
• In a crack:  In an instant
• In grand fettle: In excellent condition / spirits
• It'll be yon tyme afore.... : It will be a long time before.... 
• It'll cost ye a bonnie penny: It will cost you a great deal of money
• It's aw by nou: It's all over and done with now
• Lad o pairts: Talented youth
• Mak a better o: Improve upon
• Mak saut ti ane's kail : Earn a living
• Monie a yeir an day:  For a very long time
• Munelicht flittin: A decamping by night to escape creditors.
• Nae faurer gane than: As recently as
• Nae ferlie: No wonder
• Naither eechie nor ochie: Neither one thing or another. Not a cheep.
• No able for: Having no appetite for ; in capable of
• No weill: unwell
• On the turn: Beginning to curdle 
• Out o thocht : Beyond belief   
• Pey the mail: Pay the penalty.
• Pit on the gentry:  Give oneself airs   
• Pit the peter on: Put a stop to
• Plunk the Schuil: Be absent from school without leave
• Redd the thrapple: Clear the throat
• Rin the gless: Use up alloted time
• Saut somebody's brose: Get one's revenge on someone
• She's aye at me: She is always scolding me
• Short o the Greek: Stuck for words
• Souk in wi : Ingratiate oneself with 
• Spik pan loaf: Speak with an affected English accent
• Staun guid for : Be surety for
• Steik ane's gab: Be Silent
• Steik ane's hert: Harden one's heart
• Taen on wi: Attracted
• Taen ti the fair: Taken aback
• Taen up wi: Absorbed in
• Tak a len o: Make a fool of
• Tak a guid bucket: Be a heavy drinker
• Tak a rise out o: Make fun o 
• Tak somebody doun a hack: Humble someone  
• Tak tent; Take heed
• Tak the dorts/ drunts/ gee: sulk 
• Tak the gate: depart 
• Tak the gow:  Decamp in debt
• Tak yir ain tale hame: Take your advice to yourself. 
• The Daft Days: Period of festivity at Christmas and New Year
• The feck o: The most of
• The richt wey o't; The true version of it.
• The shakkins o the poke:  The last remains; the last-born of a family
• This while back: For some time now 
• Turn the crack: Change the subject
• Twa in a row: Two abreast
• Wait on:  Wait for 
• Wear in: Pass by slowly
• Weill on: Drunk
• Whaup i the raip: lit. kink or snag in a rope ie a hitch that impedes progress or smooth running
• Whit ails ye at:  What do you dislike about
• Wull ye no byde a wee?: Will you not tarry for a short while? 
• Ye'll no fin the brither o't in monie a lang day: You won't find its like for a very long time
• Ye'r a sicht fir sair een: I am pleased to see you
• Yir eens bigger nor yir belly: you have taken a larger portion of food than you are able to eat