a troublesome and thankless office to concern ourselves in
the jars and outfalls of near relations, as man and wife, parents
and children, &c."--_Kelly._

It's ill praising green barley.

Because it is hard to tell how it will turn out.

It's ill speaking between a fu' man and a fasting.

"I have been waiting this hour for you, and I have had a snack
myself; and, as they used to say in Scotland in my time--I do not
ken if the word be used now--there is ill talking between a full
body and a fasting."--_Heart of Midlothian._

It's ill taking corn frae geese.

It's ill to be ca'd a thief, an' aye found picking.

"It is ill to have a bad name, and to be often found in a suspicious
place or posture."--_Kelly._

It's ill to mak an unlawful oath, but waur to keep it.

It's ill to put a blythe face on a black heart.

It's ill to quarrel wi' a misrid warld.

It's ill to say it's wrang when my lord says it's right.

It is ill or dangerous to speak against those who are in authority.

It's ill to tak the breeks aff a Hielandman.

Highlanders proper wear none, so it means it is difficult to take
from a person that which he does not possess.

It's ill waur'd that wasters want.

It's kittle for the cheeks when the hurlbarrow gaes ower the brig o' the
nose.

It's kittle shooting at corbies and clergy.

"As for your priesthood, I shall say but little,
Corbies and clergy are a shot right kittle;
But under favour o' your langer beard,
Abuse o' magistrates might weel be spared."--_Burns._

It's kittle to wauken sleeping dogs.

It's lang ere ye saddle a foal.

It's lang or four bare legs gather heat in a bed.

Applied to young people who get married before they have all that is
necessary for housekeeping.

"It's comfort to hae a frugal woman for a helpmate; but ye ken
now-a-days it's no the fashion for bare legs to come thegether. The
wife maun hae something to put in the pot as weel as the man."--_The
Entail._

It's lang or Like-to-dee fills the kirkyaird.

Spoken of those who are always complaining how ill they are, and
likely to die; but who, nevertheless, generally contrive to live as
long as other people.

It's lang or the deil dees at the dike side.

That is, it will be long ere we hear of the removal or death of a
particular person who is a cause of annoyance to us.

It's lang or y