I wish you were laird o' your word.

I would as soon see your nose cheese and the cat get the first bite o't.

I would hae something to look at on Sunday.

The reply of a man who is asked of what use a wife would be to him.

I wouldna be deaved wi' your keckling for a' your eggs.

That is, your services do not compensate for the annoyance you
cause.

I wouldna ca' the king my cousin.

Expressive of contentment.

I wouldna fodder you for a' your muck.

Of similar import to "I wouldna be deaved," &c.

I wouldna hae kent ye if I had met ye in my parritch.

A phrase to express that a person whom you had not seen for a long
time had so much altered in appearance as to be scarcely
recognisable.

I would rather see't than hear tell o't, as blind Pate said.

I would sooner be your Bible than your horse.

A jocular allusion to the fact that a person neglects the one, but
overworks the other.

I would sooner gae by his door than ower his grave.

"Nothing but a wish that our sick friend may recover."--_Kelly._

I would sooner hear the lark sing than the mouse cheep.

Or abroad early in the morning than late at night.

I would sooner my bannock burn than that you should turn't.

That is, I would rather allow an article to spoil than be indebted
to you for assistance in keeping it right.

I would sooner see ye fleipeyed, like a French cat.

"A disdainful rejection of an unworthy proposal; spoken by bold
maids to the vile offers of young fellows."--_Kelly._

[Illustration]

Jeddart justice--first hang a man, syne try him.

"According to Crawford, in his Memoirs, the phrase _Jedburgh
justice_ took its rise in 1574, on the occasion of the Regent Morton
there and then trying and condemning, with cruel precipitation, a
vast number of people who had offended against the laws, or against
the supreme cause of his lordship's faction. A different origin is
assigned by the people. Upon the occasion, say they, of nearly
twenty criminals being tried for one offence, the jury were equally
divided in opinion as to a verdict, when one who had been asleep
during the whole trial suddenly awoke, and, being interrogated for
his vote, vociferated, 'Hang them a'!'

"The English phrase 'Lidford Law,' commemorated by Grose, bears the
same signification."--_Robert Chambers._

Jock's a mislear'd imp, but