l and shallow drinking-cup with two ears. The
proverb has a similar meaning to "Fair fa' the wife," &c., _q. v._

Ne'er do ill that gude may come o't.

Ne'er draw your dirk when a dunt will do.

That is, do not resort to extreme measures when mild means will
suffice.

Ne'er fash your beard.

"'Tell them all this, and hear what they say till't.'

"'Indeed, mistress, I can tell ye that already, without stirring my
shanks for the matter,' answered Nelly Trotter; 'they will e'en say
that ye are ae auld fule, and me anither, that may hae some judgment
in cock-bree or in scate-rumples, but maunna fash our beards about
onything else.'"--_St Ronan's Well._

Ne'er fash your thoom.

"Ne'er mind her flytes, but set your heart at ease:
Sit down and blaw your pipe, nor fash your thoom,
An' there's my hand, she'll tire, and soon sing dumb."--_Fergusson._

Ne'er find faut wi' my shoon, unless you pay my souter.

Addressed to impertinent persons who find fault with the personal
appearance or dress of others.

Ne'er gang to the deil wi' the dishclout on your head.

"If you will be a knave, be not in a trifle, but in something of
value. A Presbyterian minister had a son who was made Archdeacon of
Ossery; when this was told to his father, he said, 'If my son will
be a knave, I am glad that he will be an archknave.' This has the
same sense, 'As good be hanged for an old sheep as a young
lamb.'"--_Kelly._

Ne'er gie me my death in a toom dish.

This means, jocularly, if you wish to kill me, do it not by
starvation; in other words, give me something to eat.

Ne'er gude, egg nor bird.

Ne'er kiss a man's wife, or dight his knife, for he'll do baith after
you.

Ne'er let on, but laugh in your sleeve.

Ne'er let the nose blush for the sins o' the mouth.

Ne'er let your feet rin faster than your shoon.

"'But you must recollect, that before taking such a step you ought
to be pretty well provided with means.'

"'Ou', fegs! I hae nae trick o' letting my feet rin faster than my
shoon. I'll no forget the means, ye may be sure; and as for Jean
hersel, I hae nae skill o' women folk, if she's no just as willing
as me.'"--_The Disruption._

Ne'er lippen ower muckle to a new friend or an auld enemy.

Ne'er marry a penniless maiden that's proud o' her pedigree.

Ne'er marry a widow unless her first man was ha