CAT 81 



Proverbial sayings, etc., are as follow : — 



A mliic a chait d'am bu dual am bainne ol. 



Son of the cat, born to drink milk. 

 Am fear a bhios na thamh cuiridh e 'n cat air an teine. 



A man who is idle will put the cat on the fire. 

 An uair a bhios ni aig a chat, ni e cronan. 



When the cat has something he (or she) purrs. 

 Bean mhic agus mathair cheile, mar a bheith cat agus luch 

 le cheile. 



A daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law, like a cat and 

 a mouse, all claw and paw — or vice vend. (Douglas 

 Hyde's Irish Proverbs.) (See after.) 

 Be 'n cat ga thoirt an aghaidh a chuilge. 



That were stroking the cat against the fur. 

 Be 'n fheoil ga toirt a ingnibh a chait e. 



That were to take flesh out of the claws of the cat. 

 Be sin an diar ga iarraidh air a chat 's e fhein 's an dian 

 mhiamhail. 



That were asking a drop of (or from) the cat and the cat 

 mewing clamorously. 

 Brogan air a chat ! ; na 'm bitheadh na h-osain air rachadh e 

 a cnaimh na h-amhaich. 



The cat with shoes on ! ; had he the hose on he would break 

 his neck (with conceit). Said of a conceited person who 

 has little to be conceited about. 

 Cait a chinn bhig, 's bean a chinn mhoir. 



The small-headed cat, the big-headed woman. The best. 

 Ce an cat marbh a chas ann mo shlighe thu. 



What dead cat turned you in my way. It was deemed 

 unlucky to come across a dead cat, or indeed any animal 

 dead, on one's way or journey. 

 Cha chat mi fhein nach aithnich blathach. 



I am not a cat that doesn't know buttermilk. 

 Cha chinn barrag air cuid cait ; or, 

 Cha bhi ce air cugainn cait. 



The cat's milk makes no cream. 

 Cha dean cait maith ach a dh'aindeoin. 



Cats never do good but out of evil intention (or in spite 

 of themselves). 

 Cha dean cat miotagach sealg. 



Cats with mittens won't catch mice (or cannot hunt). 

 Cha loisg seana chat e fhein. 



An old cat won't burn himself. 

 Cha mhath bhi 'g innseadh nam briagan, mar d' uirt a chat 's 

 a mhadadh 'ga shlugadh. 



It's not good to be telling lies, as the cat said when the 

 wolf ate him. 



