GUERNSEY PROVERBS. 231 



Laid, coumm' le peche du Dimanche. 

 Ugly as Sunday's sin. 



An expression of contempt used by ladies concerning dress 

 materials which are not to their taste. 



Un degrai et un padin 

 A la mode de St. Martin. 

 A step and a stair as is the custom of St. Martin. 

 Said of anyone whose underskirt is longer than her dress. 



Quand les voleurs c'menche a oignet, 



L's'hounette gens r'trouve leu droit. 



When rogues quarrel honest people come to their right. 



I coprai un double en quatre. 

 Cutting a double in four. 



Said of a mean person. A double is the eighth part of a Guern- 

 sey penny. 



Embarraissai coumm' la poule qui n'a qu'un pouachin. 

 As busy as a hen with but one chicken. 



Vaut mue etre paure poucqton, que riche frippon. 

 Better be poor and honest, than be rich and a rogue. 



Marie-te ou n'te marie pas 

 Tot ou tard tu t'en r'pentiras. 

 Whether you marry or remain single, sooner or later you will 

 repent. 



I n'y'a paure fagot qui n'trouve sa liache. 

 A faggot is never so worthless but that something can be 

 found to bind it with — or there is not a Jack without 

 a Gill. 



La f'rine du Gyablle r'tourne en bran. 

 The Devil's meal turns to bran — or ill-gotten wealth will dis- 

 appear. 



