old sayings

[jbml]

The version of that one which I heard (which has the merit of actually scanning) was:

Patience is a virtue
Find it if you can
Often in a woman
Seldom in a man

[Mofamily]

Don't know if these have already been said in this thread, but from the North East of England -

If you are a soft touch  - "yr ower soft ta clag holes"

Again, if you are a soft touch - "soft as clarts"

Whats for tea "pigs poo and onions"

Mo

[jbml]

Ne'er cast a clout 'til May be out

(clout, literally, means cloth; and is evidently being used figuratively to mean "an item of clothing". So we can render this saying as "Wait until June before you start wearing your summer skimpies")


You've got to eat a peck of dirt before you die

(If you've ever seen the size of a peck measure, you'll appreciate the point being made: don't worry too much if your fruit an dvegetables come with a little bit of earth on them!)

[Mofamily]

"Fortnight tea" - that was a saying in our house  - too weak!!

My Dad called it gnat's pee

And if I brought him a cup of tea not quite full, he'd say "bring the scissors so I can cut it to match the tea".

Weak tea - "Water bewitched"

Mo

[radstockjeff]

Short measure - tea or beer or whatever  know  locally as a "Combe Downer" -
Combe Down being an area of Bath where the pub landlords were notorious for such malpractices!

radstockjeff

[SwissGill]

If you can get your dog to walk across a lake, some jealous soul will say it is afraid of water.

[Redroger]

The version of that one which I heard (which has the merit of actually scanning) was:

Patience is a virtue
Find it if you can
Often in a woman
Seldom in a man

My late mother in law said "Never in a man" She did have me to put up with of course.

[Graham47]

I've noticed a few "penny" related ones but don't think these have been mentioned.

- in for a penny, in for a pound

- look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves

Malcolm

My mum said grandma would tell her to "keep your hand on your penny" before going out for the evening. Whatever did she mean? 

[MJW]

Graham

I remember my mum telling a similar story but as "keep your hand on your ha'penny".  I think it might have been used in a song.

Inflation, eh ?

And I think you know very well what she meant !!