Il n’est si bouane (bonne) bête qui n’ait quiqu’ (quelque) ohi.—There is no beast so good but that it has some fault or vice. It is worthy of notice that the word “ohi” is gone entirely out of use except in this proverb.
I’ vit d’amour et de belles chansons—coum’ les alouettes de roques (pierres, cailloux).—The first part of this saying—He lives on love and fine songs—is frequently used alone, but it is often capped by the concluding words, “As larks do on stones,” meaning that something more nourishing is needed to keep body and soul together.
“Un mouisson (oisseau) dans la main vaut mûx que daeux qui volent.” “Un mouisson à la main en vaut daeux sur la branque (branche.)” “Un pourché (pourceau) dans sen parc en vaut daeux d’ par les rues.” All these are equivalent to the English proverb: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” but the last must have originated in days long gone by, when swine were allowed to roam at their will about the streets.
I’ n’ y a pas de cousins à Terre-Neuve.—There are no cousins at Newfoundland. This somewhat selfish proverb, indicating that where one’s own interest is at stake the ties of consanguinity go for little, although occasionally heard in Guernsey, originated most probably either in Jersey or St. Malo, both which ports are largely engaged in the cod fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland. Jersey, indeed, owes her commercial prosperity almost entirely to this branch of industry, to which, it is said, the attention of the inhabitants was directed by Sir Walter Raleigh during the time that he held the office of Governor of the island. During the Middle Ages the fisheries in the Channel Islands were very productive, and a source of considerable revenue to the Crown, but the discovery of Newfoundland, and the superior quality of the codfish caught on its shores, drove the salted conger and mackerel of the island out of the market.
Le cul d’un sac et la langue d’une femme gagnent terjoûs.—In former days, when horses were more employed in carrying loads than they are at the present time when carts are in universal use, it was observed that a sack thrown across the back of a horse had a tendency to slip down gradually in the direction opposite to its mouth. This explains the first part of the proverb; the second part is equivalent to the saying that a woman will always have the last word and gain her end at last.
Nou veit bien pûs de meïnes de gâche crue que de biaux musiaux.—One sees many more pasty, doughy looking faces than pretty ones. Said in very cold weather.
Ch’n’est que faeu et fllâmme.—It is nothing but fire and flame, said of a boaster, and also of a passionate man, whose temper quickly rises, and as quickly dies down.
Pêle-mêle gabouaré.—Pell-mell, as merry-makers tumble out of a village inn. This word “gabouaré,” derived from the Bas Breton “gaborel,” is only found in this phrase.
Il est coume le pourché du negre, petit et vier.—He is small and old, like the negro’s pig.