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The following is a list of sayings popular in the area around 1800. They are recorded in the local broad Derbyshire dialect. Many are still familiar today.
God helps them as helps themselves.
As one door shuts, another oppens.
When aw's gon, its too late t' spare.
Chickens loik curses cum whoam t' roost.
A stitch i' time saves nine.
Misfortunes niver cum aloon.
A brunt chilt fears th' fire.
When rogues fa' out honest men get righted.
Who knows nowt, dows nowt. (Who knows nothing does nothing).
Talkin's brass, howding your tung, gowd.
Measure trice tha' conna cut twice.
Tha'll dow if tha' can bear good luck.
As yo' ma'n your bed yo' mun lie on't.
As yoan brew'd, yo' mun drink.
Iv'ry one for himsel', God for us a' .
Yo' conna mak an empty sack stand straight.
Now pein, now gein.
The best spite's forgiveness.
Wrung's nough mon's reight.
Hurry mak's wurry.
If tha weats for old men's shune tha'll gu barfoot.
Store's now suer.
Dunna borrow, it brings sorrow.
Like a cat he's noin lives.
Throw him o'er th' wa' he'll leight on's legs.
Mother's truth mak's good youth.
A rolling stone gethers now moss.
A ragg'd colt mey mak' a good Tit.
Yo' conna have more o' th' cat nar her skin.
Fat sorrow is better than lean sorrow.
Ill get ge'an niver prospers.
Thrung es Thrapp's woif, es hung'd hersel' wi' th' Dishclout.
Whoy Lad Thou stares loik a stuck pig.
Aye ! Thou may live i' Hope, and niver see Castleton.
Thou mun grin an' aboid.
Thart es fow and fawse as a boggart.
It's a long Lane es has now turning.
Aigh wench! he's as poor as a Church mouse.
Oather pow, or push lad. (Either pull or push).
A good Jack mak's a good Jill.
A noice face wunna mak' th' pot boil.
Aw of a ruck, loik Wardlow folk.
A cou'd March, a little Hey steck.
Poor wench, ow's as soft as greins.
Luk ya, he peeps,, loik a weazel through a Kecks..
Ow's as weak as wayter.
That fellow ed rob a Church.
Oi mun pow a Crow wi' yo'. (Discuss a question in dispute).
Aw's na theer. (Spoken of a simpleton).
Safe bind safe find.
Who cries Andrew now? (Who wants me?)
Resist th' divil and he'll fleigh! (Be firm to truth and right in the time of temptation).
If yo' wunna when you may, When yo' wull yo' shall have nay.
Well done's twice done, badly done's never done.
A green christmas makes a full churchyard.
I'll put a spoak in his wheel. (A threat of revenge).
Thy brain's wool-gathering. (To an absent person).
I've a crow t' pluck wi' thee, lad. (Owing a grudge).
Dunna eat the Cauf i' th' cow's bally. (Don't get into debt on speculation).
How's like fire and tow. (Said of a passionate woman).
He's mad as a March Hare. ( Beyond control).
What conna be cured mun be endured.
If tha conna, boit, keep thy mouth shut.
Th' nearer th' bone th' sweeter th' flesh.
Gie th' devil his due.
Speak truth even of your enemy.
A cat may look at a King.
What th' eye dusna see th' heart wunna greeve.
Iv'ry dog has his day.
Needs must when th' Devil drives. (Necessity).
Far fetch'd and dear bought, suits Ladies.
Handsome is that handsome dows.
Proffer'd sarvice stinks.
Where there's whisp'ring there's lying.
Where there's lying there's deceit.
Where there's deceit there's the Devil.
Dunna spoil a ship for a ha'peth o' tar.
By Guy, ow's gin me coud puddin. (A cool reception.)
Mak' th' best of a bad bargain.
Moind lad, lose nought for want o' axing.
Hot love's soon cold.
A woman's work's niver done.
Thart Colley weston. (All awry.)
Work well done's twice done.
Pratty but sma', like Sheldow's mutton.
If jou conna brew, bake.
Jack el niver mak' a gentleman.
Lick, where yo' conna bite.
Wind i'th' East, noather good for mon or beast.
Wind i'th' West, leaf, th' weather's at th' best.
When yo' conna crow, croutch. (Where you cannot command, submit.)
A rag o' velvet's worth a robe o' linsey. (A proud person's mottoe.)
Whoil yo' liven, live.
The last saying on the list, "While yo' liven live!" is but another version of that said to have been used by the Epicureans of old, "Live while you live;'' it in an apothegm so excellent and full of meaning, that the Epigram founded upon it by Doddridge, may not be considered an inappropriate conclusion.
" Live while you live," the Epicure will say,
And take the pleasure of the present day:
" Live while you live," the sacred preacher cries,
And give to God each moment as it flies.
Lord, in my view let both united be!
I live in pleasure when I live in Thee.
From: The Reliquary.
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