Gàidhlig / English
So-bhiadhta

So-bhiadhta

Posted by Kate on Thursday 19th May
This week’s phrase comes from Ness on the Isle of Lewis. It is said of a person or animal that will eat anything put in front of them: “chan fhaca mi beathach a riamh a bha cho so-bhiadhta ris.” There is a difference, however, between someone who has a good appetite and someone who is just plain greedy! I’ve taken the opportunity here to give you a few phrases connected to greed.

Also from Ness on the Isle of Lewis people would say: “ghabh e lumais air.” This is said of someone who has taken more than his fair-share of something, and in so-doing, has stolen from other people. In Lochinver and in Culkein however, this person would be called a geòcair or a duine geòcach. Remember craos; this was recorded as the facial expression on a person that is hovering around a table full of food. In Harris, a rèipeag is the mark on children’s lips from eating, for example chocolate or jam and this tells you that they have been filling themselves up while nobody else was around! Perhaps you may still hear the following phrase in Applecross:

“Seall a’ rutas a th’ air an duine sin!”

I will leave you with a fantastic proverb from South Uist:

“Sannd na seachd sagart…”

“Greed of seven priests…”

To which you would answer: “Sannd fear gun mhac, gun nighean!”

“The greed of a man without son or daughter!”

If you would like to add to this collection with any additional words or phrases, please get in touch with your comments below.
 
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