"Idioms are a big thing in Ireland. They want to fill the time, to show how good they are at talk - it’s a talk-off” - Dylan Moran.
This got us discussing "Irish-isms" on-air this morning. We Irish certainly have our own way of phrasing certain stuff - in no other country in the world does "I will, ya" mean "I absolutely WON'T", and "happy out" means - well, just happy.
The listeners of The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show got in touch with their own turns of phrase - here are some of our favourites...
1. My dear father used say when someone died that they "Cut Out" Patricia in Tipperary
2. My Dad's family always tell the story about a priest disapproving of mini-skirts in the '60s with 'ya know yourself it's not the thing!' Ed in Dundrum
3. My Nan used to say "if he was hanged for being handsome he'd die an innocent man" Peter, Whitehall
4. Every time I call my Dad, he answers with "Is that yerself"!
5. My mother used to say on a really wet day that it wouldn't let a hen from a bush. Kate in Mayo
6. My favourite is "it's like minding mice at a crossroads" if you're trying to organise an unwieldy group! Jacqui – Cobh
7. "He has a nose that'd smell around corners"
8. I'm so hungry, I'd eat the balls off a low flying duck. Christian in Kinvara
9. I might head to the pub for a shcoop - who else says head instead of go?! And scoop for that matter!
10. A few sandwiches short of a picnic (not very bright) or "not the full shilling”
11. My sis-in-law always says if someone is dying that they are in the departure lounge!! Catherine
12. Ian one of my favourites is "you're like a hen on a hot griddle" which roughly translates to you can't stand still! Niamh Kilkenny
13. Irish - English is when 'Ya you will' actually means 'No you won't'. And 'Ya, I did' means 'No I didn't'.
Kevin, Ballyhaunis
14. My mother used always say somebody was 'very low' when they were close to dying.
