Irish Words and Phrases

We invite you to join us with your ideas. And, yes, we will have prizes from time to time. Let me explain.

Words are the lifeblood of the Irish.

We love to talk. Indeed, we have a reputation for never using 3 words if 8 will do! Forced to choose, we Irish would likely choose words before food. Choosing words before drink is another matter!

Consequently, an immense range of words and phrases peculiar to Ireland are part of everyday conversations.

This is where YOU come in!

Your suggestions, please, for words and phrases that strike you as special to Ireland.

We have started things off with a few words and phrases that come to mind, but we rely on your knowledge and sense of humor to make things really hum.

It's not just a list.

What makes this different is we start with a word or phrase, add an interpretation, put the word into a sentence and, ideally, add a note on the origin. Sadly, in many cases the origin is lost in the sands of time. However, this is opportunity! Use your creativity and humor! Make up what you don’t know!

Even make up new words or phrases!

I have listed a few just to get things started.

If you see a word already listed, don't hesitate to add a new interpretation. Every entry is constantly evolving.

Have a go!     Be creative!     Have fun!

Invite your friends

The more the merrier! Forward this email to your friends.

If your friend wins a prize, you will too!

Terms of Agreement for submitting entry:

    1. Avoid words or phrases that might cause offense.

    2. We review all submissions prior to posting.

    3. We will not publish the identity of the submitter without prior permission

    4. We reserve the right to revise or edit submissions at our sole discretion.

    5. We reserves the right not to publish any submission without assigning a reason.

Word Or Phrase:
At all, at all

Interpretation:
A phrase normally added at the end of a sentence sometimes to add emphasis, but frequently to just add words.

In a sentence:
Bridget screamed indignantly that the accident wasn’t her fault at all, at all.

Origin:
A delightful example of the Irish love of words. It also illustrates how, if there is any risk that someone else might break into the conversation, this simple and effective ruse of repeating the same phrase over and over, ensures that the speaker keeps control of the discussion till they can think of what to say next.

Particularly useful ploy for politicians who, when asked a direct question, need 20 minutes to come up with a suitable response that doesn’t actually commit them to anything.

First known use was in 1904 at a political freedom rally in Dublin when a woman in the crowd seeking clarification if the advice being promoted was for everyone in the crowd or just a few. After what seemed an age, the politician replied his advice was aimed: "At all. At all. At all".

When the crowd heard everyone was included, they cheered and threw their hats in the air with joy. Reporting on the incident, the subject matter of the speech was immediately forgotten, but the unforgettable phrase remembered by all. Later, for the sake of brevity - something the Irish have never actually mastered - the phrase was shortened to the form now in common use: at all, at all.

Word Or Phrase:
Chuffed

Interpretation:
Well pleased, self-satisfied

In a sentence:
Patrick was chuffed to discover the book he ordered finally arrived at his local bookstore.

Origin:
When exposed to something new for the first time, the Irish have an irrepressible urge to share their recent discovery immediately with their friends. If a well- established name for the thing doesn’t already exist, rather than dither about it, they quickly assign a name based on appearance, what the thing does or, surprisingly often, based on a characteristic such as the sound it makes.

Steam engines first arrived in Ireland in the mid 1830’s. To call them ‘Steam Engine’ was a bit of a mouthful and Iron Horse offended the Irish sensibility and love of horses. So it was a natural to name these wondrous machines “chuffers” based on their most agreeable chuff, chuff sound as they travelled around the countryside. It was then but a small step to describe one’s own state of well- being as being chuffed.

Word Or Phrase:
Have a Jar

Interpretation:
The act of consuming an alcoholic drink, typically served in a drinking glass.

In a sentence:
"Hey, Murph, let's go for a jar".

Origin:
In Dublin, during the first World War, there was a shortage of drinking glasses. Also, despite more pressing world issues, there was a draconian implementation of the hours permitted for public houses, aka pubs, to be open to serve drinks. During the holy hour, from 2.30pm to 3.30pm all pubs had to remain closed.

If a crowd formed outside the pub it was an indication that something might be amiss and quickly drew the attention of the authorities to possible wrong-doing. Understandably, many pubers resented a holy hour interruption in what they perceived to be their God-given purpose in life, namely to drink whenever the humor took them. Which is always. Likewise, pubs were unhappy to see any pause in their sales.

One pub, on the North side of Dublin, happened to be located beside a cemetery. Indeed, it backed onto the cemetery grounds. Naturally, there is no way anyone could complain if there was a devoted crowd in the cemetery at any time, including the holy hour.

This strategically positioned pub was also having problems obtaining enough drinking glasses. Now there were two problems: a glass shortage and a regrettable interruption in liquor sales. Enter creativity! The pub latched on to the elegant solution of opening their back window and serving drink to what appeared to the authorities was a devoted crowd in the cemetery, although, in reality they were pub patrons who had been forced to retire from the pub during holy hour. Not surprisingly, trade flourished. The shortage of drinking glasses overcome by substituting jam jars for which, by good fortune, there was an adequate supply. Both problems solved and a new phrase adopted into Irish conversations.

Word Or Phrase:
Preprandial

Interpretation:
Pre Dinner Drink

In a sentence:
"Darling, where will we have our preprandial tonight ?".

Origin:
Probably English, but could be Irish, don't ya think ?

Submitted By:
Terry and Carl

Word Or Phrase:
So I Will

Interpretation:
This (and variations of it, such as "so I did, so I can") are often found at the end of sentences, in Northern Ireland.

In a sentence:
"I'll be along later, so I will."

Origin:
No, idea, I just hear it frequently when I'm in Northern Ireland.

Submitted By:
Tom

Word Or Phrase:
Ca bhfuil an leithreas

Interpretation:
Where is the toilet?

In a sentence:
That is a sentence!

Origin:
Early 12th century by a man in need.

Submitted By:
Morley

Word Or Phrase:
So I Did

Interpretation:
This always follows a sentence where an action or a thought was expressed.

In a sentence:
I went to town, so I did or I thought about going to town, so I did.

Origin:
This phrase predated all history and is more Irish than the Irish--especially in Mulmur Township.

Submitted By:
Morley

Word Or Phrase:
Banjaxed

Interpretation:
Used to describe the state of something that is not just damaged, but is completely broken.

In a sentence:
After Michael backed his car over his son Christopher’s bicycle, he looked at it sadly and realized it was banjaxed.

Origin:
It stared in Waterford in 1904. Jack had always fancied himself as someone who could fix anything. He was definitely a great handyman, but his experience was with carriages with horses attached rather than than horseless carriages. When the local muckity muck got one of the first cars in the area and it developed problems, Jack was quickly on the scene to help. Unfortunately, Jack let his young apprentice take a look at the miracle machine which was so hot it was almost on fire. Ia flash the apprentice topped up the wrong end of the car with water. Naturally, the engine was instantly destroyed. The locals were so embarrassed how the town was made to look so bad, they banned Jack from the local pub. Henceforth, when anything went awry, they were described as banjaxed.

Word Or Phrase:
Cat's Pajamas

Interpretation:
A most complementary term used to describe someone's appearance or, sometimes their performance, such as dancing or singing.

In a sentence:
Wearing that outfit, Maureen is the cat's pajamas!

Origin:
In 1920's, jazz and dancing took the world by storm. One form was known as a cake walk and another as a cat walk. About the same time, slacks for women became the new fashion statement. Slacks looked cute on women, but the connection with pajamas was unmistakable. From that day forth, and with a nod to the new craze, the Irish referred to attractively dressed women as the cat's pajamas.

Word Or Phrase:
Stopcon an Phost Ansec

Interpretation:
The mail stops here.

In a sentence:
It is a sentence and in this case very appropriate!

Origin:
Very old and unknown.

Submitted By:
Morley

Word Or Phrase:
Both Legs are Not the Same Length

Interpretation:
Used to describe someone, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

In a sentence:
Michael's inability to follow simple instructions led me to conclude, as far as he is concerned, both legs are not the same length.

Origin:
A desire to predict a person’s mental capability based on simple measurements goes back to ancient times. Indeed, as recently as the 1800's phrenology was accepted as the perfect diagnostic tool. However, recent studies reported in learned journals point out that many people have legs of different lengths. Naturally, politicians were the first to pounce on this as the perfect explanation why some leaned to the left and some to the right. Turns out that it is the rare individual who actually stands up straight and tall. Accordingly, when confronted by someone who clearly is mentally lacking, the Irish adopted the gentle, but highly accurate moniker, of simply pointing out that in their case, both legs are not the same length.

This space is where we will add your words!