Irish "isms"

PhotogTom

OK, help out here. What is the origin of "taking the piss"? What do you say the day to day meaning is?
And "take a punt" on whatever? Does that come from the Irish punt? I think that's common in the UK too though?
What other common sayings don't really make sense once you think about them?

Sky King

Ah heyor leave it ou!

pickarooney

"Take a punt" is from gambling against the dealer. Pontoon or some game like that.

Anyone

J ism

PhotogTom

"J ism" - lost me on that one.

maximoose

Wiki wrote:

Taking the piss is a British term meaning to take liberties at the expense of others, or to be unreasonable. It is often used (or confused) with taking the piss out of which is an expression meaning to mock, tease, ridicule, or scoff.[1] It is also not to be confused with "taking a piss", which refers to the actual biological act of urinating.

I found the bold part highly amusing.

antodeco

The bang off your oul one

mark renton

PhotogTom wrote: »

OK, help out here. What is the origin of "taking the piss"? What do you say the day to day meaning is?
And "take a punt" on whatever? Does that come from the Irish punt? I think that's common in the UK too though?
What other common sayings don't really make sense once you think about them?

None of these end with 'ism

Bad Santa

The exact origin stems from a time back in 1940s Dublin when there was a red light district called Monto, right around the turn of the last century (1900) to be precise. Myself and a few others used to hang around Foley St and watch all these sexy brassers selling their wares. We could never afford them of course and was generally British Soldiers that kept them in business. Anyway, these particular Dublin ladies of the night fascinated our every thought and we use to follow them to the out houses and yes, you guessed it: we'd take the piss.

smash

I don't really have time to post here, I have to go... I've left the immersion on!

AnonoBoy

"A person should not believe in isms he should believe in himself" - Horse Face's Husband in A Movie.

elefant

Bad Santa wrote: »

The exact origin stems from a time back in 1940s Dublin when there was a red light district called Monto, right around the turn of the last century (1900) to be precise. Myself and a few others used to hang around Foley St and watch all these sexy brassers selling their wares. We could never afford them of course and was generally British Soldiers that kept them in business. Anyway, these particular Dublin ladies of the night fascinated our every thought and we use to follow them to the out houses and yes, you guessed it: we'd take the piss.

I was wearing an onion on my belt

enda1

I wonder if its to do with the fact that piss used to be used as a source in the manufacture of gunpowder.

Smiles35

AnonoBoy wrote: »

"A person should not believe in isms he should believe in himself" - Horse Face's Husband in A Movie.

They were taking the piss!

Reoil

"I know! I have a stupid question, I think I'll ask AH!".

Rented Mule

AnonoBoy wrote: »

"A person should not believe in isms he should believe in himself" - Horse Face's Husband in A Movie.

I believe that he was the Walrus.

Anyone

Rented Mule wrote: »

I believe that he was the Walrus.

Woooooooo

JamieKCCO

elefant wrote: »

I was wearing an onion on my belt

Which was the fashion at the time

Smiles35

PhotogTom wrote: »

OK, help out here. What is the origin of "taking the piss"? What do you say the day to day meaning is?
And "take a punt" on whatever? Does that come from the Irish punt? I think that's common in the UK too though?
What other common sayings don't really make sense once you think about them?

When I was a young purveyor of all the Oirish, I enjoyed spouting at the foreign lassies ''What's the story'', most especially to one I didn't want to sleep with.

I was avoiding the piss.

Then one day she say's, ''Why? That dosn't make sense?''

And, then SHE was taking the piss. :mad:

wobzilla1

JamieKCCO wrote: »

Which was the fashion at the time

They didn't have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones

Duck Soup

All sayings made sense initially. 'Chancing your arm' allegedly is an Irish saying, from when the only handle on a church door was on the inside, accesible via a small square hole in the door. When invaders were storming the land, people would take refuge in the church and someone with a sword would stand by the door.

If the invaders wanted to open the door, they would have to put their arm in to reach the bolt or latch. If there was no one inside, your arm was safe. If there were local people taking refuge inside, you would get your arm cut off. Hence, chancing your arm.

kylith

My favourite Irish-ism is the very British "Smashing!", which comes from the Irish "Is maith sin".

I tell you, if the occupation had lasted much longer all the Irish nannies would have had the toff's children gaelgoirí.

seamus

My (totally unsubstantiated) guess about "taking the piss" is that it's to do with the meaning of "taking liberties". As in when someone offers you a smoke you accept graciously but if you keep bumming smokes from them all night, then you're just taking the piss.

In other words I reckon it stems from situations where a host might bring you in and offer you food and shelter for free. If you go ahead and start taking more than your fair share, then you're on the verge of taking everything including the piss in the toilet. So "taking the piss" is someone who makes a mockery of a generous offer by taking everything.

This has then just kind of evolved into the secondary meaning we have now where "taking the piss" means "having a laugh".

I'm probably way off the mark...

Real Life

I was once with a romanian guy who got a phone call, which turned out to be a prank.
When he hung up he said to me, "I think they were just taking my piss"
I held in my laughter and never corrected him