'Having notions'

shakeitoff · 19-06-2018 12:46pm #1

Anyone else noticed this thing about notions? It's like the ultimate Irish meme. Anything and everything can be considered having notions.

Driving with sunroof down on a hot day=Notions
Walking with a coffee in hand=Notions
Drinking gin=Notions
Wearing sunglasses=Notions

Could you imagine an American thinking someone 'has notions' for wearing sunglasses?

From urban dictionary

Being up yourself or thinking you're above/better than everyone else. A descriptor of someone you may know who has now gotten ideas or behaviours that would have previously been believed to be above their station.
"Did you see Sorcha's picture on Facebook? CAVIAR?! Absolute notions. And she from Ballybackarseofnowhere? Was far from Caviar she was raised.

"

As you can see , notions is an Irish thing. Seems tied to our whole begrudgery thing(I think Bono's quote is bollox btw) but I suppose we begrudge in our own unique way which notions seems tied into. I suppose for Americans it would be equivalent of being a douche.

Always cringe when I see it.

Grayson · 19-06-2018 12:49pm

Sunglasses? really?

verycool · 19-06-2018 12:51pm

shakeitoff wrote: »

It's like the ultimate Irish meme.

...christ.

shakeitoff · 19-06-2018 12:52pm

verycool wrote: »

...christ.

cultural phenomenon then. It is a meme, It's something I see online more than irl and it's completely Irish. The ultimate Irish meme.

topper75 · 19-06-2018 12:55pm

Begrudgery rooted in jealousy isn't pleasant.

But begrudgery as an honest check on arseholism is essential for Irish society to operate into the future.

CrankyHaus · 19-06-2018 12:59pm

When was the last time anyone actually talked about "notions" to you in real life?
It's a lazy trope for "What a complete Aisling" knockoffs. It's the water immersion joke of the 2010s and the sooner it dies off the better.

shakeitoff · 19-06-2018 1:00pm

topper75 wrote: »

Begrudgery rooted in jealousy isn't pleasant.

But begrudgery as an honest check on arseholism is essential for Irish society to operate into the future.

Hahaha yeah. That's true. I kind of like that about Ireland. Anyone acting too pompous in a wider social setting will be derided until they can prove otherwise. So I can see why driving around with a roof down can be seen as having notions. Just don't take yourself too seriously and it's all good. it's still just funny though because it's so Irish

Noveight · 19-06-2018 1:01pm

I think the notion of us irish being begrudgers is overplayed too though. Express a dislike for something and it’s often labeled as begrudgery, even though you may not be the slightest bit envious of the person/thing.

Popped up a good bit in the ongoing AH thread about the Rubberbandits.

shakeitoff · 19-06-2018 1:02pm

CrankyHaus wrote: »

When was the last time anyone actually talked about "notions" to you in real life?
It's a lazy trope for "What a complete Aisling" knockoffs. It's the water immersion joke of the 2010s and the sooner it dies off the better.

That's so true. I hate it. Every cringeworthy person I know uses it.

nowaynever · 19-06-2018 1:02pm

Bridget and Eamon.

davo2001 · 19-06-2018 1:02pm

It's just the latest buzz word that sterotypical millennials use to get attention, like "blah blah blah, and i'm dead"

O rly? Dead you say? The fact that you typed that instagram post says otherwise.

Anyone with more than half a brain just ignores it.

Tow · 19-06-2018 1:05pm

He has notions above his station.

http://www.dailyedge.ie/irish-mammies-notions-1384206-Mar2014/

RoboRat · 19-06-2018 1:15pm

What you mentioned OP is not having notions, at least not in the sense of how it used to be defined.

Sally Jane wearing a belly top with a big swiss roll of fat hanging out is having notions about herself.
Tiffany drinking Krystal in Lillies when she claims the scratch is having notions
Claire expecting a 15k diamond engagement ring from Gary, her minimum paid fiancee, is having notions
Anto putting €2k low profiles on his 2005 Micra is having notions.

As already said, having notions when applied in the case of curbing someone's overly inflated ego is perfectly fine and one of the things I love about being Irish.

Graces7 · 19-06-2018 1:48pm

RoboRat wrote: »

What you mentioned OP is not having notions, at least not in the sense of how it used to be defined.

Sally Jane wearing a belly top with a big swiss roll of fat hanging out is having notions about herself.
Tiffany drinking Krystal in Lillies when she claims the scratch is having notions
Claire expecting a 15k diamond engagement ring from Gary, her minimum paid fiancee, is having notions
Anto putting €2k low profiles on his 2005 Micra is having notions.

As already said, having notions when applied in the case of curbing someone's overly inflated ego is perfectly fine and one of the things I love about being Irish.

English version is "having ideas above your station ", as in "who do you think you are?"

Your Face · 19-06-2018 1:58pm

The OP does have a point though.

There's plenty of people around who get very bitter if a person was to do anything remotely 'fancy'.

odyssey06 · 19-06-2018 1:59pm

Driving with sunroof down on a hot day=Notions
Drinking gin=Notions
Wearing sunglasses=Notions

Defo if you are doing all of these things at the same time...

davidk1394 · 19-06-2018 2:05pm

Because I’d perfer to protect my eyes and wear sunglasses means I’ve notions ? Now the likes of lads walking around in their Ralph Loren t-shirts driving their daddies Audi that’s notions.

shakeitoff · 19-06-2018 2:09pm

davidk1394 wrote: »

Because I’d perfer to protect my eyes and wear sunglasses means I’ve notions ? Now the likes of lads walking around in their Ralph Loren t-shirts driving their daddies Audi that’s notions.

That's my point, I've seen some inane everyday things labelled as having notions.

AfterLife · 19-06-2018 2:15pm

Anyone driving around in a PCP financed car has notions. I'm alright with what anyone else is up to.

looksee · 19-06-2018 2:15pm

shakeitoff wrote: »

Hahaha yeah. That's true. I kind of like that about Ireland. Anyone acting too pompous in a wider social setting will be derided until they can prove otherwise. So I can see why driving around with a roof down can be seen as having notions. Just don't take yourself too seriously and it's all good. it's still just funny though because it's so Irish

Hm, having a sun roof (in Ireland!) whether up or down, is notions

recyclops · 19-06-2018 2:27pm

Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt is the epitome of having notions

utyh2ikcq9z76b · 19-06-2018 3:20pm

davidk1394 wrote: »

Because I’d perfer to protect my eyes and wear sunglasses means I’ve notions ? Now the likes of lads walking around in their Ralph Loren t-shirts driving their daddies Audi that’s notions.

Having notions that the sun is gonna arrive

Wanderer2010 · 19-06-2018 4:10pm

The most accurate definition of someone who has notions in Ireland for me is someone who grew up poor and in later life does everything they can to project an image to the world that they are rich and come from "good" backgrounds, such people are insufferable and actually massively insecure as they cannot accept themselves as they are and start talking and acting all posh..

AllForIt · 19-06-2018 4:11pm

Grayson wrote: »

Sunglasses? really?

Yes. Last summer I walked by a group of 3 local lads sitting outside a pup mid-day and one of them made some comment as I walked by them about my sunglasses. I was meant to hear it too. They were the sort of beer guzzling football fan county types I wouldn't mix with in a million years but yeah - they'd be the sort who'd be 'notion' hunters. This was in a small rural town mind where one to expect to find those sorts of ppl.

jimgoose · 19-06-2018 4:17pm

The "Aisling" variety of glamourised bog-trottery irritates me a great deal, almost as much as when I hear that old chestnut about the immersion heater trotted out. And yes, I have "notions" but I'm putting ointment on them.

valoren · 19-06-2018 4:20pm

Doing your weekly shopping in Marks & Spencer.

19-06-2018 4:23pm

ha ha ha, had this out with my old man last night. He was telling a story about how some guy used to work with him on the factory floor and managed to get a job in the offices, so he left his snickers at home in place for casual trousers and a shirt!!
" he loves himself", always did, and the likes..."couldn't wait to wear a tie and drink red wine"

So he wanted to get on and maybe secure something better for himself, hence, NOTIONS!!! it's gas. Stick with the dullards!! you'll be liked more

Joe prim · 19-06-2018 4:23pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Driving with sunroof down on a hot day=Notions
Drinking gin=Notions
Wearing sunglasses=Notions

Defo if you are doing all of these things at the same time...

Also eating your chips with a fork....in fact, eating anything with a fork!

conorhal · 19-06-2018 4:46pm

davidk1394 wrote: »

Because I’d perfer to protect my eyes and wear sunglasses means I’ve notions ? Now the likes of lads walking around in their Ralph Loren t-shirts driving their daddies Audi that’s notions.

Depends, are these fancy-shmancy 'glasses for the sun' on yer actual face or ....are they up on top of your head?
Because if it's the latter.... NOTIONS!!

valoren · 19-06-2018 5:37pm

Remember when you'd be out and about circa 2009-2012 and you'd literally buy anything and you'd be told "Ah c'mere, there's no recession in ye're house anyway!"

Agricola · 19-06-2018 5:44pm

Up until very recently (the 90's) we were piss poor. We're also a very insecure race of people.

"Love me Mr. American visitor, can I play my banjo and do an Oirish jig for ya, be the hokey"

.....you would heard said!

So this whole notions thing is no surprise.

'Having notions'

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