English words and expressions used in Ireland only

MungoMan · 12-02-2010 02:33AM #1

Since moving abroad, I have noticed that we use a lot of words and expressions in Ireland that are not standard english,
I didn't realise this until I used the expressions, and people didn't know what I was talking about

The one that nearly everyone in Ireland uses incorrectly is "I'm after doing something". In England, if you say "I'm after eating my dinner", it means that you want to eat your dinner.
In Ireland it means I have just eaten my dinner.

Here are other expressions and words which I have noticed are used in Ireland only, and nobody in UK understands

I'll put it on the long finger" meaning that you'll delay doing it.
He has no Cop On (as in no common sense).
Pare you pencil (as in sharpen your pencil).
Pass someone out on the road when driving (overtake). I've heard a lot of Irish people saying this. In UK, to pass someone out is to be unconscious.
Hotpress (Airing cupboard).
Kitchen press (Cupboard).
People in western Ireland using the word "Ye" as a plural of "You", I guess that's a throwback to Elizabethan english

And finally, "you big gob****e", I dont know what that means though, must be that I am one.

You get to know the ones you can use if you want to be understood.

Can anyone think of any other examples of words and expressions used in Ireland only, but not including arse, feck and eejit.

Dudess · 12-02-2010 02:37AM

My British/Aussie/American/kiwi friends think it's hilarious when I say "giving out". :pac:

Red_Marauder · 12-02-2010 02:39AM

press ( to mean cupboard)

yoke (to mean thing... or ecstasy for that matter, perhaps)

Overheal · 12-02-2010 02:39AM

A wild Etymology Thread appeared!

I choose you, Charmander!

DogmaticLefty · 12-02-2010 02:41AM

I hate it when people say "cheers". My mum does it all the time and it really annoys me. Every time I say goodbye to her on the phone, she has to say "cheers".

kowloon · 12-02-2010 02:41AM

People thinking feck is a word made up by the Father Ted writers so they could avoid saying fook on TV.

major bill · 12-02-2010 02:43AM

ive always heard girls when angry say ''im gonna kick her box in'':pac: and the word geebag is defo only used in ireland

Mrmoe · 12-02-2010 02:43AM

washing the ware
I scrope me knee
how she cuttin

Doc · 12-02-2010 02:44AM

"You're man" or "You're one" meaning that guy or that girl. I’ve gotten some funny looks saying that in England and Australia.

12-02-2010 02:45AM

"giving out yards!"

"I'm after (whatever)" rather than I have done....

"ride them sideways is another one"

bluto63 · 12-02-2010 02:45AM

Whenever I'm talkin about some person and I say 'you know yer one' no one over here understands what I'm talking about.

Doop · 12-02-2010 02:45AM

Dudess wrote: »

My British/Aussie/American/kiwi friends think it's hilarious when I say "giving out". :pac:

Had this in work the other day, no one knew what I was talking about saying ' the boss was giving out' .... giving of what was the answer?!

yoke is a good one too

I like to use 'yer man' or yer one' alot, but people around are slowly learning!

(in Oz)

CiaranC · 12-02-2010 02:46AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiberno-English

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 12-02-2010 02:47AM

MungoMan wrote: »

People in western Ireland using the word "Ye" as a plural of "You", I guess that's a throwback to Elizabethan english

Fink that's more of a thing of Irish differentiating between plural and singular "you". Don't know what the real word for that is though, but most European languages do it, though Irish (afaik) doesn't have a distinction between formal and casual "you".

Thing that gets me is when you're watching home and away and neighbours and they say things that remind you that they're really Irish; like "good on ya". That's great

12-02-2010 02:48AM

Overheal wrote: »

A wild Etymology Thread appeared!

This is likely to be a rather tame one as it doesn't contain any nuts (yet!).

Bonito · 12-02-2010 02:48AM

Around where I'm from somethin' that does my head in when I hear it is; "What's the buzz our" or "Alright our lad" Like wtf?? Also "Ya scaldy basta'd" is something i've never heard anywhere else.

Wishbone Ash · 12-02-2010 02:50AM

DogmaticLefty wrote: »

I hate it when people say "cheers". My mum does it all the time and it really annoys me. Every time I say goodbye to her on the phone, she has to say "cheers".

One of my pet hates!

'Cheers' is such a retarded phrase but a significant section of society seem to think it's acceptable a a form of 'thank you'.

Doc · 12-02-2010 02:51AM

"I got sick" is another one when we say it we mean we vomited but in other English speaking countries it only means I became unwell.

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 12-02-2010 02:51AM

thats 'grand'

I'm 'grand'

Reminds me of the hot headed Australian farmer I was working for stating that 'A fcukin' piano is grand but that bit of work you did isn't!'

Also putting 'now' at the end of sentences.
How's things??
Oh not too bad now
Not too bad now?? What was wrong earlier??

Red_Marauder · 12-02-2010 02:51AM

Saying "So I am" at the end of a sentance, or some variant.

That is very irish so it is.

major bill · 12-02-2010 02:51AM

foreigners dont know what way to take ye when ye say ''story horse'' to them

Pot Noodle = · 12-02-2010 02:52AM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

One of my pet hates!

'Cheers' is such a retarded phrase but a significant section of society seem to think it's acceptable a a form of 'thank you'.

Cheers

Wishbone Ash · 12-02-2010 02:52AM

Irish people who go to Britain and refer to crisps as 'Tayto'!

Bodhisopha · 12-02-2010 02:52AM

"me hole". Hate that expression. So uncouth.

kraggy · 12-02-2010 02:54AM

"I'm after doing it again".

Said this once when I was travelling and the gang from England I was with erupted in hysterics when I tried to convince them it was proper English.

It was only when I came on here and started a thread about it that I realised it comes from Gaeilge "tá mé tar éis..."

Overheal · 12-02-2010 02:54AM

Deleted User wrote: »

This is likely to be a rather tame one as it doesn't contain any nuts (yet!).

So do I need a Megaball or a Hyperball to lock it?

Red_Marauder · 12-02-2010 02:57AM

Bodhisopha wrote: »

"me hole". Hate that expression. So uncouth.

Almost as bad as "getting your hole" (to score)

12-02-2010 02:57AM

MungoMan wrote: »

The one that nearly everyone in Ireland uses incorrectly is "I'm after doing something". In England, if you say "I'm after eating my dinner", it means that you want to eat your dinner.
In Ireland it means I have just eaten my dinner.

That expression throws English people as they don't understabd the syntax, and think you mean you'll do something "after you have eaten dinner!"

Misty Chaos · 12-02-2010 03:01AM

I remember having to explain to a English girl on my old college course what I meant when I say ' cribbing. '

I never referred to a parer as such when I was young, I always called it a topper so in college when some people asked me for a parer, I was like ' WTF is a parer!? '

Doc · 12-02-2010 03:04AM

"I'm going out but I'm not going out, out."

Glico Man · 12-02-2010 03:05AM

"Going bushing" is another one

Don't think anyone outside the Irish people has any idea what it means

English words and expressions used in Ireland only

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