The meaning of being Irish - A guide to our own unique little sayings

So, as some of you know, I was born and bred in the Emerald Isle. Although I have lived in the UK for almost 10 years now, it has been brought to my attention that I still speak with a lot of ‘Irishisms’ (as my hubby calls them!).

I have often been in a conversation and have people stare in disbelief as I have gone off on a tangent and they have no idea what I am talking about any more (and it’s not just the accent :-)

So, in an effort to break the language barrier, and just for a bit of fun, here are a few of the common ‘Irishisms’ you may hear if you ever travel to Ireland or live / work with Irish people.

I’m sure I have forgotten lots but these are the main ones that spring to mind. Enjoy, and have a giggle x

Irishism - Acting the maggot

Use - He was just acting the maggot as usual

Meaning - Behaving foolishly, annoyingly

Irishism -Bags

Use - He made a bags of doing it

Meaning - Messy inadequate job (see hames)

Irishism - Banjaxed

Use - It was banjaxed beyond all help

Meaning - Broken, can also mean tired

Irishism -Bold

Use - You are a very bold boy

Meaning - Naughty

Irishism - Craic (crack)

Use - We had great craic that night

Meaning – Fun, a good laugh

Irishism - Culchies

Use - The culchies were all over the place

Meaning - Rural people, everyone that lives outside of Dublin. Usually used by Dublin residents.

Irishism – Delph

Use – I need to wash the delph

Meaning - Dishes

Irishism - Eat the head off

Use - I'll eat the head off her

Meaning - Attack verbally

Irishism - Eejit

Use - You're a right eejit

Meaning - Idiot, fool

Irishism - Fair play

Use - Fair play to you

Meaning - Indicates approval of someone's actions or opinions

Irishism - Foostering

Use - Just foostering about

Meaning - Not getting much done, fussing

Irishism - Gas

Use – He’s a gas man

Meaning - Fun, enjoyment

Irishism - Giving out

Use - The teacher was always giving out to the class

Meaning - Scolding

Irishism - Gobdaw

Use - That fella's a right gobdaw

Meaning - Fool, idiot

Irishism - Hames

Use - You made a terrible hames of that

Meaning - Messy inadequate job (see bags)

Irishism - Holliers

Use – I’m off on me holliers

Meaning - Holidays, vacation time

Irishism - Jackeens

Use - The jackeens think they're smart

Use - Dublin person, usually used disparagingly by culchies

Irishism - Jacks

Use - I'm just off to the jacks

Meaning - Toilet, restroom

Irishism - Messages

Use - I have to get the messages

Meaning - Groceries

Irishism - Mooching

Use - He's mooching again for money

Meaning - Sponging, almost begging

Irish – Press

Use – The towels are in the hot press

Meaning – cupboard, airing cupboard

Irishism - Sleeveen

Use - She's a bit of a sleeveen

Meaning - Sly person, calculating

Irishism - Stocious

Use - He was stocious last night

Meaning - Drunk

Irishism – Yer Man / Yer Wan

Use – The state of yer man over there trying to chat up yer wan

Meaning – That man / that woman

A pic of me and my lovely Irish buddies on our annual holiday to Spain. Even though there are lots of miles between us, we still have lots of craic whenever we get together.