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The great thing about the Irish is that they speak English, but not quite. Every now and then, you can hear an old Irish saying or a peculiar Irish phrase that will put a smile on your face and remind you of just how interesting a language can be. Here is a collection of some more or less familiar Irish phrases that you may encounter in their homeland or hear from an Irish bloke you’ve known for years. So, basically, here is what they all mean.
Irish Phrases
“Sure look it”
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Irish is that they tend to save up on words whenever possible. So, for example, instead of saying “It sure looks like it” as most people, they tend to shorten it to “sure look it,” which sounds even shorter spoken in the Irish accent. Most of the time, you won’t even know they’ve uttered it. All you’ll see is the raised eyebrows and the subtle nodding as they silently contemplate life with you.
“I’ll just go to the jacks”
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You’ll hear this a bunch of times, especially if you’re going out drinking somewhere in Ireland, but, at first, it might puzzle you. Who is Jack and why are they visiting him now? Even though you’ll probably put 2 and 2 together after a few times, we’ll go ahead and tell you. Going to the jacks means going to the bathroom and there’s quite a bit of history behind it. Namely, an Irish inventor by the name of Jack Power is apparently the first man who created multi-cubicle toilets and gained a fortune manufacturing them for companies all around the world. Being a proud nation, it only makes sense that the Irish would honor one of their own on a daily basis.
“Donkey’s years”
One of most common Irish expressions is also donkey’s years, used to describe a long period of time. But how long are actually donkey’s years? No one knows that and the Irish use it as something of an approximation. However, we do know the origin of this strange little phrase. It is, apparently, a pun on the phrase “donkey’s ears,” and because they are long, so are the donkey’s years. It doesn’t sound all that profound, but it’s quite amusing, which is generally the point.
“Ossified”
Of course, if you don’t have a pint of Gat or two, while in Ireland, it’s like you’ve never even been there. Be careful, though, once you get started, you can’t quit that easily. Before you know it, the morning will come and you’ll be lying ossified in your or someone else’s bed. So, what does ossified mean? Well, originally it meant turned into bone – petrified if you wish. To the Irish however, this simply describes getting hammered and, consequently, being unable to move the morning after. Try it out.
“What’s the craic?”
Now, if you happen to come from a fairly dangerous part of the USA, the Irish word craic (pronounced as crack) might mean something completely different. In Ireland, craic is a word that signifies fun, news, interesting conversation, and a lot more. So, when an Irish asks you “what’s the craic?” he is just asking what’s up. In the US, we sometimes use a similar phrase “what’s crackin’?” It’s the same thing. By the way, the word craic originated from an old Middle English word crak, which signified loud bragging, possibly in a tavern or some other social venue.
“As mad as a box of frogs”
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The Irish also, much like the rest of the Brits, tend to be colorful in their descriptions. While the exact origin of the phrase is not known (some claim it’s not older than a couple of years), it still paints a pretty clear picture. So, the next time you want to describe someone who’s lost their mind, just say “Oh, he’s as mad as a box of frogs.” They’ll know what you mean right away.
“As sick as a small hospital”
Talking of comparisons, here’s another common thing you might hear from a friend or a relative: “Today, I’m as sick as a small hospital,” meaning that the person is very sick. Why a small hospital, though? Well, the logic behind it is that a small hospital is often overcrowded with sick people and can’t cope like, say, a bigger one. Another possible explanation is that the person means he is as sick as an entire hospital, though a small one because it’s not too serious and will pass soon. It all makes a lot more sense once you learn that they usually say it after a night of heavy drinking.
“Heading off to get the messages”
Now, here is something you probably can’t figure out on your own. The Irish people use the phrase “getting the messages” to signify going to get groceries. This was back in the time when people would call the grocery store and order specific groceries. The seller would then write it all down in small messages and people would come by to collect them. It’s a nice little example of how smaller communities used to work. All that’s left now is this outdated expression.
Another term that deserves a lot of credit is the so-called Irish Goodbye. This action also called ghosting, as well as the French Exit, signifies leaving a party or an event without saying farewell. According to some sources, the term originated in the mid-1800s, where a lot of the Irish people were starving and looking for a work and food in America. In order to skip the unpleasant goodbyes with their families and friends, they would often disappear in the middle of the night without letting anyone know. Nowadays, this term is used mostly for parties and other social gatherings.
“Like Hen’s Teeth”
For the end, here is one rather weird way to say something quite simple. Why? No one knows. So, instead of saying something is quite rare, the Irish tend to use a phrase “like hen’s teeth” meaning it’s as rare as the teeth on a hen. Of course, since hens don’t have teeth it means that it’s pretty much impossible. Yes, you could say it’s extremely rare or impossible, but why would you?
Irish Sayings
To help you get into the Irish state of mind, we thought we’d finish this article off with a few of the most interesting Irish sayings and Irish proverbs. If you disagree with any of them, feel free to shout at us and let us know.
“If you want praise, die. If you want blame, marry.”
What they’re trying to say here is that it’s good to be modest and not to marry. People usually only speak high of those who are no longer with us. On the other hand, all spouses are good for is placing the blame, so you might as well avoid it altogether. Do you agree?
“It is often that a person’s mouth broke his nose.”
Those who talk too much are bound to run into trouble. Most of the problems and physical confrontations come from saying the wrong things. It is better to keep your mouth shut when possible than to provoke violence.
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”
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This is an Irish quote by Oscar Wilde, one of the most respected playwrights and novelists in Irish literature. While the meaning is self-explanatory, the beauty of this quote comes from the fact that it’s so nicely put and inevitably true.
“There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were.”
And finally, yes, a piece of self-promotion that goes a long way thanks to this clever little quote.
What is your favorite Irish saying or a phrase? Let us know in the comment section below.
