SAYINGS WITH INTERPRETATION (continued)

• "S/he's an awful stick in the mud" = s/he is extremely boring and set in his/her ways
• "In the sticks" = in a rural area
• "Stick insect" = someone who is far too thin for their own good!
• "Keep taking the tablets..." = I think you are insane [ie., make sure you take your medication...]
• "I'm not waiting here for the good of me health.." = shout this at someone who ignores a queue/line and heads for the top.
• "I have an axe to grind..." = I have an issue to discuss with you.
• "I'll have your guts for garters" = a strong personal threat directed at someone. Presumably originated with people working in the knackers [where they slaughter and dismember animals for other uses - the famous knackers in Dublin was O'Keeffe in Pimlico, Dublin's medieval Liberties].
• "Keep a weather-eye out for..." = looking casually for something/reviewing something informally
• "Under the weather..." = someone feeling down, not their usual good form, perhaps depressed.
• "She's out in her figure..." = a lady or girl in revealing clothing! This is an old saying and may well have referred to the showing of a knee or even an ankle.
• "You're very cute..."= a compliment to an astute person, not a reference to a good-looking girl. In Munster the expression used is a "cut hoor [whore]" [literally, an intelligent prostitute but meant as a compliment towards a man or woman!]
• "The penny dropped..." = You suddenly understand something or make a connection, etc
• "That will put the wind up him/her" = It will make them nervous or scared
• "Health is wealth" = self explanatory.
• "As good as gold..." = usually describes the excellent behaviour of a child
• "I'm loosing the will to live..." = hurry up, you're taking too long/boring me etc
• "I believe you...thousands wouldn't..." = I'm not sure you're right...
• "I'm pulling the divil by the tail" = I am in great form thanks!
• Englishman to Irishman: "You're talking far too fast"...answer, "You're not listening quickly enough...!" I'm grateful to a friend whose father comes from Ballymoney for this retort!
• "S/he's a chip off the aul block" = copy of original (usually refers to a person identical to a relative, typically a child)
• "S/he's got a chip on his/her shoulder = someone who holds a grudge [more chip meanings here]
• He's a bit fond of the jar = likes drinking
• "That doesn't wash very well" = something is not credible or believable

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Guest sayings

Anon (Ireland):

yoke = can refer to any item as in "pass me that yoke there", "thingymajig" is the Scottish equivalent. A yoke is not a lad.

John (Dublin):

S/he's on fire = he's doing really well. usually refers to a particular job at hand and not at life in general.abha, clare and Olivia (London): savage = good looking, attractive, (not a monster)

Michael Mac Fheorais (Ireland):I wouldn't have it kicked after me = I wouldn't want that that at all, especially if it was implied I actually wanted it. E.g. "John told me you wanted a double brested suit". Reply "I certaintly did not, I wouldn't have it kicked after me". Only ever heard my mother say this, I always thought it meant something like "I wouldn't have it even if you threw it at me".

Chris Bombardier (USA):I'll be there in three shakes of a dead lambs tail = (I'm not sure if that is fast or slow, my mother used to say this.)