EXPLANATION OF SAYINGS (continued)

• "I'll take you down a peg or two..." = to humilliate someone
• "You're a hard act to follow" = you are good at what you do [presume this is a theatrical or music hall expression]
• "No great shakes" = not great, sub-standard etc. This is possible a dancing expression!
• "...with brute force and ignorance!" = to describe maximum effort for a physical task.
• "Go and take a long walk off a short pier" = get lost, youre annoying me!
• "(S)he's the worse for wear" = has had far too much to drink
• "Where's she goin in that rigout?" = What is she wearing, it looks far too posh for the likes of her!
• "Finders keepers, loosers weepers" = playground phrase that describes possession is 9/10ths of the law!
• "S/he worships the ground s/he walks on" = s/he is totally devoted (usually in the sense that love is involved but not exclusively). I love the imagery - the use of language is very Irish.
• "The world and his granny was there" = a large crowd was there.
• "I'll show me nose" = I will put in a brief appearance (very difficult to do in Irish homes since you're expected to stay a while and have a cup of tea or stronger...)!
• "Hold yer horses!" = take it easy, calm down, relax a bit, etc.
• "Are ya decent...?" = are you presentable to the wider world, are you dressed and ready to go? Not a moral judgement in any way - often shouted from behind a closed door!
• "Up to me eyeballs" or "up to me neck/oxters" = I am very busy!
• "Nothing to write home about..." = Nothing special. Probably a phrase for which we can thank our emigrants.
• "So there...put that in yer pipe and smoke it...! = add this to a good retort/reply to someone being clever.
• "The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know..." = leave things alone, don't change for the sake of change.
• "They'll see ya comin.." = You look like a total eejit and someone is going to take advantage of you!
• "That'll go through ya for a short cut...!" = A way of describing a potent liquid (usually alcoholic!) or food!
• "He'll meet himself coming backwards" = He is far too organised for his own good (in other words, he's a complete pain)
• "Beggars can't be choosers"
• "Long may you wear" = your good wishes to a friend who has just received a new gift, etc. The gift can be anything new, not just clothing!
• "Me stomach thinks me throat's cut" = I am very hungry!
• This is from my favourite nephew, Joe and inspired by "Father Ted": "You're not the boss of me!"
• "I'll learn ya...' = I'll teach you a lesson (usually to a child)
• "Put your money where your mouth is!" = support your boast with evidence
• "Fine bit of stuff altogether!" = good looking etc (thanks to Niamh from Louth)
• "Takin a mug of scald to me scratcher" = cup of tea and going to bed
• "Ah, sure the job is right and the ships name is Murphy!" = A good job well done (many thanks to Bridget from Dublin for this).
• "There's no flies on you" = you're quick aren't ya or well done(thanks again Niamh)
• "I didn't come up the Liffey on a bicycle" = I'm not stupid/thick!
• "He's made a hames of it" = He has made a mess of something
• "Can I pick your brains?" = Will you help me with a (mental) problem?! It sounds like an chat-up line for a cannibal!

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Guest sayings

John Ryan (Dublin): (s)he is a peculiar genius = a quare fella, eccentric or idiot

Chris O'Dania (W Texas): It's come a gully-washer! = It's raining to beat the dickens; it's raining in torrents

Anon (Kerry via Ohio!): ye shitepokes = good-for-nothings [typically said to her children by a woman]

Maggie (Dublin): he didn't lick it off the stones = someone's behaviour, whether good or bad, is inherited or taught to them by their family.

Chris O'Dania (Texas):

The first time you get kicked by a mule, it's the mule's fault.... The next time, it's YOUR fault!