GREETINGS AND RESPONSES (cont.)

• "Howya" [note that there is no question mark here] = Hi, hello, morning/afternoon, etc.
• It doesn't mean "How are you?" under any circumstances and you should never, never answer with a long explanation about your aching back, acne, sore nose or piles!
• "Ah sure, grand thanks", "Great thanks", "great form", "Not a bother thanks" etc. = Very well, etc; always answer in the affirmative. If you're feeling a bit under the weather, then you may say "fine thanks".
• "How's things?" OR "How's the form?" [country = "How's she cuttin'?"]= How is life with you at the moment? [Note the use of the wrong tense. The country expression reflects the interest in your agricultural machinery!]. The "form" is probably a reference to the printer's forme, the structure which kept hand set type in place. NEW
• "Not a bother, thanks" = Excellent/good/fine
• "Are ya keeping well?" = How is your form/health -BUT you must answer positively!
• "Can't complain..." = Well, you don't want to hear my problems anyway...!

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Guest sayings

Anna (Clontarf, Dublin; now Yorkshire):

would you look at the time and not a child's face in the house washed!

Jan in Worthing, West Sussex, kindly sends this - she heard it from a Dub some years ago:

s/he/it is/was "desperate" = not quite up to scratch, a chancer (and often used in an affectionate way - a desperate man).

(Anon, Ireland): I'm nailed to the floor = I'm very busy

A bird never flew on one wing = I will have another drink, thank you...