Miscellaneous
He would give a Beechams powder a sore heid (The man
is to be avoided at all costs due to his incessant talking) From: Bob
in Glasgow
Iall dead centre you... common expression for head
butting From: George Fleck
She turned roun' ... as in "She turned roun' an'
said till me ... an' then I turned roun' and said till her ..."
Obviously could be cross referenced with "I turned roun'"
and "He turned roun'". From: Jim
Gimme head pace (peace). Used when someone is in disagreement
with what is said or they just want you out of the way.."Would
ye gimme head pace.." From Louise
Skin and hair flyin- Could be used to describe a passionate
fight or a night of passion itself..."Theyre'll be skin and hair
flyin' in that house tonight!" From Louise
Lorney Bless us - ma granny from Larne used to say
that does anyone else know it? Politer way of saying Jesus help! From:
Babs
Out of his/her tree (or Out of his/her bracket) -
drunk. From Mark
Mice in the straw - someone's not all there, missing
a few brain cells. From: Richard McCleery.
He's as tight as a hens ear. Meaning the subject does
not spend much money. From Declan, who adds:
She wouldn't tare 'n the pluckin Meaning the subject
(usually a woman) is not young.
A face like a bulldog chewin' a wasp! = not likely
to win any beauty contests. From: Mark
My mum used to say 'you might as well go and chalk coke'
meaning you're wasting your time. Another favourite was 'Do
you think I came up the Lagan in a bubble?' meaning do do you
think I'm easily fooled. From: Gwen
He's that tight he'd cut himself to get a plaster.
(miserable git), I have a throat like Gandhi's flip-flop (after a nite
on the tiles). From: Glenn Rooney
Let the hearse sit. i.e. let's wait awhile to see
if things change. From David Drysdale
Go ballistic - to go crazy or get very angry. From:
Phil
Absolute classic... 'Guddy whitener' usually jif or
other household cleaner to clean your white trainers when you were a
kid. From Fiona Chambers
He couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo from 2 feet -
Meaning the striker in the team is useless. From: Alan Bradshaw
Yer granny's a mermaid! meaning "you are talking
rubbish" From: Shirley
You couldn't felt your granny on a lilo - meaning
you are not as good a roofer as me. From: Robert Patterson
He could herd mice at a crossroads, meaning he's a
smart capable fella. From Pete who adds: Who was tellin ya?,
meaning "I don't believe you", and: general disbelief or incredulity
remarked as Piss up a stick (or "catch yerself
on") or yer arse in parsley (or "aye, right")
He'd mind white mice at a crossroads in snow. V wise.
From: Sally O Brian
I'll boil the pish in your bladder wi' slaps!! obviously,
you'll have your backside warmed. my BF was threatened with this punishment
as a child in Fermanagh. From: Leda Black
Keep her between the hedges - an expression the hear
a lot at our motorcycling road races! From: Angela
My head's leppin like a bucket of frogs... normally
used by someone with a hangover. My dad in Derrygonnelly would say this
on the odd Sunday morning. From: Leda Black
I'm away up the fairy fishin! - can't be arsed tellin'
you where I'm going
From: Jerms
Keep 'er Country - Meaning take it easy or keep on
the 'straight and narrow' From: Neil McCormick
All dressed up like a sceaby knuckle- well dressed.
From: Sarah
Whin a' yer bake - "Don't you open the whin a'
yer bake" - keep yer mouth shut. From Jerms
Och yer haverin': means you're talking foolish. From:
Calum
I'm only reekin ya - meaning i'm just joking about.
From Emma Y
Away da get me hair shaired - to go get some peace
(showered). From JonnyD
Yer an oul' hoore's ghost - nuff said. From: MJ
For defs hi!- Meaning definitely, used in Derry far
tooo much!! From: ganoo
Away an bile yer heed: you're full of nonsense. From
Calum
Wind yer neck in. I love this one, it means wise up
or stop talking rubbish. From Cate
Plugged in & not switched on = not quite with
it. From Graham
He's so tight he squeaks - someone known to be careful
with money. From Bill
Now ye'r suckin diesel. As in now you have the hang
of it. From: John
As thick as purdy oaten - not too bright. From: Frederick
Needham
He's as thick as champ = he's not very bright. From
Graham
Ate the bake aff - remonstrated angrily with someone.
From Bill Dill
Reveal the centre square– Make any situation
just that little bit better/ more tolerable. From Clonard McEniff
Shut that dure - Close the door. From Graham
I wuden miss ye Telling someone you are refusing to
do what they ask. From Sharon.
Put it in the big nik, The same as keep it going referring
to putting it into top gear. From: Alan Jeffrey
"Son you're about as good at that as my ears are at snipe
shooting", (anagram of ears!). From Kevin Mac
Roasted snow as in, [Kev’s dad speaking to Kev]
"son,you’re about as good at that as the full of your ears
of roasted snow!!! [anagram of ears!!!] From Kev Mac
Quare craic at a wake - funny at the wrong time or
place. From Frederick Needham
He's a face on him like a smacked arse.- someone who
looks unhappy or upset. From Michael Mulrine
Take Yer Oil! Very Derry saying meaning "Serves
you right" or "HA-HA" From: Chris Tierney
Bled gander (pronounced to rhyme with render)
My north Antrim granny would remark on how pale I was as a child saying,
'you look like a bled gander'. From: Kathleen Mallon
Keep her lit - keep going, faster. 'Keep her lit ye
boy ye, we're nearly there hi.' From Terence Donnelly
Thon's desbert - How awful. From: Kevin
Givin' it lemon - to dance like a maniac. "Aye
i was givin it lemon on the dancefloor so a was". From: Richard
Maguire
watz d craic - wotz up ( i learnt it from wen i met
irish ladz on holz i use it all d time now. From: Nicola in Liverpool
He's a quare geg - means he's quite funny. From: Simon
Wragg
Ach what about ye. Meaning how are you doing. From:
Dave McFarland
Now living in Australia, my favourite from home was very pass
remarkable meaning had a lot to say about somebody, usually
derogatory. From Geraldine
Hasn't a bar in 'is grate means that he has no teeth.
From: Shelley Donaldson
Are yer eyes painted on! meaning can you not see that
clearly? From Mandy
Ballysheughanagullian - pronounced 'Bally-shuck-ana-
gullion' What my da called anywhere in the norn iron countryside. From
Catherine
Wake up in hav' your Weetabix! - as if till say 'your
dreaming'. From Nicole
Who ate the shuggar aff yer bun? Why are yopu in a
bad humour or cross. From: Jen
Sheugh water moves quicker. a description of a lazy
person. From Kenny
Two American visitors looked at each other confusingly recently at
Castle Archdale when they were told by a Belfast camper that "they'd
better get some cream on them or the midgets wud ate them alive"
! From Kenny
Are yoosins gettin? An inquiry from a young assisant
in Beatties chippie on the Shankill (and many another establishment
in Belfast as well! - Ed). From Kenny.
Put a stane at his head and rale him in.
A woman's instructions about what to do with her husband's grave. (Put
a stone at his head and a railing around him. ) From Norah Anne Graham
As black as Toal's cloak. Used of a person who is very
dirty. From Brian.
To explain that his wife was older than him Harry from Lurgan told
everyone "Minnie wis alas aulder an me".
Another clean shirt will do him - expression implying
that the subject is close to death. Often used in exageration, e.g.
if the subject has a heavy cold! From Chris Haggan.
My mother-in-law who was from Garvagh used to say if she thought something
was bad "that's tara". From: Jane
Lurgan spade - 'he/she's got a face like a Lurgan
spade' - looking a bit depressed - long-faced. From Louis
Wiser atin' the grass - a little bit slow on the uptake.
From: Richard McCleary (Ed's note: similarly you'll hear: 'There's wiser
locked up')
That's Paul Rankin - something is 'rank', disgusting
or to someone's dislike. From Andrew Boyce.
Do you think I can up the Foyle in a bubble, meaning
do you think I was born yesterday, obviously used almost exclusively
in Derry. (Ed's note: of course, in Belfast the expression is 'do you
think I came up the Lagan in a bubble?')
Dem's a beast - they are good. From Teri
Your barney! - you must be joking. My granny from
Londonderry uses this one a lot. From Susan Marshall
Dead as Hector - dead. From Nicole
Wired up to the moon, meaning a bit mad/highly strung.
From Anon
Man dear, yer head's cut Telling someone they are
stupid or in the alternative, have no idea what they are talking about.
From Ray Dean
A kangaroo short of a paddock .saying someone is not
quite right, stupid. from Louise in Australia
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