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Irish words and phrases that d...

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Irish words and phrases that don't translate

Jonathan Duane
Jonathan Duane

01:57 15 Jun 2018


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There's a word in Finnish that means drinking at home alone in your underwear.

Yes, really!

via GIPHY

Kalsarikännit is translated as "the feeling when you are going to get drunk home alone in your underwear – with no intention of going out".

It certainly makes our sad weekend plans sound a little cooler!

It got us thinking of Irish words and phrases that don't translate.

Not phrases as Gaeilge but in our own version of the English language - which is a whole different language in itself, to be fair!

We know what these expressions mean (we think!) but they make absolutely no sense to English speakers abroad.

via GIPHY

Here's our favourites:

1. Look it/Ah sure, look it

 

2. Your man/your one

 

3. Go away out of that

 

4. Come here to me

 

5. Take her handy

 

6. Sure, you know yourself

 

7. Leg it

 

8. Acting the maggot

 

9. Poxy

 

10. All over the shop

 

11. Yoke

 

12. I will yeah

 

13. Grand

 

14. Thanks a million

 

15. I'm dying a death


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English Language Irish Only In Ireland Quirky Words