A Cool List of Common Irish Slang Terms and their Meanings

The Irish use a variety of slang terms, which can be very difficult to understand for someone who is not from the country. Penlighten gives a list of Irish slang words as well as phrases that are commonly used in Ireland.

Fun Fact!

The Irish slang term ‘culchie’ is believed to have originated from cúl an tí, meaning the back of the house. In olden times, the country people used to enter houses through front doors only for formal meets, and would otherwise enter through the back door. It might also have originated from the word coillte, meaning woods, to signify that someone is from the rural area, similar to US slang “backwoods”.

Most tourists visiting Ireland, often complain that although a majority of the population speak English, they hardly seem to understand a word they say. Well, true enough! The Irish have an English of their own, and one might find themselves dumbfounded amidst a completely foreign vocabulary. For example, being drunk can itself be described in a plethora of ways like ossified, fluthered, in the horrors, langers, locked, paralytic, plastered, scuttered, stocious, twisted and sozzled, and many others. So if you are on your way to Ireland, here is a list of slang terms you should know.

Commonly Used Phrases

Ask me bollocks : – Shut up

Arthur Guinness talking : – Talking rubbish

Away with ye/away on/aye right : – I don’t really believe you

Be wide : – Be careful

Be dog wide : – To be extra vigilant

Bite the back of me bollocks! : – Stop annoying me

‘Bout ye : – How are you doing?

Boxin’ the fox : – Robbing an orchard

Cheese on your chin : – Your fly is open

Circling over Shannon : – To be really drunk

Doing a line : – Courting, seeing someone

Down the Swanee : – Down the drain

Drain da snake : – To take a leak

Dressed to the nines : – Don in your Sunday best

Dry up : – Shut up!

Falling from me : – Same as “I’ve got the runs”

Flying low, you’re : – Your zip is undone

Go on outta that : – No way in hell, or you’re pulling my leg

Go way outta that : – Dismissive response to indicate disbelief

How’s the talent? : – Is there anyone good-looking?

Haven’t got a snowball’s chance in hell : – No chance

Hockeyed them out of it : – Really beat them in a game of football or any other sport being played

How’s the form? : – How are you?

I could eat the lamb o’ Jayjus through the rungs of a chair : – I’m very hungry

I am in me wick : – You must be joking

I could eat a baby through bars of a cot : – I’m hungry

It’d freeze off a brass monkey : – Extremely cold weather

I’ve a mouth on me : – I’m hungry

I’ve a throat on me : – I’m thirsty

I will in me brown : – I won’t!

I will in me ring : – Certainly not!

Lamped him out of it, I : – I really hit the guy hard and knocked him out

Life of Reilly : – Carefree, hedonistic

Little green man : – A small bottle of Jameson’s

Millie up! : – Start a fight

To not have a baldy : – To not have a clue

Commonly Used Slang Terms

* Considered derogatory and/or offensive

Now that you are armed with all the lingo basics, go ahead, and get blathering with your Irish pals, even if you don’t have a baldy of what’s going on!