A culture based around wit and humour, but not all is understood. Here are ten Irish phrases that the world is baffled by.
English may be the language we speak in Ireland, but we have certainly put our own Irish spin on it.
Many things confuse foreigners when they hear us speak, and it’s not just the accent or the fast pace; it’s the phrases we use that they have to decipher.
We are well known for our wit and our classic one-liners, which make Irish people so popular around the world and Irish comedians an absolute hit, well, only if people aren’t easily offended, that is. Still, there are certain things we say that people just don’t get.
It’s almost like a hidden language. Irish people could have a whole conversation based around Irish phrases that would make total sense to us, but onlookers would be absolutely bewildered by.
Here are ten Irish phrases that the world is baffled by.
10. I have the fear – don’t underestimate the fear
To an Irish person, the fear is to be feared, hence why it’s called the fear. Get it?
Well, to the non-Irish person, this makes absolutely no sense, so let’s explain.
The fear is the feeling of remorse, shame, intense hangover, and utter embarrassment, thinking you may die because of your actions after a night out. We’ve all certainly had the fear!
9. Getting the messages – running errands
Non-Irish people may assume you are talking about text messages or something, but in actual fact, the messages are the groceries or errands of some kind.
So heading out to get the messages is a daily norm for most Irish people.
8. I’m happy out – a thousand times happy
This doesn’t just mean you are happy, no no no, this means you are beyond happy.
Perhaps something amazing has happened, and you’re feeling on top of the world, so you are happy out.
7. Go way outta that – you can’t be serious
Many Irish people use this phrase, it’s been around for years, and everyone has heard at least one family member use it, so of course, we carry it on.
It basically means you can’t be serious, or I don’t believe you, but this is certainly a phrase that the world is baffled by.
6. Heading out for a few scoops – pints, not ice cream
Okay, not everywhere in Ireland has this phrase, but anyone not from Ireland who hears this is completely stumped. If you think this is a mad one, you’ll find the classic Irish dad phrases strange.
It basically means you plan to go to the pub for a few pints, and it has nothing to do with ice cream.
5. I haven’t seen them in donkey’s years – a very long time
This is a weird one so we can understand how the world would be baffled by this, but it doesn’t have anything to do with donkeys, we promise.
It means that you haven’t seen someone in a really long time, longer than expected.
4. Put the washing on – Irish laundry
Around the world, this is known as laundry, and rightly so, but in Ireland, the washing is what we call the laundry.
Putting the washing on is putting a laundry load in the washing machine, simple yet somewhat confusing.
3. Was it any use? – how was it?
In Ireland, this means was it any good? or how was it? Commonly said if you’ve been to an event and someone asks you how it was. Baffling for some but very common for the Irish.
2. I’m gonna head off now – the polite way to say goodbye
We all say this all the time, yet we never stop to think about how it sounds to the world.
Head off? We can understand how this can be taken literally and thus be seriously confusing, but all it means is we are ready to leave now, so goodbye. Again, goodbye, another word the Irish hate using.
1. I will, yeah – it’s the complete opposite
This is a sarcastic way of saying no. Basically, Irish people are renowned for avoiding the word no, so we say things like maybe, ah sure we’ll see, or I will yeah, but basically, it means no, it isn’t going to happen.
So there you have it: ten Irish phrases that the world is baffled by,and we can definitely see why they would be.
Chances are we all say these phrases once in a while because, in Ireland, we communicate through baffling expressions, apparently.
