Irish Expressions

Discover the words and phrases that bring Irish conversation to life.

Ireland has a language all its own—not just Irish, but the wonderfully expressive words and phrases heard in homes, streets, pubs, and conversations across the country.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

A Right Character

Meaning: An unusual person.

Calling someone “a right character” suggests that they are memorable, entertaining, eccentric, or perhaps a little difficult. It does not necessarily mean anything bad. In Ireland, describing someone as “a right character” can be an affectionate way of saying that they certainly have their own way of doing things.

A dose

Meaning: A difficult, troublesome, or annoying person or thing.

Calling someone or something a dose means they're a bit of a nuisance or a source of trouble. It can be affectionate when used about someone you know well, especially if they're being particularly difficult.

Example: He's a terrible dose when he's in a bad mood.

Acting the fool

Meaning: Behaving foolishly; messing around.

Acting the fool is used when someone is behaving silly or deliberately making a spectacle of themselves. It's often said with affection or mild exasperation rather than genuine anger.

Example: The children were acting the fool all afternoon.

Acting the maggot

Meaning: Fooling around; behaving mischievously.

If someone in Ireland is acting the maggot, they're making a nuisance of themselves, fooling around, or generally not behaving themselves. It's usually playful rather than serious.

Example: Will you stop acting the maggot and come inside?

Ah here

Meaning: An expression of disbelief, protest, annoyance, or surprise.

Ah here is remarkably useful because its meaning depends almost entirely on tone. It can mean “Come on,” “Oh, for goodness' sake,” “You're having a laugh,” or simply “Wait a minute.”

Example: Ah here, you can't be serious.

Auld Fella

Meaning: Father or husband.

“The auld fella” is a familiar Irish expression for a father, and sometimes for a husband or another older man. It is usually casual rather than disrespectful. “The auld fella is out in the shed” could be an entirely ordinary way of referring to Dad.

Auld Wan

Meaning: A familiar woman.

“Auld wan” is an informal expression referring to a particular woman, often someone familiar to the speaker. Despite sounding as though it means “old woman,” it does not necessarily refer to someone's age. Depending on the context and tone, it can be affectionate, humorous, or mildly dismissive.

Away with the fairies

Meaning: Distracted; daydreaming; not quite paying attention.

Someone who's away with the fairies has their head somewhere else. It can describe someone who's daydreaming, distracted, or simply not keeping up with what's happening around them.

Example: Sorry, I wasn't listening—I was away with the fairies.

B

Banjaxed

Meaning: Broken, exhausted, worn out, or in a bad state.

Something that's banjaxed is no longer working properly—or, when referring to a person, they're completely worn out. It's one of those wonderfully useful Irish words that can apply equally well to a washing machine or a tired person.

Example: The old car is completely banjaxed.

C

Cop On

Meaning: Use some common sense.

To “cop on” means to realize what is going on, behave sensibly, or start using a bit of common sense. Someone might tell a friend to “cop on” if they are being foolish or failing to understand an obvious situation. It can sound sharp, but among friends it is often delivered with a laugh.

Craic

Meaning: Fun, enjoyment, good times

A uniquely Irish word that can mean fun, entertainment, or lively conversation. When someone asks, “What’s the craic?” they’re essentially asking, “What’s happening?” or “How are things?”

Example: We had great craic last night.

Culchie

Meaning: Someone from the countryside, especially outside the cities.

Culchie comes from cúigí, meaning “provinces,” and has long been used in Ireland to describe someone from a rural area. It can be teasing or affectionate, depending on who is saying it and how.

Example: “He moved to Dublin from Mayo, but he’s still a culchie at heart.”

D

Deadly

Meaning: Excellent; brilliant; fantastic.

In Irish conversation, deadly can mean the complete opposite of dangerous. It's an enthusiastic way of saying that something is excellent or that you're very pleased with it.

Example: That's deadly altogether.

Donkey’s Years

Meaning: A very long time.

If you haven't seen someone in “donkey's years,” you haven't seen them for a very long time. The expression is informal and humorous, often used when old friends meet again after years apart. Why donkeys should have anything to do with measuring time is part of the charm.

E

Eejit

Meaning: An idiot; a foolish person.

A playful Irish pronunciation of idiot. While it can certainly be insulting, eejit is often used affectionately, particularly when someone has done something silly rather than genuinely foolish.

Example: You left your keys in the door again, you eejit.

F

Fair play to you

Meaning: Well done; good for you; I respect that.

Fair play to you is a wonderfully Irish way of expressing approval or admiration. It can be sincere, encouraging, or even a little teasing, depending on the tone. Someone might say it after hearing about something you've accomplished or a choice you've made.

Example: You walked all the way home in that rain? Fair play to you.

G

Gas

Meaning: Funny; amusing; entertaining.

If something is gas in Ireland, it's funny or entertaining. You might describe a person as gas if they're naturally amusing or a situation as gas if it made everyone laugh.

Example: He's great craic—he's absolutely gas.

Giving out

Meaning: Scolding; complaining; telling someone off.

To give out is to complain or scold, often at considerable length. An Irish parent might be particularly gifted at it. You can also say someone is giving out about something when they're complaining about it.

Example: Mam was giving out to me for leaving the door open.

Go on So

Meaning: Go ahead.

“Go on so” is a wonderfully flexible Irish expression. It can encourage someone to continue, accept an offer, or give someone permission to do something. Depending on the tone, it can sound welcoming, amused, reluctant, or even slightly sarcastic. Like many Irish expressions, the words alone don't tell the whole story.

Go on out of that

Meaning: Oh, stop; I don't believe you; you're having me on.

Usually playful rather than angry, this is a classic response to something surprising, flattering, or hard to believe. The tone does most of the work.

Example: “I won the whole thing!” — “Go on out of that!”

Gobshite

Meaning: A foolish, annoying, or outspoken person.

A wonderfully Irish insult, though often used affectionately among friends. A gobshite is someone who talks too much, says foolish things, or generally makes a bit of a nuisance of themselves.

Example: Don't mind him. He's only a gobshite.

Grand

Meaning: Fine; good; great; perfectly okay.

One of the most versatile words in Irish conversation. Grand can mean that something is good, that everything is okay, or simply that there is no problem. “How are you?” — “Grand.” “Will six o’clock suit?” — “Grand.” It doesn't necessarily mean magnificent; often it simply means that's perfectly fine.

Example: Sure, that's grand. I'll see you tomorrow.

H

Happy Out

Meaning: Very content.

Someone who is “happy out” is perfectly content with the way things are. It can describe anything from relaxing at home to enjoying a quiet pint, a good meal, or a day at the beach. There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about it: no great excitement is required when you are simply happy out.

Himself / Herself

Meaning: A particular man or woman, often someone important or well known in the context.

In Ireland, himself and herself can be used almost like names. Depending on the context, they might refer to a spouse, a boss, a parent, or simply the person everyone knows you're talking about.

Example: Herself is out shopping at the moment.

Himself Is Some Man

Meaning: He’s quite a character.

Calling someone “some man” can be a way of acknowledging that they are memorable, impressive, amusing, or simply larger than life. “Himself is some man” leaves plenty of room for interpretation, and that is part of the fun. Depending on the tone, it can be admiration, amusement, or a little bit of both.

Howya

Meaning: Hello; how are you?

Howya is a very common informal Irish greeting, essentially a shortened and blended “How are ya?” It doesn't necessarily invite a detailed account of your wellbeing—it can simply mean “Hello.”

Example: “Howya! Haven’t seen you in ages.”

I

I Will, Yeah

Meaning: Probably not.

“I will, yeah” is one of Ireland’s great examples of how tone can completely change the meaning of words. Depending on how it is said, it can be a genuine promise—or a humorous way of suggesting that something probably will not happen at all. The Irish talent for understatement and gentle sarcasm is alive and well in this little phrase.

I’m after…

Meaning: I have just…

A very Irish way of describing something that has just happened. Instead of saying “I just finished my dinner,” someone might say, “I’m after me dinner.” It comes from the Irish language and is one of those expressions that immediately gives a sentence an Irish character.

Example: I’m after making a cup of tea.

J

Jaysus

Meaning: An Irish pronunciation of “Jesus,” used as an expression of surprise, frustration, excitement, or disbelief.

Jaysus is heard throughout Ireland as an everyday exclamation. It can express almost anything from mild surprise to genuine shock, and its meaning is usually conveyed more by tone than by the word itself.

Example: Jaysus, that's some price for a cup of coffee.

N

Not a bother

Meaning: No problem; you're welcome; it's no trouble.

A very Irish way of putting someone at ease. It can be used when agreeing to help, accepting an apology, or responding to thanks.

Example: “Thanks for picking that up for me.” — “Ah, not a bother.”

Notions

Meaning: An overly high opinion of yourself; conceit.

If someone has “notions,” they think a bit too highly of themselves or are getting above their station. It can be serious or completely teasing.

Example: “He has notions about himself since he got that new job.”

S

Savage

Meaning: Excellent; brilliant; really good.

Another word that can mean something quite different in Irish conversation. When someone describes something as savage, they're often saying that it's particularly good or impressive.

Example: That was a savage match.

Soft day

Meaning: A mild, damp, drizzly day.

One of those wonderfully Irish descriptions of the weather. A soft day isn't necessarily miserable—just mild and wet, often with a gentle rain.

Example: “It's a soft day out there, but sure, it'll clear later.”

Sound

Meaning: Reliable; decent; trustworthy; good.

Calling someone sound is a genuine compliment in Ireland. A sound person is someone you can rely on, someone decent and good-hearted. It can also simply mean that something is good or acceptable.

Example: He's a sound lad. You can trust him.

Stop the Lights

Meaning: Hold on; wait a minute.

“Stop the lights!” is an Irish expression of surprise or disbelief. It is not actually an instruction to stop traffic. Instead, it is a colorful way of saying, “Hang on a second—what did you just say?” It often appears when someone has heard something unexpected or hard to believe.

Sure look

Meaning: Well, there you have it; what can you do?

One of those wonderfully flexible Irish expressions that can mean almost anything depending on how it is said. It might express resignation, acceptance, amusement, or simply signal that there isn't much more to say.

Example: Sure look, we’ll give it another try tomorrow.

Sure, Why Not?

Meaning: Of course.

“Sure, why not?” is often used in Ireland as an easygoing way of agreeing to something. It can mean genuine enthusiasm, casual acceptance, or simply a willingness to go along with the plan. There is usually a sense of not making too much fuss about things: if there's no good reason not to, then why not?

Sure, look

Meaning: Well, you see; anyway; that's just how it is.

One of the great Irish conversational phrases. “Sure, look” can introduce an explanation, soften a disagreement, or simply signal that there's no point worrying about something.

Example: “We missed the bus.” — “Sure, look, there'll be another one along.”

T

The Height of It

Meaning: Extremely annoying.

When something is “the height of it,” it has gone beyond what someone considers reasonable or acceptable. The phrase is often used when a person has been particularly cheeky, unfair, or troublesome. “And after all I did for him—the height of it!” carries both frustration and a sense of disbelief.

The Messages

Meaning: The groceries.

In Ireland, “the messages” traditionally refers to the groceries brought home from the shop. The expression can sound puzzling to visitors—after all, nobody is carrying home a collection of written messages. But “getting the messages” is an old and familiar part of Irish speech, particularly when talking about the everyday business of buying food and household supplies.

The jacks

Meaning: The bathroom / restroom

A familiar Irish expression for the toilet or bathroom. Its origins are generally associated with “Jack” being used as a generic name for an ordinary person or servant, though the exact history is uncertain.

Example: Where’s the jacks?

W

What's the craic?

Meaning: What's happening? What's going on? How are things?

A common Irish greeting and one of the most recognizable uses of craic. It isn't really asking about trouble or mischief; it's simply a way of asking what is happening or how things are going.

Example: What's the craic? Anything happening tonight?

What's the story?

Meaning: What's happening? How are things?

Don't expect a bedtime tale. What's the story? is a casual Irish greeting, roughly equivalent to “What's going on?” or “How are you?” It's often followed by a quick catch-up rather than an actual story.

Example: Ah, John! What's the story?

Would You Ever Stop?

Meaning: Stop what you’re doing.

This phrase is often used when someone is teasing, annoying, or simply carrying on a bit too much. Despite its literal wording, it does not necessarily sound harsh. Among family and friends, “Would you ever stop?” can be accompanied by a smile or laugh and become part of the banter rather than a serious reprimand.

Y

Yerra

Meaning: An expression of dismissal.

“Yerra” is a wonderfully flexible Irish expression. It can convey disbelief, impatience, surprise, or a gentle dismissal of something someone has just said. “Yerra, go on out of that” might be playful rather than genuinely annoyed. Its meaning often lives more in the tone than in the word itself.

Yoke

Meaning: A thing or object whose name you don't know or don't need to mention.

Yoke is the great Irish catch-all noun. If you can't remember what something is called, or the name simply doesn't matter, it's a yoke. It can refer to almost anything.

Example: Hand me that yoke there beside you.

Your man / Your one

Meaning: That man / that woman; a particular person.

Your man and your one are wonderfully Irish ways of referring to someone without actually using their name. Depending on the context, everyone listening may know exactly who is meant.

Example: Your man in the shop said he'd have it ready tomorrow.

Your only man

Meaning: The right person for the job; the person to go to.

Calling someone your only man is a way of saying they're exactly the person you need. It doesn't necessarily mean they're the only person who can help—just that they're the one who can be relied upon.

Example: If you need the car fixed, Mick's your only man.
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