Everyday English and Slang in Ireland

[Señor Sunday Friday]

P

Package of crips (n): a packet of potato crisps
Pain in the hole (n): Pain in the ass
Paralytic (a): very drunk
Pave (v): to rob something
Pavey/ Pikey (n): gypsy (they were specifically travelling sellers of fabric)
Pedal and crank (n): wank
Peeler (n): policeman
Pelt (n): skin
Pelting (v): throwing objects or pelting with rain
Perishing (a): ...are very cold
Petrified (a): drunk
Pictures (n): movies
Piece of piss (phr): so easy; it was a 'piece of piss'
Pile o'shite (n): terrible - something was so bad it was...
Pint of plain (n): a pint of Guinness
Piped telly (n): Cable television
Piss (v): urinate
Piss in the Beds (n): dandelions
Pissed off (a): angry
Pisser (n): going out for a night of big drinking.
Pisshead (n): someone who's always drunk
Piss up (n): getting drunk. Let's all go on a big piss up
Plankin' it (phr): very nervous
Plastered (a): drunk
Plastic Paddy (n): someone of Irish descent who has all the accoutrements of Irishness - ends up being a cliché
Plonker (n): idiot
Pogue (n): kiss
Pogue Mahone (phr): kiss my arse
Polluted (a): drunk
Poof (n): homosexual
Poppies (n): potatoes
Porter, a rake of (n): a lot of stout
Posser (n): when you get a wet foot from walking in a puddle of water
Poteen (n): illegal spirits
Powerful (a): great, excellent, grand
Praities (n): potatoes
Pram (n): go-car, baby's pushchair
Press (n): cupboard
Pruning (v): when you get your testicles grabbed and squeezed hard usually by a few guys holding you down or sometimes suddenly by one bully!
Provo (n): a member or supporter of the (Provisional) IRA
Puck (n): punch
Puke (n): get sick, vomit
Pull (v): Vague verb popular in Belfast that means, generally, to have some manner of success with a woman. "I pulled last night" or 'do you think he'll pull?' can refer to anything from a snog to the beast with two backs.
Pulling me plum (v): doing absolutely nothing
Pullin' me wire (v): having a wank
Pull your socks up (phr): get to work/get busy
Put a gap in the bush (phr): close the door
Put the heart crossways in someone (phr): you'll give me a heart attack i.e. "Jasus, don't do that. You'll put the heart crossways in me"
Putting it on the long finger (phr): putting it off, procrastinating
Puss (n): face, usually sulky

[Señor Sunday Friday]

Q

Quare (n): contrary to popular belief this does not mean queer or strange but great! - it's irish irony
Quare hawk (n): odd fella
Quern (a): used only in wexford it means "very" i.e. "I'm quern tired."
Queue up (v): to queue
Qweer bit of skirt / talent (n): a really attractive woman / man.
Quid (n): pound(s); 50 quid=50 pounds

[Señor Sunday Friday]

R

Rabbit on (v): talk a lot
Rag order (n): disorganised
Rake (n): a great amount of anything Rapid (a): amazing
Rashers (n): pieces of bacon; female genetalia
Rat (n): squealer; some one who tells on you.
Re-calibration (n): any amount of time spent with the AA - (Alcoholic's Anonymous)
Reddener (n): blush
Red neck (n): anyone who isn't from Dublin [ came from the parents hitting their children on the back of the neck, saying 'Get up to Dublin and get a job' ]
Redser (n): somebody with red or ginger hair
Reef (v): beat (a person) up
Ride: (n) an attractive person (v) to have sex
Ri-Ra (n): fun and excitement
Riverdance (n): The act of commiting suicide in the Shannon. "so and so did The Riverdance"
Rock 'n' roll (n): having sex, 'did you get your rock 'n' roll' (get yer hole)
Ronnie (n): moustache - after movie star, Ronald Coleman
Root (v): search
Rosie Lee (n): tea
Rossie (n): brat
Row (rhymes with cow) (n): fight
Rub-a-dub-dub (n): the pub
Rubber (n): pencil eraser
Rubber as in "I was rubber last night" (phr): my legs were made of rubber I had so much to drink
Rubber Dollies (n): running shoes
Rubber Johnny (n): condom
Ructions (n): Loud arguing or commotion - 'There were great ructions at our house last night'
Runners (n): trainers, everyday sports shoes
the Runs (a): another term for the scutters
Rushers/wellies (n): wellington boots

[Señor Sunday Friday]

S

Sally (n): head; comes from Sallynoggin(Dublin suburb) you take out the noggin part which is head.
Sambos (n): sandwiches
Sap (n): wimp
Savage (a): very severe or excellent
Scab (n&v): one who scabs (constantly borrows or tries to get freebies); scabby, stingy
Scab (n): ugly woman/man
Scaldy (n): scabby, stingy
Scallion (n): spring onion
Scalped (v): to get a short haircut
Scanger (n): stupid female
Scarlet (a): blushing
Scatter (v): run away from something
Scon (n): amorous encounter (Kilkenny Origin)
Score (n): twenty; Four score=80; lend us a score=20 pounds
Score (v): as in to succeed in getting a one night stand
Scram! : go away!
Scran (n): food
Scrap (n): fight
the Scratch (a): dole, social security
Scratcher (n): bed
Scrawbed (n): scratched by fingernails - usually in a fight
Screwed (v): fecked, in trouble
Scrubber (n): female of low morals
Scuttered (n): drunk
Scundered/scunderated (v): embarrassed
Scutters/Squitters (n): diarrhoea
Scutting (v): catching a ride by hanging from the back of a moving truck and then jumping off
Session (n): Drinking all day long, typically starting before noon
Shades (n): police
Shag, to (v): have sex
Shagged (a): tired
Shaggin' (a): general adjective used like Feckin'
Sham (n): used by a man from a rural area when addressing one from the city e.g. How's it goin', sham?
Shaper (n): young guy who takes up a lot of space when he struts around.
Shattered (a): exhausted
Shenanagans (n): carry-on/horse-play
Shift (n): kiss
Shiner (n): black eye
Shite hawk (n): general term of abuse
Shitter (n): toilet
Shittin' bricks (phr): very nervous
Shlossed (a): very drunk
Shook (a): looks very unwell e.g. "he looked shook"
Shore (n): outside ( your kitchen door) drain !
Shorts (n): liquor drinks (spirits) - shots or mixed drinks
Shower of savages (n): a crowd, out to have a raucous time but being a bit of a nuisance!
Shrapnel (n): loose change
Silko (n): similar to gouger except less offensive
Single (n): packet of chips (french fries)
Six o' one, half a dozen o' the other (phr): exactly the same
Skawly (a): horrible, not good
Sketch (n): usually a girl who looks a state
Skin (n): friend
Skinny (n): lowdown, gossip e.g. gis the skinny on me ol' mate
Skins (n): the papers used to roll a joint or a cigarette
Skiver (n): someone who avoids work
Sky diver (n): a fiver(5 pounds)
Slag (n): same as scrubber
Slagging (v): having someone on, making fun of them
Sláinte = Cheers (literally Health!)
Slapper (n): scrubber or a slut
Slash (n&v): "to take a slash"= to piss, to urinate
Sleeveen, Slinkeen (n): a sly type, pinch the eyes out of your head
Slinjing (v): dragging your heels
Slug (n): mouthful of a drink - gis a slug
Snapper (n): child
Snaps (n): photographs
Snared rapid (v): caught doing something one shouldn't have been doing
Sneachta (n): cocaine (snow)
Snitch, Squealer, Squaler (n): informant
Snobby Weather!! (phr): "are you choosing to ignore me?" (usually meant in humour)
Snog, Shift (v): make out with or get off with (someone)
Snot (n): nasal discharge
Snot rag (n): handkerchief
Snug (n): pub booth
Soft as shite (n): soft in the head
Soft auld day, it's a (phr): usually said by old people when referring to a typically Irish day, i.e. a soft rain falling
Soother (n): pacifier, dummy
Sore Finger (n): Salt and vinegar (in Chinese take-away accent)
Sound (a): really good
Spa (n): someone who hasn't got good co-ordination
Specky Four-Eyes (a): anyone who wears glasses (kid's nickname)
Speedy (n): police motorbike
Sprog (n): kid
Spud (n): typical nickname for someone with the surname Murphy
Spuds (n): potatoes
Squealer (n): baby; someone who tells on you
Squid (n): same as quid
Squizz (n): a look-see
Stabber (n): the last 1/4 of a cigarette - "leave us a stabber"
Stalk (n) penis
Stay easy (v): relax
Steamed, Steamboats (v): very drunk - "we're getting steamed (steamboats) tonight"
Steever (n): a kick in the backside
Stinky/Stinkies (n): shit
Stop the lights! : jayzuz, really?!
Stocious (a): drunk as a lord
Strand (n): beach
Strides (n): trousers
Streal (n): looking down and out; Like a streal
Stung (a): embarrassed after getting caught doing something ye shouldn't
Suckin' diesel (v): having a good time
Swimming trunks (n): mens' bathing suit
Swiss (a): Arse (swiss roll - hole) as in 'Up your swiss'

[Señor Sunday Friday]

T

Tackies (n): runners/trainers
Taig (n): catholic
Tan (n): an English person
Tenner (n): 10 pound note
That's Right (phr): to agree with someone
Thick (n)/(a): idiot/stupid
Thick as a ditch (phr): really stupid person
Thick as a brick (phr): stupid
Thick as a (short) plank (phr): stupid
3m (n): a young male who`s only care`s are his ma, his moth and his moustache
Throwing Shapes (v): what a shaper does...see above.
Thunder & Lightning (n): knock like thunder, run like lightning: knocking at a door and running away. Also Knick-knacking
Tiddler: reference to small fish or child
Tinker (n): gypsy/travelling person/insulting term for a low-class female
Tip (n): Garbage dump/dirty, messy place - 'That pub is an awful tip'
Toe-rag (n): a useless bollix
Togs (n): swimming trunks
Tonne/ton (n): one hundred; doing a ton = driving at 100 mph or to owe someone a ton=to owe 100 pounds
Tool (n): idiot, penis
Tosser(n): wanker
Toucher (n): someone who is always looking for a handout
Touched (n): a strange individual
Touchin' cloth (phr) : dying for a crap
Traipse (v): walk aimlessly
Trap (n): mouth
Trick-acting (v): horse-play, messing about, showing off
Tripe (n): bullshit; [in an American context] menudo served on Saturdays at your local Mexican Restaurant in AZ.
the Trots (n): a.k.a. the scutters
Turf Accountant (n): a.k.a. bookie / betting shop for horse or greyhound racing
Twisted (a): very drunk
Twistin' hay (v): means you're starting trouble, usually in a playful way
Two-bulb (n): squad car
Tyre biter (n): related to Bowler [ugly females, i.e. dogs chasing cars]

[Señor Sunday Friday]

U

Undy-grundy (n): wedgie
Up 'a duff : pregnant
Up the flue / In the family way (n): pregnant
Up the pole : pregnant
Up the yard! : be off with ya!
Up to ninety : (as in so 'n' so is ...) near boiling point, ready to explode

[Señor Sunday Friday]

V

Vexed (v): upset
Vixen (n): cute woman

[Señor Sunday Friday]

W

Wafer (n): ice cream sandwiched between two flat wafers
Wagon (n): ugly female
Wall-falling (a): knackered, exhausted
Walrus (n): fifty pounds in money
Wanker (n): an uninteresting person, usually someone you can't stand
Want in him, there's a (phr): he's a bit slow
Warped (a): very drunk
Warped, F%$ked up, Twisted (a): strange
Weapon (n): it's great i.e. it's a weapon. i.e.
Wear (v) & (n): a very deep heavy kiss, with full tongue action - stuck into somebody so much it's like you're wearing them. Common phrase, 'to wear the head off somebody' is to give them an extremely long and hard 'wear' Common in Dublin. In danger of being replaced by the English 'To Snog'
Wee Folk (n): Leprechauns of course
West Brit (n): excessively anglophile
Wet the tea (v): make tea (comes from the practice of wetting the leaves in the bottom of the pot)
Whaya looking at? (phr): usually said by a gang member and sometimes a precusor to getting a clatter - there is no right answer!
Whiff or Whack (n): a smell
Whist (v): keep quiet
Why don' cha? (phr): ironic comment meaning "you better not!"
Wick (a): crap
There'll be wigs on the green (phr): there'll be a big ruckus or fight; also, there'll be hell to pay
Wire (n): mickey, penis
Wise Up, Kop On (phr): use your head, wake up!
Wojus (a): poor or bad; "That tea is wojus."
Wrecked (adj): tired

[Señor Sunday Friday]

X

a gaelic filler until you send something in!
Tripe (n): ruipleog

[Señor Sunday Friday]

Y

Y-Fronts (n): Men's briefs
Yockers (n): Balls
Yoke (n): a thing (pass me that yoke) or (ya feckin yoke)
Yonks (n): a long time
Youngfella (n): generic term for a youth (male)
Youngwan (n): generic term for a youth (female)
You couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo (phr): bad aim, woeful hurler/darts player/soccer player etc.
Your head's a marley (phr): Belfast phrase for "You don't know what you're talking about" ( marley= marble)
Your head's up your arse (phr): "You don't know what you're talking about"
Your hole (a): having sex, as in ' did you get your hole last night?'
Yoyo (n): euro

[Señor Sunday Friday]

Z

Z (n): when you need to get some sleep you need to get some zeds.
a final gaelic filler
Zero (n): faic (fwack)