ONE OF THE hallmarks of the Irish psyche is a tendency to understate just about everything. Sure why would we be wanting to make a fuss?
1.
What we say: “He’s a bit tired.”
What we mean: “He was extremely drunk last night and is now extremely hungover this morning. But I don’t like to rat on him.”
2.
What we say: “Oh but she’s harmless, really.”
What we mean: “Well, she’s odd. Quite odd. But we don’t want to be rude.”
3.
What we said: The Emergency.
What we meant: Literally World War II. Nazis. Hitler. All of that.
4.
What we say: “Grand soft day, so it is.”
What we mean: “It’s not raining, but I’m soaked through. There’s just a general dampness. I actually hate this.”
5.
What we say: ”She suffered with her nerves.”
What we mean: ”She’s dealing with anxiety/depression.”
6.
What we say: “Oof, there’s a bit of heat in that sun.”
What we mean: “I’m sweating like a pig and about to burn to a crisp.”
7.
What we say: “He had some kind of a turn.”
What we mean: A serious medical issue.
8.
What we say: The Troubles.
What we mean: Three decades of violence between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland.
9.
What we say: “God loves a trier.”
What we mean: “Well you made a complete and utter balls of that, didn’t you.”
10.
What we say: “That’s grand now.”
What we mean: “This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.” OR “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
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