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17 words that have a completely different meaning if you grew up in Ireland

“The bang off that yoke”.

1. Stall

Car Engine Source: taylor.a

What it usually means: A pesky problem with a car engine.

What it means in Ireland: To go somewhere.

“Stall it down for a pint later”.

2. Crips

FILM GANG DOCUMENTARIES Source: Associated Press

What is usually means: A US street gang with a famed rivalry with the Bloods.

What it means in Ireland: A delicious potato snack.

“A package of crips”.

3. Spanner

Spanners Source: Aardvark Ethel

What it usually means: A tool for use with nuts and bolts.

What it means in Ireland: A human tool. An idiot.

“State of your man. He’s some spanner”.

4. Dose

Medicines Source: onopko

What it usually means: A quantity of medicine.

What it means in Ireland: A person who’s a pain.

“I’m avoiding Linda. She’s some dose”.

5. Puss

cat Source: MowT

What it usually means: An affectionate term for a cat

What it means in Ireland: Face. Specifically a displeased face.

“Get that puss off you before I leather you”.

6. Leather

Leather Source: spjwebster

What it usually means: A product made from cow skin.

What it means in Ireland: A beating.

“I’ll leather him with a hurl if he looks at me sideways”.

7. Hurl

Mr Sun Source: jmcarthy99

What it usually means: To throw something forcefully.

What it means in Ireland: A abbreviation of ‘hurley’, the stick used to play the sport of hurling.

“Ah F**K IT. I forgot my hurl for training tonight!”.

8. Hole

Hole Source: Renata Rolim

What it usually means: Er, a hole.

What it means in Ireland: A hole in, your, er, body. A lower down hole.

“Ask me hole”, “Did you get your hole” etc.

9. Pox

Chicken Pox Source: Marufish

What it usually means: A disease characterised by pockmarks.

What it means in Ireland: A pain of a person.

“Ah don’t invite him, he’s a pox”

10. Mickey

Mickey Mouse on the Disney Fantasy Source: insidethemagic

What it usually means: A man’s name. A beloved cartoon mouse.

What it means in Ireland: A penis.

“He did the splits and I saw his mickey”

11. Lad

lads Source: Hc_07

What it usually means: A young man or boy.

What it means in Ireland: A penis.

“He did a volley and I saw his lad”.

12. Yoke

Yoked Source: bcmom

What it usually means: A wooden beam used between oxen or other animals, to help them pull heavy loads.

What it means in Ireland: A thing. Or an ecstasy tablet.

“Move them yokes till I share out these yokes”

13. Sketch

Sketches Source: Hugh Dutton Associés

What it usually means: A rough drawing, or short performance.

What it means in Ireland: To keep look out.

“Keep sketch will yeh? I’m opening the Christmas biscuits”.

14. Bang

bang. Source: bschmove

What it usually means: A loud noise.

What it means in Ireland: A smell. Usually an unpleasant smell.

“The bang of onions off your one on the bus”.

15. Massive

Massive Source: tobiashieta

 

What it usually means: Huge.

What it means in Ireland: Brilliant,  or looking well.

“Ah are you going out? You look massive”.

16. Hoop

Hoops Source: Kim Marius Flakstad

What it usually means: A circular shape.

What it means in Ireland: Same thing as your ‘hole’.

“I’ve a pain in me hoop”.

17. Bulb

Bulb Source: anandknld

What it usually means: A light source.

What it means in Ireland: A person’s head/face/likeness.

“Sure she’s the bulb off her ma”.

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About the author:

Emer McLysaght

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