Ireland

Irish-English glossary

The work files



The Irish on the Irish work ethic


We cleaned a few windows at an old hospital - very few...

• "Don't work too hard" - a common Irish parting phrase.

• "We work to live; we don't live to work."

• "He wouldn't work to warm himself."

• "If work was in the bed, he'd sleep on the floor."

• "Work is the curse of the drinking classes." — Oscar Wilde

• "Didn't do a tap." — Attended the job, but didn't do much work.

• "Didn't do a stroke." — The same as "didn't do a tap."

• "Are you working?" — Asked in casual street conversation. Does not imply "what do you do."

• "Pressure is for tires."