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Irish English

Irish-English terms



Irish aphorisms

A few expressions I heard when I was living in the country


"Don't work too hard"

And other expressions on the subject...

• "May as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb."

• "He'd talk the hind legs off a donkey."

"A change is as good as a rest."

• "Yeah but sure... (what do you do?)" — an Irish way of genial resignation...

• "We're here for a good time, not a long time."

• "Up here for thinkin', down there for dancin'."
— Used in self-congratulation for a good "cop-on."

• "It's nice to be nice."

• "The best pint is the one you didn't plan."

• "You'd think butter wouldn't melt in his mouth." (Said of someone who acts like an innocent.)


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