Welcome to our four-part guide to Dublin slang. Part 3 this week – you will be blending in with the locals soon enough.

We have provided a decent translation of the sayings, but were these sayings originated from is too hard to tell in most cases, but as Ireland has had invaders from Scandinavia, France, England and beyond and has had over 7 languages spoke in medieval Dublin it is no surprise that a few odd expressions have crept into our speech. A small mention must go to our literary greats like Joyce, Wilde and Swift who loved playing around with the English language and bending the words to their will.

 

Here are your 4 expressions to get you blending in when you arrive in our fair city of Dublin.

  • He / She’s like a bag of cats He / She’s in very bad humour
  • Yoke-eh-me-bob – A name that can be given to any object
  • What’s the read? – Do you have any up to the minute news. 
  • De head on ye – A person who is looking a little rough in their appearance

 

Here is a video made in 2013 by Jenny Keogh highlighting some of the phrases above