Irish Expressions

An Irish expression is a bit of everyday chat that says a lot more than its words. The ones you'll hear most are what's the craic (hello, what's the news), fair play (well done), no bother (no problem) and stall the ball (hang on a minute). Use any of them and you'll fit right in.

Irish expressions come in handy for every part of a conversation. Saying hello? Try how's she cuttin'? in Monaghan and Cavan, or s'craic? in Cork. When someone tells you something you don't believe, it's go away outta that or ah go 'way out o' that, and when you really don't believe it, aye right hi. If you've no intention of doing something, I will, alright means you won't, and not a fear a it means no chance.

There's an expression for good news too. When things start going your way, you're suckin diesel, and in Kildare it's all lovely hurlin. If someone pulls off something great, Limerick says aboy the kid. And when someone is being nosey, there's no better answer than the Gardaí wouldn't ask me that.

None of these are put on for the tourists. They're the Irish terms and phrases people actually use, sent in to slang.ie from all 32 counties, and you'll hear most of them before you've finished your first cup of tea. Tone does a lot of the work, so the same few words can be a compliment or a slagging depending on how they're said.

Here are 30 of the most popular Irish expressions on slang.ie, most popular first. Each one has what it means and a real example of how it's said, with a Posh English version on its own page. For the longer and funnier Irish colloquial sayings, see our funny Irish sayings, and for more everyday chat see Irish slang phrases and Irish lingo.

Updated

  • Acting the maggotLimerick +7

    To behave in a foolish or irritating manner, to the annoyance of others.

    Stop acting the maggot you gowl.

  • Yer wanLeitrim +11

    A casual reference to an unnamed girl or woman, the feminine counterpart to 'yer man'.

    And then yer one said...

  • How's she cuttin'?Monaghan +22

    A common greeting, equivalent to hello or how are you.

    How's she cuttin'?

  • Suckin diesel!Meath +12

    An exclamation used to signify success or that things are going well.

    Now ur Suckin diesel!

  • Cat malogenLongford +16

    Outrageous, terrible or very bad. Also spelt catmalogen, cat malojin or cat mologen.

    The weather is terrible bad, it's cat malogen.

  • The Gardaí wouldn't ask me thatWexford +1

    A retort to someone being excessively nosey.

    The Gardaí wouldn't ask me that

  • Hang sangwichWaterford +9

    A ham sandwich.

    No blaas? Alright, gis a hang sangwich instead boy.

  • S'craic?!Cork +10

    A contraction of 'what is the craic', serving as a casual inquiry into current events or a person's well-being.

    S'craic biy, what's been happenin' with you since I saw you last?

  • No botherLouth +6

    That is fine, no problem at all.

    Will you pick up a few cans? Yeah, no bother.

  • Are you startin?Sligo +2

    A challenge implying the other party is seeking a fight.

    Are you startin with me yeh wee runt?

  • As rare as rocking horse shitTipperary +1

    Extremely rare, something that is all but impossible to encounter.

    A good Westlife song, that's as rare as rocking horse shit.

  • In the horrorsWaterford +3

    Extremely drunk.

    I was in de horrors last night boy. I ended up puukin me guts up in some owl wan's wheelie bin on de way home boy.

  • Head on ye like a half chewed chipAntrim

    A phrase suggesting that someone is ugly.

    Hi, you have a head on ye like a half chewed chip!

  • D'ya know what I mean like?Limerick

    Do you understand what I am saying?

    Limerick are gonna win the All-Ireland this year no bother to them, d'ya know what I mean like?

  • Stall the diggerLaois +5

    Slow down, hold your horses, or an expression of astonishment.

    Woooww, stall the digger.

  • If you had 2 brains you'd be twice as stupidCork

    A withering putdown directed at someone possessing a profound lack of intelligence.

    Look at ye tryin to fix dat shelf, if you had 2 brains you'd be twice as stupid!

  • Go away outta that!Dublin +3

    An expression telling someone to go away and stop annoying one.

    Go away outta that your only a feckin eejit!

  • Chrisht ur makin an awful racketSligo

    To be creating a considerable amount of noise.

    (Someone starts clattering pots) Chrisht ur making an awful racket

  • Awh hereWexford +1

    An exclamation of utter exasperation, disbelief, or fed up annoyance.

    Awh here, will ye cop on with the racket before I lose me reason entirely!

  • Ah go 'way out o' thatRoscommon

    Ah stop, you're not serious. An expression of shock or disbelief at what someone has just said.

    Now I want three pages done for homework. Ah go 'way out o' that!

  • Stall the ballOffaly +6

    An appeal to halt proceedings, wait a minute, or calm down.

    Ah stall the ball will ya, I haven't even laced me runners yet!

  • Aboy the kidLimerick +2

    Well done; congratulations on an achievement.

    Aboy the Anto kid!

  • Mere I wantchaLimerick

    Come here, I want a word with you.

    Mere I wantcha bud, d'you hear what happened Jen-fer?

  • Shwear down!Waterford

    An emphatic oath used to swear that one is telling the absolute truth.

    I shwear down I never touched your bicycle, it was like that when I found it!

  • Yer some boyCavan +1

    An affectionate yet exasperated term for a notorious scoundrel or fool.

    Ah, yer some boy to lose the car keys in the middle of a bog!

  • Sick as a plane to lourdesCork +2

    Extremely hungover.

    I'm as sick as a plane to lourdes

  • Ah willya lie down willyaTipperary

    An exasperated plea for someone to stop pestering and go away.

    Ah willya lie down willya, or I'll turnya inside out wid a kik.

  • A face like a well slapped arse!Kerry +5

    Having an extremely sour, downturned, and unattractive facial expression.

    She has a face like a well slapped arse whenever anyone talks to her before noon.

  • Up back of leapCork

    In a remote or isolated location, in the back of beyond.

    Were is that place? Up back of leap.

  • What are u gawking at?Limerick

    What are you staring at?

    Hoy you with the hair, what are you gawkin at?

Questions people ask

What's the most common Irish expression?

What's the craic is probably the one you'll hear most. It means hello, how are you and what's the news, all in one.

What does fair play mean?

Fair play means well done. Fair play to you is high praise in Ireland.

What does stall the ball mean?

Stall the ball means hang on a minute, or calm down.

Irish slang by county

Ulster

Munster

Leinster

Connacht

Bash on!

Pick yer county