Look at any list of literary greats and you’ll see a large number of Irish writers.
The degree to which we’ve acquired such command of a language imposed on us is impressive. And not just in writing - in our day-to-day way of speaking, too.
As Oscar Wilde once profoundly put it: “The Saxon took our lands from us and left them desolate. We took their language and added new beauties to it.”
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Dublin rhyming slang is certainly an example of such beauty. Between clever cultural references and their often rhythmic delivery, it’s incredible how such colloquialisms make the most ordinary thing sound poetic.
While a lot would argue that the practice - and some of the phrases themselves - is taken from our next-door neighbours, it might actually be the opposite. Some linguists have suggested that Cockney rhyming slang was brought about by Irish immigrants working on docks or railways in 19th Century London.
Regardless of which ones are unique to us and which ones overlap with Cockney rhyming slang, the following phrases will likely be familiar to anyone who grew up in working class Dublin. Have a read and see if you remember hearing any of these at home, from a pal or in the pub over the years.
Skin and blister - sister
“Tell your skin and blister the dinner’s ready.”
One and other - brother
“Me one and other’s gettin’ married next week.”
Brenda Frickers - knickers (after the Irish actress)
“That wind is somethin’ else, me Brenda Frickers are clingin’ onto the line for dear life!”
Padraig Pearse - fierce (after the Irish revolutionary)
“Jaysus, the smell in the jacks is Padraig Pearse!”
Jo Maxi - taxi
“Are yiz righ’? The Jo Maxi’s outside.”
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Jeyes Fluid - nude (after the cleaning brand)
“The window cleaner nearly caught me in me Jeyes Fluid.”
Jackanory - story
“What’s the Jackanory with Saturday, are we still headin’ out?”
Packie Bonner - goner (after the Irish goalkeeper)
“If me ma finds out, I’ll be a Packie Bonner!”
Tin roofer - spoofer
“Don’t mind him, he’s a bleedin’ tin roofer.”
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Brown bread - dead
“Bobby’s back on Dallas? I thought he was brown bread?”
Jack Palancin' - dancin’ (after the American actor)
“We went out for a few scoops and a bitta Jack Palancin’.”
Jack and Jill - contraceptive pill
“She’s up the duff? Was she not on the aul’ Jack and Jill?”
Daniel Day - Luas (actor Daniel Day-Lewis’s name rhymes with that of the Dublin tram system)
“I better head before I miss the Daniel Day.”
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Tennis racket - jacket
“Here, pass us me tennis racket, just in case.”
Ball of snot - mot (girlfriend)
“I’m meetin’ me ball of snot after work.”
Rhythm ‘n blues/Ones and twos - shoes
“Throw on your ones and twos and give us a hand, will ye?”
On me tobler (shortened from ‘on me Toblerone’) - on my own
“She went off and left me standin’ there on me tobler like an eejit.”
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Seamus Heaney - bikini (after the Irish writer)
“Didje remember to pack your Seamus Heaney?”
Lee Marvin/Hank Marvin - starvin’ (after the Hollywood actor and the English musician)
“Ah lads, where’s our food? I’m Hank bleedin’ Marvin.”
Trouble and strife - wife
“I can’t stay for another one, I’ve to go home to me trouble and strife.”
Harry and Dick - sick
“He’s not workin’ at the minute, he’s been on the Harry and Dick since he broke his leg.”
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Cream-crackered - knackered (exhausted)
“I can’t wait ‘til the day is done, I’m absolutely cream-crackered.”
Jam jar - car
“I wanna bring me jam jar for a wash before the NCT tomorrow.”
Ruby Murray - curry (after the Belfast-born singer)
“Have youse tried the new Chinese? Their Ruby Murray is unreal.”
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Not the Mae West - not the best
“She’s not feelin’ the Mae West so I’m keepin’ her home from school.”
Boat race/Brendan Grace - face (the latter after the Irish comedian)
“C’mere and I clean your Brendan Grace, you’ve sauce everywhere.”
Tim Tiddle - piddle
“Will ye hurry up, I’m burstin’ for a Tim Tiddle!”
Tea leaf - thief
“That young fella’s a tea leaf, he’s always gettin’ caught shopliftin’.”
Tin of fruit - suit
“Me tin of fruit has a hole in it, I’ll have to ask me ma to do a job on it.”
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Paddy Power - shower (after the bookies)
“Do us a favour and throw on the hot water for me Paddy Power.”
Johnny Giles - piles (after the Irish footballer)
“I’ve to head to the doctor, I’ve a bad case of the Johnny Giles.”
Adam and Eve it - believe it
“I don’t Adam and Eve it, yer man’s after bein’ sacked!”
Are we missing any other clean ones? Let us know in the comments below.
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