School: St Davaddog's, Tamney

Location:
Tawny, Co. Donegal
Teacher:
-
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1090, Page 505

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1090, Page 505

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  1. XML School: St Davaddog's, Tamney
  2. XML Page 505
  3. XML “Phrases Translated from the Irish or due to Other Sources”

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  1. 505
    Phrases translated from the Irish or due to other sources
    "It's no work to be at" - any action of a wrong or harmful nature
    "It be to be" - It must have been
    "As full as a nine-wheel car" or "nine wheel cars" - (origin obscure), - reference to a man intoxicated
    "As wee as the beetle" - beetle - a wooden pestle for mashing booked vegetables - reference to an undersized person
    "as busy as a nailor" - nailmaker
    "as slean as a leek"
    "as white as a bone" - ref to washed white cloths
    "as yellow as a geelgowan" - ref. to complexion
    "as long as the day and the morrow" - any protracted period
    "short in the pook" - easily irritated
    "as soft as brochan" - unpleasantly soft substance
    "as thin as a rake" - ref. emaciated person
    " fight with his own shadow" - quarrelsome
    "as thrawn as the deil/ as a mule" - cantankerous
    "as crooked as a dog's hind leg" ref. to objects inanimate
    "as straight as a rush" - ref. to objects inanimate
    "as level as a book leaf" -
    "as thick as poundies" - poundies = mashed potates mixed with milk - ref. to a boorish person
    "as dark as pitch" - ref. to a dark night
    "as wet as dung"
    "a gathered appearance" = a crouched appearance from illness
    "a lunk day" - calm and sultry, oppressive
    "a mizzle of rain" - fine shower resembling mist
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Language
    English