Special Report
Irish Slang and Phrases Americans Just Don't Understand
March 13, 2023 1:00 pm
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What’s the story?
> Meaning: How is it going?
While we may say “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” in the U.S., the Irish equivalent is “What’s the story?”
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I’m after…
> Meaning: I have just…
If someone in Ireland says, “I’m after eating breakfast,” they mean that they have just eaten breakfast.
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I will in my hole
> Meaning: I will absolutely not
As the word hole is an expletive for anus in Ireland, the phrase “I will in my hole,” is a snarky way of saying that you refuse to do something.
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Donkey’s years
> Meaning: A long time
If someone says they haven’t seen their sister in donkey’s years, they mean they haven’t seen her ages.
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The black stuff
> Meaning: Guinness
Ask a bartender for a pint of the black stuff, and you’ll get a frothy mug of Guinness stout.
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