How to Practice Irish Phrases

The Irish don't actually doff their green hats and call out, "Top of the mornin' to ye!" But they don't speak like Americans either. Brogue or no, their colorful speech and expression can speak volumes. For St. Patrick's Day, or any day, here are lovely statements mainly about the weather that you can practice to pretend you are Irish. Of course they reflect the typical Irish weather. Also be aware that these sayings are Irish English, not Gaelic.

Instructions

1. Discuss the weather using the handy "'Tis a fine day". Thus you communicate that today is a nice, possibly even sunshiny, day. It can also mean it's just not raining as much as it usually does. After all, it's not California; weather optimism is relative.

2. Utter "''Tis a soft day" as you pass your neighbor. This all-purpose pleasantry signifies that it's drizzling, or that there's a medium or tolerable amount of rain. Regardless, it's a positive remark and fairly poetic.

3. Reflect aloud, "'Tis a dirty ol' day." This is not grumbled or muttered, but actually stated in a matter-of-fact way. This expression means that the skies are grey or cloudy and a storm may be brewing. It may also indicate that it is already, in fact, highly rainy, windy or stormy. The Irish are famous for their understatement.

4. When gale force (extremely high) winds arrive, casually shout a resounding, "There'll be good drying today." Talk about understatement. This meditation marks the epitome of optimism (the glass is definitely half full). Clearly, the saying did not originate anyplace where there was a dryer. Yet it evokes the beautiful image of laundry, sheets and all, drying the old-fashioned and environmental way--whipped by Irish winds-on the line. Other cultures have equivalent translations.

5. If you've tired of the weather, try branching out to a different topic. After your walk, you may exclaim, "I'm knackered!" (tired) Then go get the mail, afterwards casually remarking to anyone who will listen: "I'm after collecting the post." To be "after" something, as in "He's after ringing the pub" (he just called or telephoned the bar or pub), means the person has recently finished completing that action.