Twelve Words for An Irish Slangphile #10

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While developing my character Ian Quinn for two of my novels, Party of One and Manhattan Grace, part of the fun was in researching Irish culture. When readers first meet Ian in Party of One, he’s a waiter with a servant’s heart. In Manhattan Grace, Ian returns as a business owner, trying to land a big contract in New York City. Can you guess what these Irish slang words mean? 

 

  1. BANJAXED – a) lifted up; b) broken; c) cheated or hoodwinked; d) excited
  2. CRAIC – a) crazy; b) a creek; c) fun; d) a brawl
  3. DOSSER – a) a small village; b) person not working or messing about; c) a sleeping dog; d) a legal document
  4. GAMMY – a) grandmother; b) small garden ; c) crooked or odd-looking; d) fuel for pellet stoves
  5. HAYMES – a) complete mess; b) church hymns c) outdoor markets; d) smoked lamb shanks
  6. JACKS – a) a step dance move; b) a renovated building; c) auto mechanic; d) toilets
  7. KNACKERED – a) drunk; b) pregnant; c) type of wood finish; d) tuckered out
  8. MANKY – a) dirty and disgusting; b) a small monkey; c) misshapen; d) a man’s swimsuit
  9. PISHMIRES – a) condescending remarks; b) marshes and bogs; c) ants or flying ants; d) traffic jams
  10. SNOG – a) homemade ale; b) a nap; c) a style of knitting; d) a kiss
  11. THROW SHAPES – a) to teach, especially geometry; b) to bake; c) play darts; d) to show-off aggressively
  12. ZONK – a) a punch; b) a one-pound coinc) an overpriced pub; d) to disturb or annoy

Have you chosen the correct definition? Can you use the words in a sentence? Scroll down to see how you did.

Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. ~ Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. ~ Ephesians 4:29 (MSG)

 

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Here are the correct answers.

  1. b) BANJAXED – broken
  2. c) CRAIC – fun
  3. b) DOSSER – not working or messing about
  4. c) GAMMY – crooked or odd-looking
  5. a) HAYMES – complete mess
  6. d) JACKS – toilets
  7. d) KNACKERED – tuckered out
  8. a) MANKY – dirty and disgusting
  9. c) PISHMIRES – ants or flying ants
  10. d) SNOG – a kiss
  11. a) THROW SHAPES – to show-off aggressively
  12. b) ZONK a one-pound coin

Jumping for joy over your score?

10-12 Did I catch you throwing shapes?

07-09 When you speak, do people mistake you for Bono?

04-08 Is that all you got right? Where’s the craic in that?

00-03 You made a complete haymes of this, didn’t you?

 

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  1. Made a right haymes of this. 0 of 12. An’ ‘ere oi wus, claimin’ ter be Oirish.