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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Sally Gorman & Matthew Dresch

Irish expat shares list of words and phrases no-one outside country understands

An Irish expat has been forced to stop using slang in Canada because locals have been unable to understand what she is saying.

Sally Gorman, who lives in Toronto, claims she has encountered a language barrier when using certain words and phrases in Canada.

Here is a list of expressions - including 'eejit', 'feck', 'craic' and some words that will be familiar to people in the UK - which have caused Sally issues abroad:

  • 'The Jacks' - the toilets

  • 'Sound' - a compliment

  • 'Come here to me' - a preamble to a secretive conversation

  • 'Cop on' - realising something

  • ' Spuds' - potatoes

  • 'Arseways' - making an arse of something

Sally Gorman says some Irish words and phrases have bamboozled people in Canada (Sally O'Gorman/RSVP LIVE)
  • 'A press' - a cupboard

  • 'Wrecked' - being tired

  • 'Chips' - or fries as they are commonly called abroad

  • 'Jumper' - a 'sweater' in America

  • 'Awh sure look it' - an expression of sympathy or acknowledgement

  • 'G'way outta that' - not believing someone

  • 'I will yea' - this actually means no in Ireland

  • 'Do the washing' - also known as 'laundry' across the pond

  • 'Craic' - an enjoyable time

  • 'Fair Play' - congratulations

  • 'Feck' - an expression of annoyance

  • 'Yer man/yer wan' - that man

  • 'Rashers' - bacon

  • 'Slagging' - making fun of someone

  • 'Acting the maggot' - fooling around

  • 'I'm only codding you' - joking with someone

  • 'Eejit' - idiot

  • 'Gas' - funny

  • 'Grand' - good

Sally wrote in RSVP Live: "I knew moving to Toronto meant that I'd have to make a lot of changes. I knew I'd have to learn to drive on the other side of the road.

"And more importantly, I knew I'd have to get used to life without Supermacs' garlic cheese chips. But one thing I didn't know was that I'd have to change the way I speak.

"Since moving to Toronto, there are a few Irish words and phrases I've had to kiss goodbye. I've come to realise - after some embarrassing mishaps - that Irish slang just doesn't travel well."

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