# Graiméar na Gaedhilge/Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic Expressions.
CUIR.
| Cuir ormsa é. | Cuir ormsa é. | Say it was I did it. |
| Cuirimse ortsa é. | Cuirimse ortsa é. | I say it was you did it. |
| Cuir umat (ort). | Cuir umat (ort). | Dress yourself. |
| Ċuir an tart go mór air. | Ċuir an tart go mór air. | Thirst annoyed him greatly. |
| Cuirfeadsa d’ḟiaċaiḃ ort stad. | Cuirfeadsa d’ḟiaċaiḃ ort stad. | I’ll make you stop. |
| Cuir iaċall air é (a) ḋéanaṁ. | Cuir iaċall air é (a) ḋéanaṁ. | Make him do it. |
| Ná cuir orm ⁊ ní ċuirfead ort. | Ná cuir orm ⁊ ní ċuirfead ort. | Don’t interfere with me and I will not interfere with you. |
| Ċuir sé a rian. | Ċuir sé a rian. | He tracked him (her, them). |
| Ċuir sé stró orm. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | He addressed me. |
| Ċuir sé speic (or furán) orm. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | He addressed me. |
| Ċuireas róṁam a ḋéanaṁ. | Ċuireas róṁam a ḋéanaṁ. | I resolved to do it. |
| Tá cur síos (tráċt or iomráḋ) ar an gcogaḋ. | Tá cur síos (tráċt or iomráḋ) ar an gcogaḋ. | There is talk about the war. |
| Ċuir sé culaiḋ éadaiġ dá ḋéanaṁ. | Ċuir sé culaiḋ éadaiġ dá ḋéanaṁ. | He got a suit of clothes made. |
| Ċuir sé ’na luiġe orm. | Ċuir sé ’na luiġe orm. | He convinced me of it. |
| Cuir i gcás gur saiġdiúr mise. | Cuir i gcás gur saiġdiúr mise. | Suppose me to be a soldier. |
| Cuir ar bun. | Cuir ar bun. | Established. |
| Ċuir (ḃain) sé faoi i gCorcaiġ. | Ċuir (ḃain) sé faoi i gCorcaiġ. | He settled down in Cork. |
| Tá sé ag cup ’s ag cúiteaṁ. | Tá sé ag cup ’s ag cúiteaṁ. | He is debating in his mind. |
TAḂAIR.
| Taḃair suas. | Taḃair suas. | Surrender. |
| Tá sé taḃartha. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | He is played out. |
| Tá sé buailte suas. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | He is played out. |
| Tá sé tugṫa (taḃarṫa) do’n loċt san. | Tá sé tugṫa (taḃarṫa) do’n loċt san. | He is addicted to that vice. |
| Taḃair do ḋruim leis. | Taḃair do ḋruim leis. | Turn your back to him. |
| Ṫugas fé ndeár(a) an solas. | Ṫugas fé ndeár(a) an solas. | I noticed the light. |
| Tá sé taḃarṫa suas. | Tá sé taḃarṫa suas. | He has been given up for dead. |
| Ṫug sé suas. | Ṫug sé suas. | He gave in. |
| Tá taḃarṫa suas aire. | Tá taḃarṫa suas aire. | He has given in. |
| Is deacair fírinne ⁊ éiṫeaċ do ṫaḃairt d’á ċéile. | Is deacair fírinne ⁊ éiṫeaċ do ṫaḃairt d’á ċéile. | It is hard to reconcile truth and falsehood. |
| Tá taḃairt suas mór air. | Tá taḃairt suas mór air. | He is highly educated. |
DÉAN.
| Déan rud ar do ṁáṫair. | Déan rud ar do ṁáṫair. | Obey your mother. |
| Ní ḋéanfaḋ sé rud orm. | Ní ḋéanfaḋ sé rud orm. | He would not oblige me. |
| Naċ maiṫ naċ ndeárnais féin é! | Naċ maiṫ naċ ndeárnais féin é! | How well you didn’t do it yourself! |
| Naċ maiṫ ná déanann tú féin rud ar do ṁáṫair? | Naċ maiṫ ná déanann tú féin rud ar do ṁáṫair? | Why don’t you obey your mother yourself? |
| Nuair ṫuigeadar a ḟeaḃas do ḋinis (rinnis) an ḃeart. | Nuair ṫuigeadar a ḟeaḃas do ḋinis (rinnis) an ḃeart. | When they understood how well you had done the trick. |
| Déan aire (do) ṫaḃairt dod ġnó féin. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Mind your own business. |
| Déan do ġnó féin. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Mind your own business. |
| Taḃair aire dod ġnó féin. ​ | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Mind your own business. |
| Déan na ba do ċruḋ (ḃleaġan). | Déan na ba do ċruḋ (ḃleaġan). | Milk the cows. |
| An ndeárnais an dorus do ḋúnaḋ? | An ndeárnais an dorus do ḋúnaḋ? | Did you shut the door? |
| Tá sé ag déanaṁ orainn. | Tá sé ag déanaṁ orainn. | He is coming towards us. |
IMṪIĠ.
| Conus (cionnus) d’ imṫiġ leis? | Conus (cionnus) d’ imṫiġ leis? | How did he get on? |
| Cad d’ imṫiġ air? | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | What became of him ? |
| Cad d’ imṫiġ air? | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | What happened to him ? |
| Nuaip ṫuiteann rud mar seo amaċ. | Nuaip ṫuiteann rud mar seo amaċ. | When something like this happens. |
| Cad imṫeoċas orm? | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | What will become of me ? |
| (Creud éireoċas dom?) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | What will become of me ? |
NÁ.
| Dob’ é an ċéad duine do ḃuail uime NÁ Seaġán liaṫ. | The first person he met was Seaġán liaṫ. |
| Is é rud dob’ ḟearr leis a ḟeiscint NÁ na Sasanaiġ go léir d’á ndíbirt as Éirinn. | What he wished most to see was the banishment of the whole of the English from Ireland. |
| Is é rud do ṫug anois ċum cainte leat mé NÁ mé ḃeiṫ i gcruaḋ-ċás. | What brought me to talk with you now is the fact that I am in difficulty. |
| Is é rud do rinne (ḋein) an fear NÁ caiṫeaṁ leo. | What the man did was to throw at them. ​ |
| Is é rud do ḋein Séamas annsain NÁ í ḃronnaḋ air. | What James did then was to make him a present of it. |
| Is é rud adeireaḋ gaċ éinne NÁ gur ṁaiṫ air. | What everyone used to say was that it was a great blessing for him. |
MÓR.
| Is mór le ráḋ é. | It is important. |
| Is mór le maoiḋeaṁ é. | It is a thing to be proud of, or boast about. |
| Níor ṁór le ráḋ é. | It was not of much importance. |
| Ní mór ḋom filleaḋ. | I must return. |
| Ní mór ḋom gluaiseaċt. | I must take my departure. |
| Ní mór linn duit. | We have no objection to your doing so. |
| Ní mór liom ḋó é. | I don’t grudge it to him. |
| Ní mór naċ (ná go) ḃfuil sé déanta. | It is almost done. |
| Ní mór ná go mbeiḋ sé críoċnuiġṫe. | It will be nearly finished. |
| Cá mór dom, &c.? | Why shouldn’t I, &c.? lit., how is it too much for me? |
| Naċ mór a d’ éiriġ tú! | How grand you have got! |
| Ní móide (mó + de) go raġad. | It is not likely that I shall go. |
BEAG.
| Is beag liom é. | I consider it too small. |
| Is beag orm é. | I don’t like it at all. |
| Is beag agam é. | I have no great opinion of him. |
| Is beag an sgéal é. | It’s no great harm. He is not to be pitied. |
| Is beag an ċaḃair ṫú. | You are not of much use. |
| Is beág dá ḟiós agat. | ’Tis little you know. |
| Is beag naċ miṫid dó ḃeiṫ ag imṫeaċt. | It is nearly time for him to be going. |
| Ba ḃeag nár ṁiṫid dó ḃeiṫ ag imṫeaċt. | It was nearly time for him to be going. |
| Is beag a ḃríġ é. | It is a trifle. |
| Is beag má tá éinne i n‑Éirinn d’ ḟéadfaḋ é ḋéanaṁ. | There is hardly a person in Ireland who could do it. |
Miscellaneous.
| An éireoċaiḋ (sé) linn? | An éireoċaiḋ (sé) linn? | Shall we succeed? |
| Ḃí sé ag éirġe fuar. | Ḃí sé ag éirġe fuar. | It was getting cold. |
| Maiṫ an áit go raḃais! | Maiṫ an áit go raḃais! | Well said! or Well done! |
| Maiṫ mar ṫárla. | Maiṫ mar ṫárla. | It has happened luckily. |
| Níor laḃair sé fiú aon ḟocal aṁáin. | Níor laḃair sé fiú aon ḟocal aṁáin. | He did not speak a single word. |
| Gan fiú na n‑anála do ṫarraing (ṫarac). | Gan fiú na n‑anála do ṫarraing (ṫarac). | Without even taking breath. |
| Fiú ár ndaoine féin. | Fiú ár ndaoine féin. | Even our own people. ​ |
| Tá sé ag dul i ḃfeaḃas. | Tá sé ag dul i ḃfeaḃas. | He is getting better. |
| Tá sé ag dul i n‑olcas. | Tá sé ag dul i n‑olcas. | He is getting worse. |
| Abair é! | Abair é! | Hear! hear! Bravo! |
| Ní cuiṁin liom a leiṫéid. | Ní cuiṁin liom a leiṫéid. | I don’t remember the like of it. |
| Ó ṫárla an leaḃar agam anois. | Ó ṫárla an leaḃar agam anois. | As I happen to have the book now. |
| Tá sé geall le ḃeiṫ follaṁ | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | It is almost empty. |
| Tá sé follaṁ naċ mór. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | It is almost empty. |
| Ní ḟuil dul uaiḋ agat. | Ní ḟuil dul uaiḋ agat. | You cannot avoid it. |
| Tá an fear san ag dul i mbeo orm. | Tá an fear san ag dul i mbeo orm. | That man’s conduct cuts me to the quick. |
| Tá sé i rioċt báis. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | He is at the point of death. |
| Tá sé le h‑uċt báis.) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | He is at the point of death. |
| Is millte(aċ) an sgéal é. | Is millte(aċ) an sgéal é. | It is a terrible affair. |
| Is caillte an lá é le fliċe. | Is caillte an lá é le fliċe. | It is a terribly wet day. |
| Sgéal gan daṫ. | Sgéal gan daṫ. | A very unlikely story. |
| Leig (leog) dom féin led’ ċuid cainte. | Leig (leog) dom féin led’ ċuid cainte. | Don’t annoy me with your talk. |
| Cad é an ċuid atá agatsa ḋe? | Cad é an ċuid atá agatsa ḋe? | What right (call) have you to it? |
| An ċuid is luġa ḋe ḋá uair sa mbliaḋain. | An ċuid is luġa ḋe ḋá uair sa mbliaḋain. | At least twice a year. |
| Corp na h‑éagcóra. | Corp na h‑éagcóra. | The essence of wrong. |
| le corp díoṁaoinis. | le corp díoṁaoinis. | Through downright laziness. |
| Tá fmuc de’n ċeart aige. | Tá fmuc de’n ċeart aige. | He is partly right. |
| Is leaṁ an gnó ḋuit é. | Is leaṁ an gnó ḋuit é. | ’Tis an absurd thing for you to do. ​ |
| Cad ’na ṫaoḃ ná ceannuiġeann tú bróga ḋuit féin? Gan an t‑airgead do ḃeiṫ agam. | Cad ’na ṫaoḃ ná ceannuiġeann tú bróga ḋuit féin? Gan an t‑airgead do ḃeiṫ agam. | Why don’t you buy boots for yourself? Because I have not the money. |
| Tá sé ar nós cuma liom. | Tá sé ar nós cuma liom. | He is indifferent. |
| Cé tá ar ár dtí? | Cé tá ar ár dtí? | Who is intending us harm? |
| Tá sé ar do ṫí. | Tá sé ar do ṫí. | He is bent on attacking you. He intends to harm you. |
| Daoine náċ mé. | Daoine náċ mé. | Others besides myself. |
| Ḃí cead saor aige ar ḋul. | Ḃí cead saor aige ar ḋul. | He had permission to go. |
| Is dual aṫar dó. | Is dual aṫar dó. | He has it from his father. |
| Ḃí mo ṫuras i n‑aisdear. | Ḃí mo ṫuras i n‑aisdear. | My journey was in vain. |
| Ċa leigeann tú a leas. | Ċa leigeann tú a leas. | You need not. |
| Gogaille gó. | Gogaille gó. | A fool’s errand; a wild goose chase. |
| Beiḋ san ’na ṁasla ⁊ ’na ġuṫ ar a gclú an dá lá ’s an ḟaid a ḃeiḋ grian sa spéir. | Beiḋ san ’na ṁasla ⁊ ’na ġuṫ ar a gclú an dá lá ’s an ḟaid a ḃeiḋ grian sa spéir. | That will be a reproach and a blot on their fame the longest day the sun will be in the sky. |
| Tá sé beagán fuar. | Tá sé beagán fuar. | It is a little cold. |
| Tá sé roinnt boḋar. | Tá sé roinnt boḋar. | He is somewhat deaf. |
| Tá sé gan ḃeiṫ ar ḟóġnaṁ, | Tá sé gan ḃeiṫ ar ḟóġnaṁ, | He is a little unwell. |
| Ní ḟuil an t‑uḃall so aibid i gceart. | Ní ḟuil an t‑uḃall so aibid i gceart. | This apple is not quite ripe. |
| Ní cúrsaiḋe gáiriḋe é. | Ní cúrsaiḋe gáiriḋe é. | It is nothing to laugh at. |
| Do ġáirfá, mura mbeaḋ naċ cúis ġáiriḋe é. | Do ġáirfá, mura mbeaḋ naċ cúis ġáiriḋe é. | You would laugh only that it is not a matter to laugh at. ​ |
| Ní cúrsaiḋe cainte é. | Ní cúrsaiḋe cainte é. | It is nothing to talk about. |
| Tarraing ċuġat rud éigint eile mar cúrsaiḋe magaiḋ. | Tarraing ċuġat rud éigint eile mar cúrsaiḋe magaiḋ. | Find something else to make fun about. |
| Cad é an gnó atá agat de? | Cad é an gnó atá agat de? | What do you want it for? |
| Do baineaḋ iarraċt de ġeit as. | Do baineaḋ iarraċt de ġeit as. | He was slightly startled. |
| Ní ḟuil aon ġar ag dréim leis an mballa. | Ní ḟuil aon ġar ag dréim leis an mballa. | There’s no use trying to get up on the wall. |
| Ní raibh aon ṁaiṫeas ’na ġlór. | Ní raibh aon ṁaiṫeas ’na ġlór. | In vain did he cry (talk, speak). |
| Ní móide gur sgríoḃ sé an litir. | Ní móide gur sgríoḃ sé an litir. | Perhaps he did not write the letter. |
| Gaḃaim lem’ ais sin do ḋéanaṁ. | Gaḃaim lem’ ais sin do ḋéanaṁ. | I propose to do that. |
| Tá buiḋeaċas agam ort (fé) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | I am thankful to you (for). |
| Táim buiḋeaċ ḋíot (fé.) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | I am thankful to you (for). |
| Ḃeirim buiḋeaċas duit mar ġeall (ġioll) air. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | I thank you for it. |
| Gaḃaim buiḋeaċas leat mar ġeall air. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | I thank you for it. |
| Beiḋ tú déanach (déiḋeanaċ) ag an traen. | Beiḋ tú déanach (déiḋeanaċ) ag an traen. | You will be late for the train. |
| Beiḋ tú déanaċ ar sgoil. | Beiḋ tú déanaċ ar sgoil. | You will be late for school. |
| Ḃí cuid aca ġá ráḋ go raiḃ beirṫe (berṫa) ar an mbiṫeaṁnaċ. | Ḃí cuid aca ġá ráḋ go raiḃ beirṫe (berṫa) ar an mbiṫeaṁnaċ. | Some of them were saying that the rascal was caught. |
| Éireoċaiḋ a ċroiḋe ar Ḋiarmuid. | Éireoċaiḋ a ċroiḋe ar Ḋiarmuid. | It will break Dermot’s heart. ​ |
| Sgairt siad ar ġáiriḋiḃ. | Sgairt siad ar ġáiriḋiḃ. | They burst out laughing. |
| Munab ort atá an ċaint! | Munab ort atá an ċaint! | What talk you have! If it isn’t you have the talk. |
| Luiġ an ċaint go léir ar an matalong a ḃí imṫiġṫe ar Ṡaḋḃ. | Luiġ an ċaint go léir ar an matalong a ḃí imṫiġṫe ar Ṡaḋḃ. | The whole conversation turned on the misfortune which had befallen Sive. |
| Níor imṫiġ orṫa aċt an rud a ḃí tuillte aca. | Níor imṫiġ orṫa aċt an rud a ḃí tuillte aca. | They only got what they had deserved. |
| Ṫeip orainn teaċt suas leo. | Ṫeip orainn teaċt suas leo. | We failed to overtake them. |
| Tá sé ag déanaṁ aiṫris ar a ċaint. | Tá sé ag déanaṁ aiṫris ar a ċaint. | He is mimicking his manner of talking. |
| Tá sé ar an ḃfear is saiḋḃre sa Ṁuṁain. | Tá sé ar an ḃfear is saiḋḃre sa Ṁuṁain. | He is the richest man in Munster. |
| Is dóċa gur dóiċ leo. | Is dóċa gur dóiċ leo. | Probably they imagine. |
| Tá sé buailte isteaċ im aigne. | Tá sé buailte isteaċ im aigne. | I am firmly convinced. |
| Loisgeaḋ iad ’na mbeaṫaiḋ. | Loisgeaḋ iad ’na mbeaṫaiḋ. | They were burnt alive. |
| Cad adéanfad ċor ar biṫ aige? | Cad adéanfad ċor ar biṫ aige? | What will I do at all with him? |
| Ḃí breis ṁór ⁊ a gceart aca dá faġáil. | Ḃí breis ṁór ⁊ a gceart aca dá faġáil. | They were getting a great deal more than their right. |
| Ḃí coróin fé’n bpúnt aca dá ḟaġáil. | Ḃí coróin fé’n bpúnt aca dá ḟaġáil. | They were getting five shillings in the pound. |
| Ḃí gaċ uile ḋuine ag déanaṁ truaiġ (truaġa) di. | Ḃí gaċ uile ḋuine ag déanaṁ truaiġ (truaġa) di. | Everyone was sympathising with her. ​ |
| Coṁnaois do Ṡeaġán an té ba ṡine aca. | Coṁnaois do Ṡeaġán an té ba ṡine aca. | The eldest of them was the same age as John. |
| Ba ḋóiċ leat air gur leis an áit. | Ba ḋóiċ leat air gur leis an áit. | You (one) would imagine by him that he owned the place. |
| Ní raiḃ a ṫuairisg ann. | Ní raiḃ a ṫuairisg ann. | There wasn’t a trace of him there. |
| Ċoṁ maiṫ agus dá mba ná raiḃ éagcóir ar biṫ ann. | Ċoṁ maiṫ agus dá mba ná raiḃ éagcóir ar biṫ ann. | Just as if it were not wrong. |
| D’ḟiafruiġ sé cad fé ndeár an sult. | D’ḟiafruiġ sé cad fé ndeár an sult. | He asked what was the cause of the merriment. |
| Cé’r a mac ṫú? | Cé’r a mac ṫú? | Whose son are you? |
| Ní ṁaiṫfear puinn duit. | Ní ṁaiṫfear puinn duit. | You will meet your match. |
| Ca ḃ’ḟios duit? | Ca ḃ’ḟios duit? | How did you know? |
| A sgéal féin sgéal gaċ éinne. | A sgéal féin sgéal gaċ éinne. | Everyone is most interested in his own affairs. |
| Tusa fé ndeár soin. | Tusa fé ndeár soin. | You are the cause of that. |
| Tá gnó naċ é agam. | Tá gnó naċ é agam. | I have a different matter to look after. |
| Ní taise ḋom féin. | Ní taise ḋom féin. | I am no exception; i.e., I am the same as the others. |