Irish in the UK - what are the things that it took you ages to realise people don't say here.

[ConflictedCheetah]

Inspired by the thread about Pancake Tuesday.

That thread has cracked me up because SO many posters are insisting no one EVER calls pancake Tuesday - it's Pancake Day - and sayu it's weird and wanky to call it that. And then all the Irish people on the thread are like ' wait, we've always called it that and never noticed that no one else did.

So what else you got?

For me, and I'm here 20 years, I only found out about a year ago that no one here calls a birth certificate a 'birth cert'. My English husband thought it was proper weird that I kept saying that. I had never picked up that it wasn't a thing! I think Irish people are so used to talking about the Leaving Cert or Junior Cert etc. that the Cert but feels natural. DH says no.

What other ways have I been unknowingly embarrassing myself for 20 years?

We moved home from England a few years ago with our London-born 7 year old, and after a couple of weeks he came home from school asking what ‘grand’ really meant, having clearly observed it can mean anything from ‘Great’ to ‘I’ve been better’ to ‘Barely holding it together’ to ‘Fuck off’ to ‘About to throw myself off a cliff’.

Irish family caused confusion with these;

The queer one - used to describe a lady, normally girlfriend.

yer man - meaning a bloke that they were talking to/about, defo confused people

Santy - Father Christmas

Yep, but not showing on mine (normal desktop, is an ancient PC though)

My mum is from Ireland and still have family there. A few I can think of

starving- can mean cold as well an hungry

bold = naughty

press = cupboard

We moved home from England a few years ago with our London-born 7 year old, and after a couple of weeks he came home from school asking what ‘grand’ really meant, having clearly observed it can mean anything from ‘Great’ to ‘I’ve been better’ to ‘Barely holding it together’ to ‘Fuck off’ to ‘About to throw myself off a cliff’.

😂

Brilliant!

Yes, absolutely all of this!

I do this with all sorts of accents, including ones that I can't even imitate usually. It's not mocking at all, and I find it really embarrassing. It's something I've worked really hard to try and limit over the years but still happens occasionally, especially in uncomfortable situations.

It's a well known thing, there's a word for it I think but I can't remember what it is. I've seen people say it means a musical ear but definitely not the case with me, I'm tone deaf

Pancake Tuesday what happened to Shrove Tuesday? More usual in Ireland surely.

Never heard Shrove Tuesday used in Ireland, although the meaning would be known of course. It's always Pancake Tuesday.

Never heard Shrove Tuesday used in Ireland

It's used alright.
However, not, say, in Dunnes to advertise Nutella & lemons, where Pancake Tuesday is obviously what will be on the signs.

Yes!!! I can't understand it!!

All of the above (lived 30 years in England but back home now thank god). More than anything else though, how English people will (for the most part) ask you once and accept your answer. I had to train my English DH that when my parents declined a glass of wine they didn’t mean it, they were just expecting the usual dance of “are you sure” “sure have a small glass” “the bottle is open” “I’m having one but sure I can’t on my own” “are you driving” “would you prefer whiskey/gin/beer/vodka…” etc etc to commence. They thought he was fierce rude when he took their first answer and just poured himself a glass :D

We always say Santy

'Work away' as in 'carry on' or 'help yourself'. Took my English house mates months to ask me what I was on about!

'I'm only after' as in 'I've just done', which seems to mean 'I want something' in the UK?!?

I’m 51 and grew up saying Shrove Tuesday (which made sense, as it was the day you went to confession before the start of Lent as well as having a last sugar blowout before fasting/giving up sweets/whatever started.)

Genuinely never heard it! Whereabouts are you? I've lived in Dublin and Belfast.

Agree, this drives me crazy.

Does your baby make strange?🤣🤣

Just read another thread where the OP is Irish. Making strange has been (politely) questioned, but not giving out which surprised me!

Dilute, instead of squash, took me years to figure that one out!

I'm English but have a lot of Irish customers. One big difference is when an Irish customer greets you with "how you doing?" they don't require an answer whereas the English will typically pause for you to say "fine thanks, and you". I always forget and answer which normally means talking over them. I love the use of grand and have adopted it myself. I say pancake day, not pancake Tuesday and the floor is only inside to me. I love the way my colleague pronounces the word 'now', I can't even make that sound. The Irish accent is amazing, I love listening to it.

Sorry I think I explained the sore one wrong!

I would say “it’s sore” where my English DH would say “it hurts”. Eg if my toddler is whacking me I would say “don’t be bold, that’s sore”, which I’m pretty sure is not English usage.

What?!

😂😂😂

It really is such a dance that we do. A German-born colleague finds it incomprehensible and infuriating!

Genuinely never heard it! Whereabouts are you? I've lived in Dublin and Belfast
Not being snarky, but how?!

It's used ... everywhere. (I'm from Limerick, have lived in Cork, now live in Dublin, work in Kildare ...!)

I mean, its colloquial use is lessened now as Ireland has become more secular as it is linked to Catholic (or rather Christian) beliefs.