Following on from the scallions thread . . . . .

[SrSteveOskowski]

Isn't the 'language' difference between Ireland and the UK amazing all the same? And I don't mean the literal language, ie: speaking Irish instead of Welsh, English etc.
More that although we're all speaking English, it can be so different.

For example (I'm Irish) would I confuse people in the UK if I started talking about buggies, minerals, rashers, taytos, the messages and the hot press to name but a few?

How many of you would know what all these things are, or would you just think "What on earth is she on about?"

I didn't but my cousins did Jane and still do! They also have a parlour as it's a very old house.

I still have a back kitchen as do my celtic tiger era offspring!

I haven't got through the whole thread yet and am not even Irish, but the talk of potatoes/praties has triggered a lovely memory from my childhood.

My gran used to sing me a song "I met her in the garden where the praties grow..." so my heartfelt thanks to you for bringing this back into my mind.

My grandparents had a back kitchen and a parlour.

Better than a slap in the belly with a fish.

Hell's teeth!

My irish grandma used to say these. How I loved her 😢

Is polluted just an Irish word for 'absolutely drunk off your head'? ie: "Did you see the state of your man? Totally polluted last night!"
Is that used in the UK too?

That's common usage in the US as well. It was probably brought over by Irish immigrants and caught on here. My ancestry is mostly Irish.

What I find fascinating about this thread is which of these words and phrases made it to this side of the pond and which did not.

I've never heard polluted for drunk!

Blootered. I've been blootered plenty of times. never polluted.

@CherryBlossom23

Yes, my dad and uncle say 'abroad' for outside. I only just realised now that might be unusual.

'He is abroad in the cabbage haggard'

You don't mean paralytic for very very drunk do you Steve

No, definitely polluted but I have heard paralytic as well.
Never heard blootered though.

I can't link on the phone, but if you Google 'polluted drunk', it comes up in urban dictionary.

Other common slang terms for drunk here would be wasted, smashed and blotto.

If you were very drunk in Cork you’d be langers.

I mean are you even Irish if you don’t call the overhead light in the living room the ‘big’ light??

Possibly the funniest thing I’ve read... coz it’s true! 😂😂

Growing up in northern England we'd call the overhead light the 'big' light, so that's not exclusively Irish.

As for 'polluted' for being very drunk, that's what my Irish 20-something sons say, so it's definitely a thing, in the Mid West at least

Balooobas is another great descriptor!