Irish Sayings

to someone who committed some small fault: 'Tis only a stepmother would blame you.'

of a tall, large woman: That's a fine doorful of a woman.

of a gossiper: She has a tongue that would clip a hedge.

of a poor, thin creature: The breath is only just in and out of him, and the grass doesn't know of him walking over it.

of a coarse, ill-mannered person using poor language: What would you expect out of a pig but a grunt?

on trying to change a stubborn person's mind: You might as well be whistling jigs to a milestone

of very bad music: Aw, that's the tune the old cow died of.

of one who overstays their welcome: If that man went to a wedding, he'd stay for the christening.

of a talkative person: That man would talk the teeth out of a saw.

of a person who paid too much for a cow: He bought every hair in her tail.

of a clever thief: He'd steal the sugar out of your punch.

said of a woman who had made a bad marriage: She burnt her coal and did not warm herself.

of bad aim in shooting: He wouldn't hit a hole in a ladder.

of an impish child: That one suffers from a double dose of original sin.

of an unfortunate one: He is always in the field when luck is on the road.

of very wet weather: It's a fine day for young ducks.

of someone who always plans carefully: If he's not fishing he's mending his nets.