Irish reference
Irish idioms and expressions
These fixed expressions are listed with their sourced English glosses. Usage notes are included where the source data records them. Each source is shown beside its entry.
ar ndóigh
of course
stuck eclipsis on dóigh after `ar` is the standard idiomatic form, not a wrong-mutation candidate
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/dóigh (data/content/irish/idioms.json#ar ndóigh)
i ndáiríre
really, seriously
i+N eclipsis is correct here
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/dáiríre (data/content/irish/idioms.json#i ndáiríre)
an mian leat
do you want?
interrogative; the positive form is is mian leat
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/mian (data/content/irish/idioms.json#an mian leat)
Is mian liom
I want
positive statement; ba mhian liom is also used for 'I would like'
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/mian (data/content/irish/idioms.json#Is mian liom)
Is mian linn
we want
positive statement; ba mhian linn is also used for 'we would like'
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/mian (data/content/irish/idioms.json#Is mian linn)
ach an oiread
either, neither
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/oiread (data/content/irish/idioms.json#ach an oiread)
b'fhéidir
perhaps
copula contraction with apostrophe is standard
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/féidir (data/content/irish/idioms.json#b'fhéidir)
cén fáth
why
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/fáth (data/content/irish/idioms.json#cén fáth)
cén áit
where
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/áit (data/content/irish/idioms.json#cén áit)
cén chaoi
how (Connacht)
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/caoi (data/content/irish/idioms.json#cén chaoi)
cén dóigh
how (Ulster)
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/dóigh (data/content/irish/idioms.json#cén dóigh)
cad é mar
how (Ulster)
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/cad (data/content/irish/idioms.json#cad é mar)
conas atá
how is/are (Munster)
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/conas (data/content/irish/idioms.json#conas atá)
is dócha
probably
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/dócha (data/content/irish/idioms.json#is dócha)
ar fad
altogether, entirely
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/fad (data/content/irish/idioms.json#ar fad)
go deimhin
indeed
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/deimhin (data/content/irish/idioms.json#go deimhin)
go háirithe
especially
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/áirithe (data/content/irish/idioms.json#go háirithe)
le do thoil
please
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/toil (data/content/irish/idioms.json#le do thoil)
más é do thoil é
if it pleases you (please)
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/toil (data/content/irish/idioms.json#más é do thoil é)
a chairde
friends (vocative)
vocative `a` triggers lenition; not a possessive
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/cara (data/content/irish/idioms.json#a chairde)
a chara
friend (vocative)
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/cara (data/content/irish/idioms.json#a chara)
a leithéid
such a thing
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/leithéid (data/content/irish/idioms.json#a leithéid)
an chuid is mó
the most part, mostly
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/cuid (data/content/irish/idioms.json#an chuid is mó)
an chuid eile
the rest
an chuid is the feminine nominative singular; na coda is the genitive
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/cuid (data/content/irish/idioms.json#an chuid eile)
ag dul i bhfeidhm
taking effect
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/feidhm (data/content/irish/idioms.json#ag dul i bhfeidhm)
in aice le
next to
Source: teanglann.ie/en/fgb/aice (data/content/irish/idioms.json#in aice le)
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