Twelve Words for An Irish Slangphile #10

While developing my character Ian Quinn for two of my novels, Party of One and Manhattan Grace, part of the fun was in researching Irish culture. When readers first meet Ian in Party of One, he’s a waiter with a servant’s heart. In Manhattan Grace, Ian returns as a business owner, trying to land a big contract in New York City. Can you guess what these Irish slang words mean? 

 

1. BANJAXED – a) lifted up; b) broken; c) cheated or hoodwinked; d) excited
2. CRAIC – a) crazy; b) a creek; c) fun; d) a brawl
3. DOSSER – a) a small village; b) person not working or messing about; c) a sleeping dog; d) a legal document
4. GAMMY – a) grandmother; b) small garden ; c) crooked or odd-looking; d) fuel for pellet stoves
5. HAYMES – a) complete mess; b) church hymns c) outdoor markets; d) smoked lamb shanks
6. JACKS – a) a step dance move; b) a renovated building; c) auto mechanic; d) toilets
7. KNACKERED – a) drunk; b) pregnant; c) type of wood finish; d) tuckered out
8. MANKY – a) dirty and disgusting; b) a small monkey; c) misshapen; d) a man’s swimsuit
9. PISHMIRES – a) condescending remarks; b) marshes and bogs; c) ants or flying ants; d) traffic jams
10. SNOG – a) homemade ale; b) a nap; c) a style of knitting; d) a kiss
11. THROW SHAPES – a) to teach, especially geometry; b) to bake; c) play darts; d) to show-off aggressively
12. ZONK – a) a punch; b) a one-pound coin; c) an overpriced pub; d) to disturb or annoy

Have you chosen the correct definition? Can you use the words in a sentence? Scroll down to see how you did.

1. b) BANJAXED – broken
2. c) CRAIC – fun
3. b) DOSSER – not working or messing about
4. c) GAMMY – crooked or odd-looking
5. a) HAYMES – complete mess
6. d) JACKS – toilets
7. d) KNACKERED – tuckered out
8. a) MANKY – dirty and disgusting
9. c) PISHMIRES – ants or flying ants
10. d) SNOG – a kiss
11. a) THROW SHAPES – to show-off aggressively
12. b) ZONK – a one-pound coin

Jumping for joy over your score?

10-12 Did I catch you throwing shapes?

07-09 When you speak, do people mistake you for Bono?

04-08 Is that all you got right? Where’s the craic in that?

00-03 You made a complete haymes of this, didn’t you?