O'Byrne Files © - Dublin Slang Dictionary and Phrase-book ©

H

Word / Phrase

use

Meaning

Hags with the bags n. phr. A statue on Liffey Street of two women with their shopping bags
Hairyman adj. Very fast (as in he ran like a hairyman)

Half decent

adj.

Acceptable, respectable

Half glass

n.

Half pint

Hames, make a

n.

Mess; do something incompetently or inadequately [see bags]

Handy

adj

Convenient, not negligible, useful

Ha'penny place

n. phr.

Lowly position or condition

Hard chaw

n. phr.

Irrepressible joker, tough character

Hard neck

n.

Courage, initiative

Hard word

n. phr.

Hint, tip, bit of secret information

Hard, man

n. phr

Term of affection, tough character

Hash n Mess, disadter - "He made a hash of it!"

Haymes, make a

adj.

Disaster, mistake, mess

Header

n.

Fool, nutter, unpredictable character, unstable person

Headin' vb Leaving

Head-the-ball

n.

Fool, nutter, unpredictable character, unstable person, someone likely to cause trouble

Heavin' adj Crowded (town was heavin' with people)

Heel

n.

First or last slice of a loaf of bread

Heel of the hunt

phr.

Eventually

Herself

pron.

Quasi-respectful reference to wife or any female partner

Hidin'   A beating

High babies

n. phr.

Senior infants, second year in primary school

Hill 16

n.

Section of Croak Park Stadium associated with Dublin supporters

Himself

pron.

The man of the house; quasi-respectful reference to any male

Hole n. Anus.  "That Guinness is after cuttin' the hole off me"
Hole in the wall n Bank ATM machine

Holliers

n.

Holidays

Holy hour

n. phr.

Period of compulsory closing of licensed premises (pup)

Holy show

n.

Disgraceful behaviour

Hoofed v Walked

Hooley

n.

Party

Hoor

n.

Whore, Lit. Hiberno-Irish pronunciation of whore, but not used exclusively to refer to prostitutes. In fact, it is usually used to refer to politicians, and therefore there is no possible relation to unsavoury people who perform favours for money.

Hoor, cute

n.

Term of denigration implying deviousness and lack of scruple

Hoor's bath

phr. adj.

Perfunctory cleaning

Hoor's Melt n Private part of a hoor (whore)
Hoosh vb Help someone climb up a wall or tree  - see also bunt

Hop, on the

adj.

Playing truant

Hot adj Stolen / fast

Hot press

n.

1. Airing cupboard, place where hot water tank is.  2.Domestic airing cupboard

How's the form q. How are you?

How's your father

phr

Sexual activity

Howya! / Howaya!

exclam.

How are you?

Hump off

vb & exclam

Go away, get lost

Hump, take the

phr. vb.

Take offence; get bored

Hunkers, on your n Crouching down (squatting)

Hunt

vb.

Drive away, see off

Hurler on the ditch

phr. n.

Non-participating critic who think they can do better

Huxter

n.

Casual trader, street trader

Back to the top   

Most recent version 13-Dec-2006
To be updated from time to time
© N. O'Byrne


Go back to the O'Byrne Files © - Guide to Dublin English

Go back to the O'Byrne Files © - My Dublin page

Go look at O'Byrne Files © - My Humour page

Go to the O'Byrne Files © - Homepage