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

C

Word / Phrase

use

Meaning

Caboosh, the whole

n.

All, everything, everyone

Canary, got a phr. n. Fright
Can of piss n Derogatory term i.e. "You're some can of piss"
Carpet muncher n Lesbian
Carry-on n Arguement, commotion

Carrying

part. as n.

In the money

Cat

adj.

Shocking, rough, unpleasant very bad

Cat got your tongue?

phr.

Asked of s.o. who refuses to answer a question

Catch oneself on

phr.

Adopt a normal viewpoint

Cat's lick

n. phr.

Perfunctory cleaning

Cat's pyjamas adj Perfection

Catskin

n.

Shiny outer layer on newly baked bread

Ceili / ceilidh

n. & vb.

Dance session, social gathering

Cha

n.

Tea

Chance one's arm

vb. phr

Take a risk, engage in something of an uncertain outcome

Chancer

n.

Devious person, s.o. generally male, who takes risks, mostly on the safe side of the law and often come away with a dividend. see also 'cute hoor'

Character

n.

Individual slightly larger than life

Chas Mahal

nickname

Government buildings restored under the aegis of Charles J Haughey

Cheek

adj.

Disrespect

Cheesed off

phr. adj.

Bored, fed-up, annoyed, upset

Chick nor child

phr

Nobody

Childer

n. plr

Children

Chinwag

n.

Chat, conversation

Chipper

n.

Fish and chip shop, generally a take-away

Chips

n.

French fries

Chiseller

n.

Affectionate term for a child

Chucker-outer n Bouncer / doorman
Chuckie adj. (a) Armchair terrorist -- from Tiocfaid Ar Lá, roughly pronounced "Chokay are law", a supporter of violent Nationalism.
(b) A member/supporter of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA.

Ciotog

n.

Left-hander

Clappers , like the

n.

In great haste

Clatter

n.

Slap, hit, bang

Clatter

n. & vb.

Physical chastisement.   "Me auld one clattered me"  "I'll clatter ye, ye little shite"

Click

vb. & n.

Pick up a member of the opposite sex

Clip

n. & vb.

Quick blow, Slap, hit, - used to punish

Clique n A close knit group

Clock

vb. & n.

Beat, punch, trash

Cobble

vb.

Gather together carelessly

Cock manger n. Urinals

Cod

n. vb. adj.

Deception, deceit or stupidity

Coddle

n.

Meal of ham, onions and potatoes

Codger

n

Difficult or irrational individual

Codology

n.

Nonsense

Cog

vb.

To copy , as in an exam, or to copy someone's schoolwork

Colcannon n Mashed potatoes & cabbage or kale

Combo

n.

Football practice

Comeuppance

n.

Just deserts

Conkers n Chestnuts
Constipated geryhound, like a adj Glum, upset

Contrary

adj.

Moody, irritable or irrational

Cooker

n.

[1] Stove [2] Apple used only for cooking

Cop-on

n. & vb.

Common sense, Understanding, streetwise knowledge

Copper

n.

Small denomination coin

Corner-boy

n.

Loitering without intent

Corpo

n.

Abbreviated term for Dublin Corporation

Corporation n Well endowed belly, frequently from over-drinking and under-exercising.  eg "Look at the corporation on him

Cosy / cosie

n.

s.o. who rents a taxi licence from the owner when the owner is not using it (co-driver)

Court

n. vb.

Pay amorous attention to or close sexual contact

Covers

n.

Bedclothes

Cow juice n. Milk

Crab

n.

Unpleasant child

Craic / Crack

adj. n.

Fun
Crack is not a drug, although it can be intoxicating.
Crack is good times, good conversation, often in a pub.
Craic used to be Crack, but now it's Craic, because somewhere, a libel lawyer got nervous.

Crappucino n. The particularly frothy type of diarrhoea that you get after eating in some Dublin eat-houses.

Crawling

metonym

Of grid-locked traffic

Crawthumper

n.

Ostentatiously pious / religious individual

Craythur /cratur

n.

Strong drink

Credit

n. vb.

Asset or advantage

Crisps

n.

Potato chips

Crock n. Dodgy car

Croker

n.

Affectionate abbreviation of Croak Park stadium

Crubeen

n.

Pig's trotter to eat

Cruiser, the

nickname

Conor Cruise O'Brien

Cruiscín lán

adj.

Plenty (lit. Irish 'full jug')

Culchie

n.

Derogatory term for a country person as perceived by Dubliners

Cúpla focal

n. phr.

A few words in the Irish language

Cuppa, a   Cup of coffee, cup of tea,
Cur adj. Unpleasant fellow
Cushty   Easy (also 'Sorted', 'Handy').   "I've got a cushty job."
"This gaf is cushty"

Cute-hoor

n.

Clever or devious man with overriding self-interest. Often used with sneaking admiration. see also 'hoor'

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Most recent version December, 2006
To be updated from time to time
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