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Ireland has a lot to offer the world. Not only does it have amazing scenery, incredible sights, and notoriously fun citizens, the people also have a certain way with words.
The Irish are known in the US for their quick speaking and heavy accents, but they’ve also got a few out-of-the-box phrases that are worth noting. Sadly, if you aren’t from Ireland or of Irish descent, you probably haven’t heard half of them.
We rounded up 16 Irish sayings — and what they really mean.
1. “What’s the craic?”
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Greetings like “Any craic?” and “How’s the craic?” most likely confuse tourists because craic is pronounced like “crack.”
The most straightforward definition is fun or enjoyment, and it can substitute for “How are you?” A typical response is “divil a bit,” which means “not much.”
2. “Away with the fairies.”
Reuters
This phrase got its origin thanks to the folk tales about fairies picking people up and taking them away.
Today, this Irish saying is used when someone isn’t facing reality or is living in la la land.
3. “Quit acting the maggot.”
AP
In the Emerald Isle, if your friends are getting rowdy or making a fool of themselves, you’d say they are “acting the maggot.”
This phrase could also be used to talk about anything that isn’t acting properly, like if your phone is on the fritz or the trains are running way behind schedule.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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