Wicklow is a beautiful coastal county located just south of Dublin. There are plenty of reasons to visit. So, while you’re there, why not try to pick up some local slang?
Ireland is known for its quirky slang phrases, which are sure to leave bewildered non-locals with puzzled expressions. The coastal county of Wicklow is no exception, with these mad Wicklow slang phrases that make no sense to visitors.
We won’t blame you for feeling lost during a conversation with a Wicklow local. From numerous words for drunk to specifically regional insults and gentle terms of affection, the county almost has its unique language.
So, whether you live in the area and want to know what the heck is going on most of the time, or you’re visiting and want to be able to communicate with the people in the area, we’re here to help.
Here are some mad Wicklow slang phrases you should know.
20. Few tinnies – few tins of alcohol
When the lads head out for a few casual drinks or a blow-out night on the town, they might grab a ‘few tinnies’ for their pre-drinks. This could be beer, pre-mix cocktails, or a spirit and mixer.
19. Hang fire – hold back from doing what you’re about to do
If you want to tell someone to stop doing what they’re about to do or even to wait a moment, you could say to them to ‘hang fire’.
18. Beaker – a nose
The word ‘beaker’ refers to the nose and is most often used to describe someone with a big one.
17. Shut your mouth before the birds start nesting in it – shut up
If you want to tell someone to shut their mouth in the most Wicklow way possible, you can ask them to ‘shut your mouth before the birds start nesting in it‘.
16. Bevvy – a drink
If you’re heading for a night out, you might ask your mate if they want to ‘go for a bevvy‘.
15. Rev up – go away
If someone is doing your head in and you want to get them out of your space, you can tell them to ‘rev up‘.
14. That’ll learn him – that’ll teach him
You’ll often hear the Irish phrase ‘That’ll learn him‘ when someone learns a harsh lesson or experiences reality.
This phrase is often used to refer to a kid doing something they shouldn’t and learning the hard way.
13. Gettin’ your drink on? – are you going out tonight?
At the weekend, you might ask your mate if they’re ‘getting their drink on?‘. By this, you mean, ‘Are you going out tonight?‘.
12. Quer’n – very
For example, on an unseasonably hot day during the summer, someone might say, ‘It’s quer’n hot today, ain’t it?‘ It’s a contraction of ‘quare and‘. This is a phrase you’ll often hear in conversation.
11. Cardboard City – Church View neighbourhood
When discussing Wicklow’s famous Church View neighbourhood, they might refer to the area as ‘Cardboard City‘.
10. Jont – to carry someone on the crossbar of your bike
A common pastime among young kids and teenagers, going for a ‘jont’ involves carrying someone on the handlebars of your bicycle.
9. In the flitz – drunk
As a nation with a fondness for a ‘bevvy’, it should come as no surprise that Ireland has hundreds of slang phrases for ‘drunk’.
One of the mad Wicklow slang phrases that only make sense to locals is ‘in the flitz’, which is one of our favourite ways to say drunk.
8. Joboxo – job is done
A contraction of the phrase ‘the job is oxo‘, ‘joboxo’ is another way to say that the job is done or everything is sorted.
7. The village – Rathnew
A small village in the east of County Wicklow between Ashford and Wicklow Town, Rathnew is referred to by locals by various names, including ‘The Village’, ‘The Thatched City’, and ‘The Khaki Village‘.
6. Gonezo – when someone leaves
When someone leaves, a Wicklow native might say they’re ‘gonezo’. This is certainly one of the mad Wicklow slang phrases that we absolutely love.
5. Batter burger – a Wicklow chipper speciality
A Wicklow speciality sold at the iconic Leo Burdock’s Chipper in Bray, a batter burger is a must-try in the area. It’s essentially a deep-fried battered beef burger. Greasy and delicious!
4. Lamb of the lord jaysus – oh my god
An exclamation of alarm, you might hear a Wicklow local exclaim, ‘Lamb of the lord jaysus‘, when they hear or witness something shocking.
3. Lamped – to hit someone quite hard
If two lads get into a fight, you might hear that one ‘lamped’ the other. This means he hit him quite the wallop.
2. Choppin’ – extreme tiredness you feel when hungover
We’ve all experienced those pretty rough hangovers that make us feel like absolute death. In Wicklow, a person might refer to this horrible state as ‘choppin’‘.
Still, it means you must have had a good night the night before. Small wins!
1. Curtains – when something comes to an end
Topping our list of mad Wicklow slang phrases that only make sense to locals is ‘curtains’.
Perhaps coming from the idea of the curtain falling at the end of a theatre performance, this slang word refers to something coming to an end.
