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Up the Deise10 words and phrases that have a totally different meaning in Waterford
“Were you made in the glass factory?”
AH, WATERFORD. HOME to the humble blaa, John O’Shea and a Déise accent that would bring a tear to the eye.
But are you familiar with some of its choice lingo? Time to get acquainted.
1. Slack
What it usually means: Loose, not particularly tight; casual pants.
What it means in Waterford: Harsh or unfair.
“Ah, that’s so slack.”
2. Haboo
What is usually means: Perhaps something you’d say to frighten a ghost?
What it means in Waterford: Sleep.
3. Shellakybooky (spelling disputed)
What it usually means: That you have had far too much to drink and are speaking literal nonsense.
What it means in Waterford: A snail.
4. Lack
What is usually means: To be deficient or without something.
What it means in Waterford: Boyfriend or girlfriend.
“Is that his lack?”
5. Red lead
What it usually means: Lead of a scarlet hue.
What it means in Waterford: Luncheon meat.
“A few slices of red lead in my blaa, please.”
6. Gallybander
What is usually means: Nothing.
What it means in Waterford: A slingshot implement, usually handmade.
7. “Well boy/girl”
What is usually means: Usually the precursor to a more serious statement.
“Well, boy, it looks like we’ve got a problem here.”
What it means in Waterford: Standard greeting.
“Well boy!”
8. Cant
What it usually means: That you have poor grammar and neglected to put the apostrophe in “can’t”
What it means in Waterford: To lose something.
“I canted the ball over the fence.”
9. Were you made in the glass factory?
What it usually means: Genuine query as to whether you were made in a glass factory.
What it means in Waterford: You’re standing in front of the TV and you need to move out of the way. (“The glass factory” referring to Waterford Crystal, of course.)
10. Bibe
What is usually means: Nothing really.
What it means in Waterford: Polite term for someone who is, shall we say, a piece of work.
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