What are you really saying?

If you think about it we use words all the time that don't really make a lot of sense. The root word really isn't all that recognizable, and I'm sure that it must drive people learning English as a second language crazy! Well... You are probably speaking a little bit of Irish Gaelic everyday... And you may not have even realized it.

Case in point:

What does it mean for something to break into "smithereens"? What a bizarre word. Well... You don't have to stay up late pondering that one ever again... It comes from the Gaelic word "smidiríní" which means - little pieces!


Do you know someone who is "highfalutin'"? That one comes from "Uí bhfolaíocht án." It looks like a mouthful - but it is pronounced - "high falooit an" (FYI: the "bh" and the "ch" are silent)... It is the Irish Gaelic word meaning "descended from noble blood". Now that makes sense doesn't it?


Have you ever told someone that they have swell "duds" on? That comes from the Irish Gaelic word "d'éadaíse" which sounds a like like duds and means 'your clothes'.


Have you ever gone to a store that advertised that they have 'bargains galore'? Galore comes directly from the Irish Gaelic word "go leor" meaning a lot or enough.


Now you know... Interesting isn't it?