Words only the Irish use.

[Hardy]

'Cat malojan' for something really bad. Can be abbreviated to 'cat'.

Yep, we had 'cat malogen' in Mayo also so the term seems to have been widespread. It could be shortened to 'cat' alright also but 'pure cat' was the epitome of badness.

I always assumed it was 'melodeon' - the musical instrument which is often pronounced 'malojan' by Irish people. A melodeon being a vaguely ludicrous type of a yoke, I suppose.

Anyone ever hear the expression 'mahogany gas pipe'? For some reason, it used to be said as a supposedly comical expression in Irish by people who didn't speak Irish - 'sea, ní hea, mahogany gas pipe'.

I think it originated with Flann OBrien, Hardy. There was a restaurant in Dunlin in the early 90s called Mahogany gaspipe.

It could be Flann/Myles OK, though I don't remember seeing it in his stuff.

I just googled there and it seems a very commonly known phrase. I didn't think it was.

[brokencrossbar1]

'Cat malojan' for something really bad. Can be abbreviated to 'cat'.

Yep, we had 'cat malogen' in Mayo also so the term seems to have been widespread. It could be shortened to 'cat' alright also but 'pure cat' was the epitome of badness.

I always assumed it was 'melodeon' - the musical instrument which is often pronounced 'malojan' by Irish people. A melodeon being a vaguely ludicrous type of a yoke, I suppose.

Anyone ever hear the expression 'mahogany gas pipe'? For some reason, it used to be said as a supposedly comical expression in Irish by people who didn't speak Irish - 'sea, ní hea, mahogany gas pipe'.

I think it originated with Flann OBrien, Hardy. There was a restaurant in Dunlin in the early 90s called Mahogany gaspipe.

Ta mahogany gaspipe agus hole i mo wall was the old phrase

[ONeill]

Ta me mahogany gaspipe cocker spaniel

[Eamonnca1]

'Cat malojan' for something really bad. Can be abbreviated to 'cat'.

Cat used like that is widespread in the north, but this is the first time I've ever heard Cat malojan used like that. I've heard of cat malojan, not something that came up very often, but never knew what it meant. I thought it was just somebody's name and thought no more of it.

[Eamonnca1]

Always thought everyone said "red up" for tidy up, tidy up would hardly be used in Derry, nearly always red up used. Talking to a Belfast man recently and he had to ask me what it meant.

Red up is used in North Armagh for tidy up, but also for judgmentally talking ill of somebody. If you're clearing something out then that's having a red out.

[Eamonnca1]

Taking a hand at - To make fun of, usually to the victim's face but without them knowing. The D in hand is usually silent.

[seafoid]

'Cat malojan' for something really bad. Can be abbreviated to 'cat'.

Cat used like that is widespread in the north, but this is the first time I've ever heard Cat malojan used like that. I've heard of cat malojan, not something that came up very often, but never knew what it meant. I thought it was just somebody's name and thought no more of it.

It might have come from the idea of a cat playing an instrument representing very poor quality. In Chinese there's the term "three legged cat kung fu" and it stands for the same thing.
Tyrone were real three legged cat kung fu the last day.

[Rossfan]

'Cat malojan' for something really bad. Can be abbreviated to 'cat'.

Yep, we had 'cat malogen' in Mayo also so the term seems to have been widespread. It could be shortened to 'cat' alright also but 'pure cat' was the epitome of badness.

Same in Roscommon.

[ONeill]

Pillar Caffrey used it too.

[Hardy]

People have been saying it all my life where I come from.

[haveaharp]

'Cat malojan' for something really bad. Can be abbreviated to 'cat'.

Cat used like that is widespread in the north, but this is the first time I've ever heard Cat malojan used like that. I've heard of cat malojan, not something that came up very often, but never knew what it meant. I thought it was just somebody's name and thought no more of it.

Also Cat baloo

[An Gaeilgoir]

Also, Continental....

He didn't give a continental F**k, i dont give a continental f**k.......

[whitey]

One they use down in Mayo to describe someone under the influence of drink......Melodian

[armaghniac]

I imagine "Cat" is a word of Latin origin. Not sure why it seems more common in Ireland than Britain.

[brokencrossbar1]

I imagine "Cat" is a word of Latin origin. Not sure why it seems more common in Ireland than Britain.

The irish language is closer to latin in terms of syntax etc than English so I would say it might be something to do with that.