Farm Sayings

Bass Reeves

It takes a b@llox to know a b@llox and a bigger one at that

NcdJd

A grafter. Locally it's used to refer to someone that keeps the head down, works hard and gets the job done. "He's a grafter"

Was looking up the word on the internet there and there's various meanings including a thief and someone who grafts fruit trees.

Don't know how it got to mean what we meant it to mean locally but there ya go.

The Continental Op

NcdJd wrote: »

A grafter. Locally it's used to refer to someone that keeps the head down, works hard and gets the job done. "He's a grafter"

Was looking up the word on the internet there and there's various meanings including a thief and someone who grafts fruit trees.

Don't know how it got to mean what we meant it to mean locally but there ya go.

I've also used the term for a very strong often steel handled spade used for digging holes for gate posts etc. Also know as a Graft.

Hard graft = hard work.

jc bamford

Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís.
Broadly translates: May we live to see this time next year. Used to hear it said as we sat down to the goose on Christmas day or the first meal of new potatoes in the end of June

Lime Tree Farm

Had a laugh with my sister in the UK when she heard I was after consuming a few glasses of wine, "Well the devil mend you". It was an expression used by our father when we did something wrong.

john9876

NcdJd wrote: »

A grafter. Locally it's used to refer to someone that keeps the head down, works hard and gets the job done. "He's a grafter"

Was looking up the word on the internet there and there's various meanings including a thief and someone who grafts fruit trees.

Don't know how it got to mean what we meant it to mean locally but there ya go.

Speaking about how we use some words differently.
Where I come from a ditch is a physical barrier made of stones and/or soil. A dike is an open channel dug alongside a ditch to drain away rainwater etc.
I believe in other parts including the UK and Holland the words are used the other way around, ie a dike is a physical structure and a ditch is an open channel used to drain rainwater etc.

The Continental Op

john9876 wrote: »

Speaking about how we use some words differently.
Where I come from a ditch is a physical barrier made of stones and/or soil. A dike is an open channel dug alongside a ditch to drain away rainwater etc.
I believe in other parts including the UK and Holland the words are used the other way around, ie a dike is a physical structure and a ditch is an open channel used to drain rainwater etc.

Thats right the "ditch" thing is bloody confusing.

If I use the word in the English sense I add the word open or drainage. So I'd talk about an open ditch or a drainage ditch to make it sound more like something dug out.

I think the word ditch originally referred to both the dug out part and the spoil thrown up from it.

NcdJd

In my local area ditch refers to a dug out drain that drains water either all year round or in winter. Usually there is a hedge one side of it which usually is the boundary, eg I have boundaries with my neighbour, the ditches are on our side but the hedge on his side and that's the boundary. Soil at the side of the ditch is called a bank here as are embankments (would be rare, just thinking there are not too many fields around here that don't have a ditch going all the way round them). Never heard of dyke being used around here. Drains we'd use to describe underground pipes draining water out of a field into the ditch

kerryjack

You have to be careful if you are using the word dike as it has another meaning as well, its slang for leisbian. So if you tell your American friends I was clearing out the dikes today they would look at you a bit funny.

NcdJd

Wire away - go ahead

eeeee

Lamp on - same, go ahead.

Jb1989

eeeee wrote: »

Lamp on - same, go ahead.

Plough on

vincenzolorenzo

NcdJd wrote: »

In my local area ditch refers to a dug out drain that drains water either all year round or in winter. Usually there is a hedge one side of it which usually is the boundary, eg I have boundaries with my neighbour, the ditches are on our side but the hedge on his side and that's the boundary. Soil at the side of the ditch is called a bank here as are embankments (would be rare, just thinking there are not too many fields around here that don't have a ditch going all the way round them). Never heard of dyke being used around here. Drains we'd use to describe underground pipes draining water out of a field into the ditch

Same here in N Kildare. For a long long time I could never understand the phrase 'hurler on the ditch' Why would he be down in a wet hole?!

stoneill

NcdJd wrote: »

In my local area ditch refers to a dug out drain that drains water either all year round or in winter. Usually there is a hedge one side of it which usually is the boundary, eg I have boundaries with my neighbour, the ditches are on our side but the hedge on his side and that's the boundary. Soil at the side of the ditch is called a bank here as are embankments (would be rare, just thinking there are not too many fields around here that don't have a ditch going all the way round them). Never heard of dyke being used around here. Drains we'd use to describe underground pipes draining water out of a field into the ditch

Ditch to drain water out, Dyke is a barrier to keep water out, or a lady in flat shoes.

Lime Tree Farm

Open trenches on field boundary, filled with water from field drains. Water in trenches flows down to river. Earth banks created with the soil from the trench, usually has hedging on top.

_Brian

It’s interesting how different terminology is so prevalent on a small island.

Here trench of water here can be ditch, gripe or siuc (not sure of the spelling on that)

Siuc also lends itself to the saying “I was full as a siuc last night” obviously referring to having a nip too much.

Above them you’ll find your planted ditch or hedge.

Note* ditch is interchangeable depending on who your talking to and is a sort of general term to a boundary.

I’ve never ever heard the term dike/dyke used by a farmer.

In our area the boundary responsibility for stock proofing lies on the hedge side of the water, if the hedge is on your side then you must keep it stock proof, if it’s on mine it’s up to me. I’m not sure how widespread that notion is.

joe35

Had an uncle home from Scotland a few years ago. He was telling me he remembered himself and my father building the 'dyke' in the far field.

I didn't know what he was talking about, he has a very strong accent. Only after me asking him about 5 times did I realise that he was on about building the ditch. It's the only time I ever heard the word dyke. I thought it was just his pronunciation.

It was a stone wall.

NcdJd

_Brian wrote: »

It’s interesting how different terminology is so prevalent on a small island.

Here trench of water here can be ditch, gripe or siuc (not sure of the spelling on that)

Siuc also lends itself to the saying “I was full as a siuc last night” obviously referring to having a nip too much.

Above them you’ll find your planted ditch or hedge.

Note* ditch is interchangeable depending on who your talking to and is a sort of general term to a boundary.

I’ve never ever heard the term dike/dyke used by a farmer.

In our area the boundary responsibility for stock proofing lies on the hedge side of the water, if the hedge is on your side then you must keep it stock proof, if it’s on mine it’s up to me. I’m not sure how widespread that notion is.

Never heard of gripe or siuc. The boundary thing would be the same here. We have another name for a ditch here but for the life of me can't remember it. Would not be used much now but a man locally used it a couple of months ago.

It will pop into my head at some stage.

The Continental Op

Gripe another very farming term I'm familiar with but not afaik in Ireland. In Yorkshire a gripe is a muck fork often the short handled variety with T or Y handle. So depending where you are you can fall into a gripe or muck out with one.

gozunda

The Continental Op wrote: »

Thats right the "ditch" thing is bloody confusing.

If I use the word in the English sense I add the word open or drainage. So I'd talk about an open ditch or a drainage ditch to make it sound more like something dug out.

I think the word ditch originally referred to both the dug out part and the spoil thrown up from it.

I think you're right. I was told that years ago when men were employed to "dig a ditch" they did so and what came out of the hole being dug- became the 'ditch' and the hole itself which was left behind was later called a drain or dike. Makes perfect sense if you think about it.

That said a dike would be more correct for a drain coming off a river or standing by itself

It confuses the hell out of English visitors though

But not to confuse things further - there are also double banks - these are very wide banks which were sometimes used as a passage across low lying land. Some double banks could be up to 6 feet or more in height from the level of the field.

Most of these double banks had double ditches to drain water (one on each side) and were formidable obstacles for riders with horses - as the horse had to jump the water filled ditch up onto the top of the double bank and then jump of again over the one on the opposite site. Not for the faint hearted.

john9876

I used the word dyke instead of dike to describe a channel used to drain water so apologies to any lady farmers... who like other lady farmers (although the Collins English dictionary says dyke can be used for a water channel or ladies who like ladies... so I'll let myself off this time).

hillbillygirl

That lads so mean he’d peal an orange in his pocket

Dakota Dan

hillbillygirl wrote: »

That lads so mean he’d peal an orange in his pocket

Or as Niall Tobin used to say Cavan men were so mean that they eat their dinner out of a drawer if someone called they could close the drawer fast.

lalababa

You need grass to grow grass.

_Brian

Dakota Dan wrote: »

Or as Niall Tobin used to say Cavan men were so mean that they eat their dinner out of a drawer if someone called they could close the drawer fast.

Jokes on ye all, it keeps the dinner warm too 🤣🤣

kerryjack

One I heard today sow your wild oats in evening and pray for crop failure in the morning

Lady Haywire

The Continental Op wrote: »

Gripe another very farming term I'm familiar with but not afaik in Ireland. In Yorkshire a gripe is a muck fork often the short handled variety with T or Y handle. So depending where you are you can fall into a gripe or muck out with one.

Gripe here too, or drain. Never dyke.

Don't start the bleedin' fork/sprong/graipe/pike war again!!

The Continental Op

Moving on ......

No one seems to have mentioned the perennial farming related,

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence",

yet?

banoffe2

There's a touch of the Dexter about em--- saying used to describe a person's build!

The Continental Op

banoffe2 wrote: »

There's a touch of the Dexter about em--- saying used to describe a person's build!

I had to think about that one as for some stupid reason my first thoughts were of the TV series Dexter.

I will now never hear the name Dexter again without thinking short arse.

_Brian

_Brian wrote: »

It’s interesting how different terminology is so prevalent on a small island.

Here trench of water here can be ditch, gripe or siuc (not sure of the spelling on that)

Siuc also lends itself to the saying “I was full as a siuc last night” obviously referring to having a nip too much.

Above them you’ll find your planted ditch or hedge.

Note* ditch is interchangeable depending on who your talking to and is a sort of general term to a boundary.

I’ve never ever heard the term dike/dyke used by a farmer.

In our area the boundary responsibility for stock proofing lies on the hedge side of the water, if the hedge is on your side then you must keep it stock proof, if it’s on mine it’s up to me. I’m not sure how widespread that notion is.

Sheugh is the spelling of the word above that I got so hideously wrong.

chooseusername

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Gripe here too, or drain. Never dyke.

Don't start the bleedin' fork/sprong/graipe/pike war again!!

Can we start a turnip or swede war ?

Lady Haywire

chooseusername wrote: »

Can we start a turnip or swede war ?

Are they not two different things?!

chooseusername

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Are they not two different things?!

Yea,
turnip white.
swede yellow
but swedes called turnips by some racists

Lady Haywire

chooseusername wrote: »

Yea,
turnip white.
swede yellow
but swedes called turnips by some racists

It was either Lidl or Aldi who used a photo of a white turnip instead of a swede in their weekly offer magazine. Pedantic folk were in uproar
Or maybe they called a swede a turnip. Something like that anyway!

Say my name

And Irish folk get offended for being called English..

I suppose at least we're not mistaken for turnips.

your grave is always open




Not fully a farm saying,but its in relation to not wanting to work on trawlers

Infernal Racket

Someone who's unlucky - "if he was an undertaker, no one would die"

Infernal Racket

He wouldn't work on batteries

Infernal Racket

He's like a blister. Only shows up after the work is done.

Cerveza

This is non farm related to a certain degree but over heard my aunt one evening taking to my mother when her husband came home from the saloon after a gallon of Porter and up for a shot of patie.
It was like pushing a marshmallow through a keyhole she said.

Infernal Racket

If you work for free you'll never be idol.

older by the day

Cerveza wrote: »

This is non farm related to a certain degree but over heard my aunt one evening taking to my mother when her husband came home from the saloon after a gallon of Porter and up for a shot of patie.
It was like pushing a marshmallow through a keyhole she said.

Pushing a rope up o Connell street, when two pensioners were asked how there honeymoon went.

kerryjack

Blood is thicker than water but money is thicker than blood so true when it comes to deviding up the family fortune.

foxy farmer

A "taisceán" (tyskawn) used to describe a partial load of grain silage etc in a trailer
A gabháll - a bundle of hay straw etc that you could carry in your arms.
A gollóg - a Y shaped piece of wood usually a
forked limb cut for some purpose.
Meascán buí. yellow scour. Once heard it used to describe the colour of paint on a house.
Burst your buldoon. To over exert yourself.

the_pen_turner

foxy farmer wrote: »

A "taisceán" (tyskawn) used to describe a partial load of grain silage etc in a trailer
A gabháll - a bundle of hay straw etc that you could carry in your arms.
A gollóg - a Y shaped piece of wood usually a
forked limb cut for some purpose.
Meascán buí. yellow scour. Once heard it used to describe the colour of paint on a house.
Burst your buldoon. To over exert yourself.

my father often says tayskawn for a small portion in a resturant or if he only had a really small bit of something nice like a cheesecake

Dinzee Conlee

foxy farmer wrote: »

A "taisceán" (tyskawn) used to describe a partial load of grain silage etc in a trailer
A gabháll - a bundle of hay straw etc that you could carry in your arms.
A gollóg - a Y shaped piece of wood usually a
forked limb cut for some purpose.
Meascán buí. yellow scour. Once heard it used to describe the colour of paint on a house.
Burst your buldoon. To over exert yourself.

Would have heard the man that was here before me say all those when he was around...

Also - a bácal (bak-all) - a bak-all of sticks, used to describe the amount you could carry in your arms holding them out in front of your chest...

I think to burst your buldoon was a prolapse, as have heard it said that an animal put out their buldoon...

LilacNails

foxy farmer wrote: »

A "taisceán" (tyskawn) used to describe a partial load of grain silage etc in a trailer
A gabháll - a bundle of hay straw etc that you could carry in your arms.
A gollóg - a Y shaped piece of wood usually a
forked limb cut for some purpose.
Meascán buí. yellow scour. Once heard it used to describe the colour of paint on a house.
Burst your buldoon. To over exert yourself.

How do u pronounce the Irish ones?

foxy farmer

LilacNails wrote: »

How do u pronounce the Irish ones?

Dont even know if that's the correct Irish spelling- never saw them written down.
Here's my phonetic spelling of how I hear them.
Tyskawn
Guwall
Gallowg
Masskawn bwee

LilacNails

Now I recognise a few of them haha