Wicked Irish [Paperback]

Howard Tomb (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076111355X | ISBN-13: 978-0761113553 | Publication Date: July 1, 1999 | Edition: Min

Master the gift of gab with the phrase book that makes Erin go ha!

From Dublin on Five Pints an Hour to Genuflection for Beginners, Wicked Irish helps visitors negotiate the nuances of a country where even trees are considered Protestant or Catholic. Learn to flatter customs agents: "'Tis a grand machine you have there, officer!" Politely decline the heavy Irish breakfast: "I've given up pig entrails/congealed blood for Lent." Show appreciation for fine whiskey: "ACK ACK! Mother Mary! That goes down the nun's knickers!" There's even a special section just for golfers: "Should I replace divots in consecrated ground? Am I entitled to relief from this dolmen/ewe/leprechaun? Shite! I don't usually lose a putt in the wind."

Wicked Irish is instant gift of gab, and soon you'll be toasting newfound friends, strangers, barmaids, and even stray dogs with confidence.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

LINKS ON THE BRINK

"Nil cleachtadh agam ar thonnta dha throigh deag ar airde i bhfiontar uisce."
- I'm not accustomed to 12-foot breakers in a water hazard.

"An bhfuil na fothracha/liosanna thar teorainn?"
- Are the ruins/fairy forts out of bounds?

"Ar choir dom scraithini a chur thar nais i dtalamh coisricthe?"
- Should I replace divots in consecrated ground?

"An bhfuil faoiseamh ag dul dom on dolmain/gcaora/lurachan so."
- Am I entitled to relief from this dolmen/ewe/leprechaun?

About the Author

Howard Tomb is the author of the Wicked Travel books. He also writes for the Sunday Travel Section of the New York Times.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; Min edition (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076111355X
• ISBN-13: 978-0761113553
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 4.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Miscellaneous
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Writing > Travel
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Phrasebooks - General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hysterical!, July 16, 2002

By 

Meghan D. O'connor "~There's no such thing as... (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wicked Irish (Paperback)

While I wouldn't recommend you use many of these phrases, this is a terribly funny book. I picked it up after leafing through it at the store and finding phrases about sheep and inns and the hazards of driving in Ireland without insurance. Each little section starts out innocuously enough, then quickly degenerates into truly funny comments. If you like Monty Python or BlackAdder, this will really make you laugh. If you liked the Father Ted tv show, this little book will make you keel over giggling. Ah, go on, ya eejit, buy it already!

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Funny, December 9, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Wicked Irish (Paperback)

I thought that this book was really funny, with many 'useful' irish gaelic phrases. It is a great book because it comes with a phoenetic pronounciation of every phrase, which means you don't have to try and interpret every single word yourself. A very enjoyable read.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute, funny, but not trustworthy, December 21, 2004

By 

L. Eskin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wicked Irish (Paperback)

If you are considering getting this book as a fun way to add some vocabulary to your study of Irish, don't. It's very funny, but even with my very (!) limited knowledge of Irish I've found a mistake - so now of course I don't take anything it says at face value.

Specifically (leaving out the marks that are difficult to type), p. 59, Social Ireland, Kiss My Aphorism:
"May the road" = "Go n-eiri",
"rise to meet" = "an bothar",
"your face" = "i t'aghaidh"
Apparently they just cut apart the phrase, without regard for grammar.

Well worth the price as a general humor book. A nice thing to leave on the coffee table to amuse your friends. Just don't try to learn from it.