An American in Dublin | OxfordWords blog

<!DOCTYPE html>    <html class="no-js" lang="en">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/","20190425192216","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1556220136"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />   <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-TJKKB9H');</script>  <meta charset="utf-8"/>  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/> <title>An American in Dublin | OxfordWords blog</title> <script> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-27248091-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); _gaq.push(['secondTracker._setAccount', 'UA-582557-37']); _gaq.push(['secondTracker._trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://ssl' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script>  <meta name="description" content="Word nerd and language writer John Kelly takes you on a stroll through the streets of Dublin, where he explores the rich textures of the city’s language."/> <meta name="robots" content="noodp"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="An American in Dublin | OxfordWords blog"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Word nerd and language writer John Kelly takes you on a stroll through the streets of Dublin, where he explores the rich textures of the city’s language."/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="OxfordWords blog"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="bloomsday"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Dublin"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Ireland"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Irish"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Joyce-James"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="popular"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Ulysses"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Varieties of English"/> <meta property="article:section" content="Varieties of English"/> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2016-06-16T14:41:40+01:00"/> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2017-01-11T14:15:56+01:00"/> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2017-01-11T14:15:56+01:00"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/an-american-in-dublin.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="800"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Word nerd and language writer John Kelly takes you on a stroll through the streets of Dublin, where he explores the rich textures of the city’s language."/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="An American in Dublin | OxfordWords blog"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/an-american-in-dublin.jpg"/> <meta property="DC.date.issued" content="2016-06-16T14:41:40+01:00"/>  <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://s7.addthis.com/"/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://s.w.org/"/> <script type="text/javascript"> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190425192216\/https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11.2.0\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190425192216\/https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11.2.0\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190425192216\/https:\/\/blog.oxforddictionaries.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js"}}; !function(a,b,c){function d(a,b){var c=String.fromCharCode;l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,a),0,0);var d=k.toDataURL();l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,b),0,0);var e=k.toDataURL();return d===e}function e(a){var b;if(!l||!l.fillText)return!1;switch(l.textBaseline="top",l.font="600 32px Arial",a){case"flag":return!(b=d([55356,56826,55356,56819],[55356,56826,8203,55356,56819]))&&(b=d([55356,57332,56128,56423,56128,56418,56128,56421,56128,56430,56128,56423,56128,56447],[55356,57332,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56418,8203,56128,56421,8203,56128,56430,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56447]),!b);case"emoji":return b=d([55358,56760,9792,65039],[55358,56760,8203,9792,65039]),!b}return!1}function f(a){var c=b.createElement("script");c.src=a,c.defer=c.type="text/javascript",b.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(c)}var g,h,i,j,k=b.createElement("canvas"),l=k.getContext&&k.getContext("2d");for(j=Array("flag","emoji"),c.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},i=0;i<j.length;i++)c.supports[j[i]]=e(j[i]),c.supports.everything=c.supports.everything&&c.supports[j[i]],"flag"!==j[i]&&(c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&c.supports[j[i]]);c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!c.supports.flag,c.DOMReady=!1,c.readyCallback=function(){c.DOMReady=!0},c.supports.everything||(h=function(){c.readyCallback()},b.addEventListener?(b.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",h,!1),a.addEventListener("load",h,!1)):(a.attachEvent("onload",h),b.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===b.readyState&&c.readyCallback()})),g=c.source||{},g.concatemoji?f(g.concatemoji):g.wpemoji&&g.twemoji&&(f(g.twemoji),f(g.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <style type="text/css"> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 .07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel="stylesheet" id="themeicons-font-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216cs_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/fonts/themeicons/themeicons.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="new_style-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216cs_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/css/style.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="mCustomScrollbar_css-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216cs_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/css/jquery.mCustomScrollbar.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="wp-block-library-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216cs_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="main-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216cs_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/style.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-includes/js/underscore.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/plugins/googleads.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/singulars/gads-singular.js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-json/"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/?p=38567"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.oxforddictionaries.com%2F2016%2F06%2F16%2Fan-american-in-dublin%2F"/> <link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.oxforddictionaries.com%2F2016%2F06%2F16%2Fan-american-in-dublin%2F&format=xml"/> <base href="/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/"><link rel="amphtml" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/amp/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="57x57" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="114x114" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="72x72" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="144x144" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="60x60" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="120x120" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="76x76" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-38567 single-format-standard wp-custom-logo">  <noscript><iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TJKKB9H" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div id="wrapper"> <div class="center-wrap"> <header> <div class="topHeader"> <div class="container full"> <nav class="nav"> <ul id="menu-deep-blue-top-bar" class=""><li id="menu-item-24232" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-24232"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/" itemprop="url">Dictionary</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24231" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24231"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/thesaurus" itemprop="url">Thesaurus</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24233" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24233"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar" itemprop="url">Grammar</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-39260" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39260"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/grammar-a-z" itemprop="url">Grammar A-Z</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39261" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39261"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/spelling" itemprop="url">Spelling</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39262" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39262"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/punctuation" itemprop="url">Punctuation</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39263" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39263"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/writing-help" itemprop="url">Writing help</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39264" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39264"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/usage" itemprop="url">Usage</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-24234" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24234"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore" itemprop="url">Explore</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-39265" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39265"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins" itemprop="url">Word origins</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39266" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39266"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/language-questions" itemprop="url">Language questions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39267" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39267"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-lists" itemprop="url">Word lists</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-40499" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom last menu-item-40499"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year" itemprop="url">Word of the Year</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="social-nav social-top"> <nav class="nav-container nav-horizontal"><ul id="menu-social-top" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-40782" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-40782"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Facebook</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-40783" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-40783"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://twitter.com/OxfordWords" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Twitter</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-40785" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom last menu-item-40785"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.instagram.com/oxforddictionaries/" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Instagram</span></a></li> </ul></nav></div> </div> </div> <div class="logo-section"> <div class="mobile-menu"> <div class="burger"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </div> </div> <div class="logo"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/" class="custom-logo-link" rel="home" itemprop="url"><img width="264" height="78" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.png" class="custom-logo" alt="OxfordWords blog" itemprop="logo" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.png 264w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-172x51.png 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-108x32.png 108w" sizes="(max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px"/><img width="668" height="115" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-s.png" class="custom-logo-mobile" alt="OxfordWords blog" itemprop="logo" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-s.png 668w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-s-300x52.png 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-s-460x79.png 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-s-566x97.png 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-s-172x30.png 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/logo-s-108x19.png 108w" sizes="(max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px"/></a> </div> <div class="search"> <div class="search-wrap"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/" method="get" class="lb custom" role="search"> <input type="text" placeholder="SEARCH THE BLOG" name="s" id="s" class="text-box" value=""/> <button></button> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="main"> <div class="cookie-container"> <div class="cookies-eu"><span class="cookies-eu-content-holder">We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. This website uses cookies that provide targeted advertising and which track your use of this website. By clicking ‘continue’ or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.</span><span class="cookies-eu-button-holder"><a class="cookies-eu-ok">Continue</a><a class="cookies-eu-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://global.oup.com/cookiepolicy/" target="_blank">Find out more</a></span> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </div> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/17/names-for-relatives/" class="prev-post"><span>Archaic and unusual names for relatives</span></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/15/names-for-food-in-british-and-american-english/" class="next-post"><span>Names for food in British and American English</span></a> <div class="post-head-box"> <div class="banner"> <script async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var gptAdSlots = []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping_leadermpu = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([768, 0], [728, 90]). addSize([0, 0], [300, 250]).build(); gptAdSlots["leadermpu"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_post_related_leadermpu', [[728, 90], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-1'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_leadermpu). addService(googletag.pubads()); var mapping_topleader = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([768, 0], [728, 90]). addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); gptAdSlots["topleader"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_post_top_leader', [[728, 90], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-2'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_topleader). addService(googletag.pubads()); var mapping_mpuleader = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([768, 0], [300, 250]). addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); gptAdSlots["mpuleader"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_post_furtherread_mpuleader', [[300, 250], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-0'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_mpuleader). addService(googletag.pubads()); var mapping_skympu = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([1024, 0], [160, 600]). addSize([0, 0], [300, 250]).build(); gptAdSlots["skympu"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_post_trending_skympu', [[160, 600], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-3'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_skympu). addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script>  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-2"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-2'); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="gen-post-img"> <div class="row"> <div class="large-12 columns"> <img width="1200" height="330" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/an-american-in-dublin-1200x330.jpg" class="single-thumb wp-post-image" alt="Street in Dublin"/> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content bg-white search empty"> <div class="breadcrumbs"> <p><span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/" title="Home page">Home</a></span> > <span>An American in Dublin</span></p> </div> <div class="gen-post-content add-post-content"> <h1>An American in Dublin</h1> <p>It’s Bloomsday. I am strolling the streets of Dublin just as the celebration’s namesake, Leopold Bloom, did on this date nearly 100 years ago in James Joyce’s <em>Ulysses</em>. Like him, I am taking in the many sights and sounds of Ireland’s storied old capital. As a word nerd and language writer, I’m especially listening out for the rich textures of the city’s language. But there are a few problems. One, I’m no James Joyce. Two, I’m an American who’s just moved here. A lot of what I’m hearing is right over my head. But as Joyce writes in <em>Ulysses</em>, ‘To learn one must be humble. But life is the great teacher.’</p> <h3>Street talk</h3> <p>I cross over the Ha’penny Bridge and wander into Temple Bar, where the <em>footpaths</em> are <em>jammers</em>. Er, the <em>sidewalks</em> are <em>crowded</em>, as I’d say back in the States. Good thing I wore my <em>runners</em> – I mean, <em>sneakers</em> – to make my way around the <em>city centre</em>, or <em>downtown</em>, today. ‘It’s <em>close</em>’, a fellow celebrant strikes up a conversation with me at a <em>pedestrian crossing</em>, or <em>crosswalk</em>.</p> <p>‘Yeah, it’s very jammers today’, I <em>chance my arm</em>, an idiom for <em>giving it a shot</em>. I am met with laughter. ‘That’s <em>gas</em>’, he says. I’m ready to excuse myself when he sees my embarrassed countenance. ‘That’s <em>funny</em>. I mean it’s very <em>humid</em> outside.’</p> <p>‘So, where in Dublin do you live?’ I ask.</p> <p>‘Actually, I just came in for Bloomsday. I haven’t been to Dublin in <em>yonks</em>.’ In <em>ages</em> or, more colloquially, <em>in a minute</em>, I translate in my head. ‘I’m just a <em>culchie</em>, as some of these <em>scangers</em> would say’, he continues. A <em>culchie</em>, I learn, is a pejorative term for a person from the country, possibly formed from <em>agricultural</em>. Back home, we’re guilty of calling such folks <em>hicks</em>. Many consider a <em>scanger</em>, meanwhile, is its young, rough-and-tumble city-dwelling equivalent, which might derive from <em>scange</em>, a dialect verb meaning ‘to roam about’. But only an <em>oul’</em> <em>eejit </em>– a <em>knucklehead – </em>would ever cast such aspersions.</p> <p>‘Do you have <em>relations</em> here, then?’ he asks after we chat about my recent move from America. I am about to tell off this <em>lad</em>, this <em>dude</em> – or <em>Gerrup outta dat! </em>as I’ve already heard joked on the streets – when I realize he’s not <em>slagging</em> me: He’s just wondering if I have any <em>relatives</em> here.</p> <p>We begin discussing ancestry when a <em>Garda</em> comes speeding over the <em>ramps</em> down a street. Where I’m from, <em>ramps</em> take cars on or off the highway, help strollers and wheelchairs circumvent stairs, or add a delicious pungency to a meal. Here, they are <em>speed bumps</em>.</p> <p>‘Whew! I definitely <em>amn’t</em> in the country anymore!’ he remarks. It dawns on me, like the <em>bells</em>, or <em>sirens</em>, of a police car sounding off, that being Dublin isn’t just a vocabulary lesson. It’s also a lesson in a whole other language – for instance, the Irish <em>Gardaí</em> (literally ‘guardians’) – as well distinct Hiberno-English constructions such as <em>amn’t</em>, a contraction for <em>am not</em>.</p> <h3>Irish-English mouthfuls</h3> <p>‘Well, I’m after some lunch’, I tell my new friend.</p> <p>‘Oh, where did you eat?’</p> <p>Our confusion is due to the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.uni-due.de/IEN/Southern_Irish_English_%28Hickey%29.pdf">immediate perfective</a>, a unique construction that grafts a bit of native Irish grammar, which lacks English’s auxiliary <em>have</em>, onto English. <em>I’m just after getting lunch</em> is a way of saying ‘I have just eaten lunch’.</p> <p>He recommends a pub that serves up some delicious <em>bap</em> for just a few <em>bob</em>. ‘Make sure to <em>gargle</em> a few <em>scoops</em>, too. For Leopold!’ I need a menu decoder for this one: <em>bap</em> is a bit of <em>bread</em>, <em>bob</em> a few <em>quid</em>. And to <em>gargle</em> is to wash down a few <em>scoops</em>, or <em>pints</em>. Of Guinness, of course. For some Dubliners, a pint is synonymous with the city’s famous beer.</p> <p>‘Mighty <em>craic</em> there! Bye bye! Bye bye bye!’ No, he’s not pushing drugs. He’s letting me know this pub is a fun, sociable place, to approximate this word.</p> <p>‘Howya’, I greet the bartender, putting aside my usual “How’s it going?” ‘I’m <em>grand</em>’, he answers. By now I know he’s not boasting any magnificence. He’s just saying he’s <em>good</em>. Maybe I should just stick with some <em>minerals</em> and a <em>rasher sambo</em>, some <em>soda</em> and <em>bacon</em> <em>sandwich</em>, as I do have some writing to do later. ‘<em>Feck</em> it’, I conclude, employing an Irish minced oath and order a pint. Of course, I have to hit the <em>jacks</em>, or <em>bathrooms</em>, on the <em>first floor</em>, which, across the pond, requires stairs.</p> <h3>Unparliamentary language?</h3> <p>I skip on <em>afters</em>, or <em>dessert</em>, and decide to take a long way to St. Stephen’s Green, ambling over to Trinity College and then past the <em>Dáil.</em> Irish for ‘assembly’ and shorthand for Ireland’s House of Representatives, as my American mind calques it, the <em>Dáil </em>appoints the <em>Taoiseach</em>, or ‘leader’ of <em>É</em><em>ire</em>’s government. Dublin is no <em>Gaeltacht</em>, or region where Irish is the vernacular, but my American English has been absorbing a number of <em>Gaeilge</em> words. Of course there’s <em>Slainte, ‘</em>Cheers!’ which word functions as ‘Thanks’ these parts. But the etymology geek in me can’t help but spot all sorts of Irish-English cognates in the city’s bilingual signage. Like <em>uisce</em>, or ‘water’, and source of the English <em>whiskey</em>. I’ll let you make the connection.<em> </em></p> <p>At St. Stephen’s, which is <em>thick</em> or <em>bustling</em> with people, I find a spot on the grass right next to a group of three enjoying a nice picnic. I can’t help but eavesdrop, yet all I can make out is talk of <em>turds. </em>It’s a park, to be sure, but this not exactly appetizing conversation – until I notice they are splitting up some of their food into <em>thirds</em>. Differences between Irish-English and American-English are also phonological. These picnickers’ accents have replaced interdental fricatives with dental stops, making <em>thanks</em> sound like <em>tanks </em>or <em>three </em>like <em>tree</em>.</p> <h3>Master storytellers <em> </em></h3> <p>I wind my way back to my <em>gaff</em>, or <em>house</em>. ‘What’s the story?’ I greet my wife.</p> <p>‘What do you mean, “What’s the story?” Where you’ve been all this time?’</p> <p>‘“Longest way round is the shortest way home”’, I quote a proverb in <em>Ulysses</em>. ‘Besides, I’m just saying “What’s up?” as a Dubliner would.’</p> <p>She rolls her eyes.</p> <p>‘I’m banjaxed.’ I’m <em>beat</em>. ‘Hand me that <em>yoke</em> there’. No, I wasn’t making a snarky comment on marriage. I was pointing to the television remote, using this catch-all for any sort of a <em>whatchamacallit</em> or <em>thingamajig</em>. Ireland produced the great James Joyce, whose Modern masterpiece of <em>Ulysses</em> we honor on Bloomsday, but the Emerald Isle also gave us <em>Father Ted</em>. Flick.</p> </div> <div class="add-post-content"> <ul> <li><em>The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.</em></li> </ul> </div> <div class="social-share"> <ul> <li class="fb"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/?&p[title]=An American in Dublin" id="fb-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg width="6" height="12" class="transition" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 13.719 26"><path d="m320.89 111.31h-2.5c-1.956 0-2.321.922-2.321 2.25v2.954h4.657l-.619 4.626h-4.04v11.857h-4.865v-11.86h-4.053v-4.626h4.053v-3.406c0-3.954 2.464-6.111 6.06-6.111a31.774 31.774 0 0 1 3.625 .188v4.125" transform="translate(-307.16-107)" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg> </span></a></li> <li class="tw"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://twitter.com/share?text=%22An American in Dublin%22 by @OxfordWords&url=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/" id="twitter-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg width="11" height="11" class="transition" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17.2 14" enable-background="new -33 14 17.2 14"><path d="m-15.8 15.7c-.6.3-1.3.5-2 .6.7-.4 1.3-1.1 1.6-2-.7.4-1.4.7-2.2.9-.6-.7-1.6-1.1-2.6-1.1-2 0-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 0 .3 0 .5.1.8-2.9-.1-5.5-1.6-7.3-3.7-.3.5-.5 1.1-.5 1.8 0 1.2.6 2.3 1.6 2.9-.6 0-1.1-.2-1.6-.4 0 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.8 3.5-.3.1-.6.1-.9.1-.2 0-.4 0-.7-.1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.3 2.5-1.2.9-2.7 1.5-4.4 1.5-.3 0-.6 0-.8 0 1.6 1 3.4 1.6 5.4 1.6 6.5 0 10.1-5.4 10.1-10.1 0-.2 0-.3 0-.5.6-.5 1.2-1.1 1.6-1.8"></path></svg> </span></a></li> <li class="plus"> <a href="#"> <span></span> </a> <ul> <li class="tumb"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://www.tumblr.com/share?v=3&u=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/" id="tumblr-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16.5" height="30" viewbox="0 0 16.5 30"> <path id="twitter" class="cls-1" d="M1247.38,1655.46l1.38,4.27a3.768,3.768,0,0,1-1.92,1.19,8.872,8.872,0,0,1-3.06.58,9.669,9.669,0,0,1-3.29-.47,7.193,7.193,0,0,1-2.46-1.33,8.1,8.1,0,0,1-1.64-1.91,7.929,7.929,0,0,1-.96-2.17,8.318,8.318,0,0,1-.29-2.12v-9.81h-2.9v-3.88a8.229,8.229,0,0,0,2.23-1.25,7.927,7.927,0,0,0,1.57-1.62,9.571,9.571,0,0,0,1-1.84,10.913,10.913,0,0,0,.59-1.79,13.868,13.868,0,0,0,.26-1.59,0.346,0.346,0,0,1,.08-0.16,0.176,0.176,0,0,1,.13-0.06h4.21v7.64h5.76v4.55h-5.77v9.34a4.116,4.116,0,0,0,.11,1.01,3.241,3.241,0,0,0,.39.94,1.847,1.847,0,0,0,.85.75,3.07,3.07,0,0,0,1.41.25A5.327,5.327,0,0,0,1247.38,1655.46Z" transform="translate(-1232.25 -1631.5)"/> </svg> </span></a></li> <li class="pint"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/" id="pinterest-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="23.06" height="30" viewbox="0 0 23.06 30"> <path id="pinterest" class="cls-1" d="M1229.46,1701.76a9.965,9.965,0,0,1,.67-3.67,9.808,9.808,0,0,1,1.87-3,12.932,12.932,0,0,1,2.74-2.22,12.777,12.777,0,0,1,3.34-1.4,13.929,13.929,0,0,1,3.64-.47,11.876,11.876,0,0,1,5.3,1.2,9.96,9.96,0,0,1,3.99,3.49,9.08,9.08,0,0,1,1.53,5.17,16.519,16.519,0,0,1-.34,3.39,13.794,13.794,0,0,1-1.08,3.19,11.486,11.486,0,0,1-1.81,2.7,8.04,8.04,0,0,1-2.61,1.86,8.313,8.313,0,0,1-3.41.69,5.488,5.488,0,0,1-2.43-.58,3.606,3.606,0,0,1-1.74-1.58c-0.12.46-.28,1.14-0.5,2.02s-0.36,1.46-.42,1.72-0.19.68-.37,1.28a8.99,8.99,0,0,1-.47,1.28c-0.14.26-.33,0.63-0.58,1.12a12.008,12.008,0,0,1-.83,1.4c-0.3.44-.67,0.96-1.12,1.56l-0.25.09-0.16-.18q-0.27-2.835-.27-3.39a21.033,21.033,0,0,1,.38-3.72q0.39-2.07,1.2-5.19c0.55-2.08.86-3.3,0.94-3.66a6.946,6.946,0,0,1-.58-3.04,4.819,4.819,0,0,1,.94-2.82,2.84,2.84,0,0,1,2.38-1.31,2.112,2.112,0,0,1,1.72.73,2.823,2.823,0,0,1,.61,1.85,11.653,11.653,0,0,1-.79,3.44,11.416,11.416,0,0,0-.8,3.37,2.466,2.466,0,0,0,.81,1.89,2.836,2.836,0,0,0,1.97.74,3.882,3.882,0,0,0,1.84-.45,4.146,4.146,0,0,0,1.41-1.22,9.97,9.97,0,0,0,1.01-1.72,9.17,9.17,0,0,0,.69-1.99c0.16-.7.28-1.37,0.36-2a14.278,14.278,0,0,0,.12-1.79,6.13,6.13,0,0,0-1.98-4.86,7.487,7.487,0,0,0-5.15-1.74,8.347,8.347,0,0,0-6.02,2.33,7.9,7.9,0,0,0-2.42,5.93,5.251,5.251,0,0,0,.23,1.53,5.078,5.078,0,0,0,.49,1.17c0.17,0.29.33,0.56,0.48,0.82a1.4,1.4,0,0,1,.23.55,4.393,4.393,0,0,1-.27,1.32,0.92,0.92,0,0,1-.67.81c-0.02,0-.12-0.02-0.31-0.06a3.662,3.662,0,0,1-1.63-1.01,5.35,5.35,0,0,1-1.1-1.7,10.612,10.612,0,0,1-.58-1.95A9.079,9.079,0,0,1,1229.46,1701.76Z" transform="translate(-1229.47 -1691)"/> </svg> </span></a></li> <li class="link"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/" id="linkedin-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="31.38" height="30" viewbox="0 0 31.38 30"> <path id="linkenin" class="cls-1" d="M1235.87,1752.49a3.227,3.227,0,0,1-1.03,2.5,3.822,3.822,0,0,1-2.76,1h-0.05a3.669,3.669,0,0,1-2.69-1,3.363,3.363,0,0,1-1.02-2.5,3.3,3.3,0,0,1,1.05-2.5,3.851,3.851,0,0,1,2.75-.99,3.72,3.72,0,0,1,2.71.99A3.4,3.4,0,0,1,1235.87,1752.49Zm-0.43,6.26V1779h-6.73v-20.25h6.73Zm24.24,8.64V1779h-6.72v-10.83a5.922,5.922,0,0,0-.82-3.36,2.92,2.92,0,0,0-2.59-1.22,3.314,3.314,0,0,0-2.15.71,4.388,4.388,0,0,0-1.3,1.74,4.968,4.968,0,0,0-.22,1.66V1779h-6.72q0.045-8.16.04-13.22t-0.02-6.05l-0.02-.98h6.72v2.94h-0.04a7.619,7.619,0,0,1,1.99-2.21,5.242,5.242,0,0,1,1.77-.88,7.882,7.882,0,0,1,2.34-.32,7.251,7.251,0,0,1,5.62,2.32C1258.97,1762.14,1259.68,1764.41,1259.68,1767.39Z" transform="translate(-1228.31 -1749)"/> </svg> </span></a></li> <li class="line"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/" id="stumbleupon-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="38.32" height="30" viewbox="0 0 38.32 30"> <path id="stumbleupon" class="cls-1" d="M1246.03,1819.73v-2.41a2.046,2.046,0,0,0-.59-1.47,1.982,1.982,0,0,0-2.88,0,2.015,2.015,0,0,0-.6,1.47v12.52a8.355,8.355,0,0,1-2.51,6.12,8.44,8.44,0,0,1-12.1-.03,8.557,8.557,0,0,1-2.5-6.21v-5.44h6.54v5.36a2.022,2.022,0,0,0,.6,1.48,1.973,1.973,0,0,0,1.44.61,1.951,1.951,0,0,0,1.43-.61,2.022,2.022,0,0,0,.6-1.48v-12.69a8.064,8.064,0,0,1,2.52-5.97,8.318,8.318,0,0,1,6.02-2.48,8.57,8.57,0,0,1,8.54,8.51v2.78l-3.89,1.19Zm10.58,4.55h6.54v5.44a8.6,8.6,0,0,1-2.5,6.21,8.429,8.429,0,0,1-12.1.02,8.432,8.432,0,0,1-2.52-6.15v-5.48l2.62,1.25,3.89-1.19v5.52a2.046,2.046,0,0,0,.59,1.47,2.028,2.028,0,0,0,2.88,0,2.015,2.015,0,0,0,.6-1.47v-5.62Z" transform="translate(-1224.84 -1808.5)"/> </svg> </span></a></li> <li class="ufo"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/&title=An American in Dublin" id="reddit-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="35.19" height="29.97" viewbox="0 0 35.19 29.97"> <path id="reddit" class="cls-1" d="M1232.11,1879.26a18.4,18.4,0,0,1,9.28-3.06,1.26,1.26,0,0,0,1.31-1.1c0.65-2.34,1.37-4.65,2.09-7.04,2.34,0.47,4.63.92,6.55,1.31a15.259,15.259,0,0,1,2.84-1.67,3.305,3.305,0,0,1,4.07,2.37,3.51,3.51,0,0,1-2.16,4.32,3.405,3.405,0,0,1-4.38-2.01,1.547,1.547,0,0,0-1.46-1.2c-1.34-.21-2.67-0.52-4.08-0.8q-0.855,2.835-1.68,5.58c1.74,0.37,3.45.6,5.07,1.12s3.15,1.32,4.83,2.05c1.89-1.19,3.71-1.16,5.12.18a3.943,3.943,0,0,1-.32,6,1.235,1.235,0,0,0-.51.8c0.23,3.28-1.3,5.7-3.71,7.67a17,17,0,0,1-8.79,3.56,20.105,20.105,0,0,1-13.15-2.41,10.007,10.007,0,0,1-5.15-6.28c-0.2-.85.05-1.83-0.25-2.61-0.29-.76-1.13-1.29-1.55-2.03a3.807,3.807,0,0,1,.81-4.77,3.873,3.873,0,0,1,4.78-.28C1231.81,1879.06,1231.96,1879.16,1232.11,1879.26Zm5.9,3.36a2.432,2.432,0,0,0-2.48,2.46,2.517,2.517,0,0,0,2.46,2.52,2.6,2.6,0,0,0,2.55-2.54A2.508,2.508,0,0,0,1238.01,1882.62Zm10.31,0a2.426,2.426,0,0,0-2.44,2.5,2.512,2.512,0,0,0,2.48,2.48,2.6,2.6,0,0,0,2.52-2.49A2.506,2.506,0,0,0,1248.32,1882.62Zm-11.15,8.82c3.26,3.32,9.27,2.98,11.98-.04-0.24-.22-0.47-0.44-0.71-0.66a1.3,1.3,0,0,0-.23-0.15c-3.38,2.45-6.76,2.46-10.11,0C1237.77,1890.89,1237.47,1891.17,1237.17,1891.44Zm18.79-10.95c0.77,1.09,1.51,2.12,2.24,3.15a1.969,1.969,0,0,0,.31-2.78A1.83,1.83,0,0,0,1255.96,1880.49Zm-27.81,3.12c0.73-1.03,1.47-2.07,2.21-3.11a1.811,1.811,0,0,0-2.56.43A1.871,1.871,0,0,0,1228.15,1883.61Zm28.06-12.5a1.335,1.335,0,0,0-1.28-1.34,1.305,1.305,0,0,0-.06,2.61A1.333,1.333,0,0,0,1256.21,1871.11Z" transform="translate(-1225.56 -1867.56)"/> </svg> </span></a></li> <li class="smth"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://service.weibo.com/share/share.php?url=https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/&appkey=&title=An American in Dublin&language=zh_cn" id="weibo-link" target="_blank" data-title="An American in Dublin"><span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="37.06" height="29.97" viewbox="0 0 37.06 29.97"> <path id="sinaweibo" class="cls-1" d="M1250.87,1927.77a4.723,4.723,0,0,0,.74.11,9.788,9.788,0,0,1,7.85,12.66,1.414,1.414,0,1,1-2.71-.81,6.977,6.977,0,0,0-3.59-8.43,6.754,6.754,0,0,0-4.51-.55,1.415,1.415,0,0,1-.62-2.76,11.245,11.245,0,0,1,1.14-.18,0.142,0.142,0,0,0,.14-0.04h0.19a0.447,0.447,0,0,0,.28,0h0.66a0.416,0.416,0,0,0,.27,0h0.16Zm-27.98,19.76a1.543,1.543,0,0,1,0,.74v-0.74Zm26.89-19.76a0.258,0.258,0,0,1-.28,0h0.28Zm0.93,0a0.242,0.242,0,0,1-.27,0h0.27Zm-0.61,5.03a4.781,4.781,0,0,1,4.75,4.11,4.662,4.662,0,0,1-.19,2.13,1.218,1.218,0,0,1-1.38.83,1.231,1.231,0,0,1-1-1.25,1.421,1.421,0,0,1,.08-0.4,2.318,2.318,0,0,0-1.78-2.93,2.148,2.148,0,0,0-.91,0,1.223,1.223,0,1,1-.45-2.4A3.926,3.926,0,0,1,1250.1,1932.8Zm4.3,11.88a6.191,6.191,0,0,0-2.46-1.99,10.747,10.747,0,0,0-1.55-.59,0.472,0.472,0,0,1-.34-0.67,2.488,2.488,0,0,1,.11-0.29,6.09,6.09,0,0,0,.41-1.88,2.561,2.561,0,0,0-1.78-2.66,5.1,5.1,0,0,0-1.9-.28,13,13,0,0,0-4.18.87c-0.41.14-.79,0.35-1.21,0.45-0.48.11-.66-0.07-0.52-0.54,0.01-.04.02-0.07,0.03-0.1a6.608,6.608,0,0,0,.29-2.65,2.509,2.509,0,0,0-1.87-2.21,4.261,4.261,0,0,0-1.74-.1,10.764,10.764,0,0,0-3.52,1.18,21.61,21.61,0,0,0-4.58,3.19,24.666,24.666,0,0,0-5.01,6,12.3,12.3,0,0,0-1.6,4.34,1.669,1.669,0,0,1-.09.55v0.23a3.053,3.053,0,0,1,0,.74v0.24c0.06,0.02.03,0.07,0.04,0.11a6.563,6.563,0,0,0,.34,1.52,8.4,8.4,0,0,0,2.82,3.83,15.655,15.655,0,0,0,5.47,2.78,23.571,23.571,0,0,0,5.83.99,24.648,24.648,0,0,0,5.08-.3,20.976,20.976,0,0,0,4.86-1.4,16.271,16.271,0,0,0,5.35-3.54,9.059,9.059,0,0,0,2.24-3.53A4.682,4.682,0,0,0,1254.4,1944.68Zm-6.38,5.81a8.938,8.938,0,0,1-3.19,3.04,14.779,14.779,0,0,1-5.6,1.94,20.03,20.03,0,0,1-2.41.19,14.687,14.687,0,0,1-5.51-1.02,8.688,8.688,0,0,1-3.46-2.43,5.111,5.111,0,0,1-.41-6.14,9.253,9.253,0,0,1,3.22-3.06,15.058,15.058,0,0,1,5.65-1.93,16.323,16.323,0,0,1,4.47-.03,11.615,11.615,0,0,1,5.67,2.19,5.857,5.857,0,0,1,2.18,2.98A5.07,5.07,0,0,1,1248.02,1950.49Zm-5.26-2.64a4.441,4.441,0,0,0-2.41-3.25,6.13,6.13,0,0,0-4.69-.46,6.243,6.243,0,0,0-4.05,3.16,4.438,4.438,0,0,0,.98,5.48,5.8,5.8,0,0,0,3.85,1.36,6.1,6.1,0,0,0,1.28-.12,6.427,6.427,0,0,0,4.37-2.96A4.547,4.547,0,0,0,1242.76,1947.85Zm-5.95,2.97a2.4,2.4,0,0,1-1.98,1.06,1.655,1.655,0,0,1-1.72-1.32,1.7,1.7,0,0,1,.14-1.06,2.4,2.4,0,0,1,2.47-1.3A1.647,1.647,0,0,1,1236.81,1950.82Zm1.66-2.22a0.8,0.8,0,0,1-.82.03,0.592,0.592,0,0,1-.28-0.62,0.883,0.883,0,0,1,1.06-.67,0.593,0.593,0,0,1,.45.62A0.731,0.731,0,0,1,1238.47,1948.6Z" transform="translate(-1222.88 -1927.78)"/> </svg> </span></a></li> <li class="mail"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/mailto:odo.uk@oup.com" id="mailto"><span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="33" height="22" viewbox="0 0 33 22"> <path id="mail" class="cls-1" d="M1225.2,2049.45c-0.08.23-.13,0.39-0.19,0.56v18.02c0.11,0.27.21,0.54,0.33,0.85,3.91-2.85,7.77-5.67,11.67-8.52C1233.07,2056.72,1229.15,2053.1,1225.2,2049.45Zm32.6,0.01c-3.96,3.65-7.87,7.26-11.81,10.9,3.9,2.85,7.77,5.67,11.67,8.52,0.12-.31.22-0.58,0.33-0.85v-18.02C1257.93,2049.84,1257.87,2049.67,1257.8,2049.46Zm-29.13.61q1.575,1.455,3.13,2.91,2.415,2.22,4.81,4.43c0.93,0.85,1.83,1.73,2.81,2.53a3.333,3.333,0,0,0,4.47-.22c1.25-1.18,2.52-2.34,3.78-3.5q1.83-1.695,3.66-3.37,1.59-1.47,3.18-2.93c0.63-.58,1.25-1.16,1.9-1.77-0.16-.04-0.28-0.09-0.41-0.11a4.342,4.342,0,0,0-.63-0.05h-27.7a8.974,8.974,0,0,0-1.03.1,0.277,0.277,0,0,0-.01.09,0.234,0.234,0,0,0,.07.07Zm24.32,17.15q-1.83-1.32-3.65-2.66-2.115-1.53-4.22-3.08a0.29,0.29,0,0,0-.42.01,5.154,5.154,0,0,1-5.26.65,12.4,12.4,0,0,1-1.41-.77q-5.73,4.185-11.52,8.42a0.277,0.277,0,0,1,.01.09,10.455,10.455,0,0,0,1.11.12q5.4,0.015,10.82.01h16.96a2.32,2.32,0,0,0,1.07-.2,0.592,0.592,0,0,0-.04-0.06C1255.29,2068.91,1254.14,2068.07,1252.99,2067.22Z" transform="translate(-1225 -2048)"/> </svg> </span></a></li> </ul> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="author-inform"> <p>Guest Blogger</p> <div class="guest-pic"> <div class="photo-wrap"><img width="146" height="210" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/John-Kelly-1.jpg" class="attachment-single_post_author size-single_post_author" alt=""/></div> </div> <div class="guest-name"> <h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/author/john-kelly/" title="Posts by John Kelly" rel="author">John Kelly</a></h5> <p>Educator, writer, and word nerd, John Kelly blogs about etymology at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://mashedradish.com/">www.mashedradish.com</a> and Shakespeare at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://shakespeareconfidential.com/">shakespeareconfidential.com</a>. Follow him on Twitter <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://twitter.com/mashedradish">@mashedradish</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://twitter.com/bardconfidensh">@bardconfidensh</a>.</p> <ul> <li> <h6>Published</h6> <p>June 16 / 2016</p> </li> <li> <h6>Categories</h6> <ul class="post-categories"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/varieties-of-english/" rel="category tag">Varieties of English</a></li></ul> </li> <li> <h6>Tags</h6> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/bloomsday/" rel="tag">bloomsday</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/dublin/" rel="tag">Dublin</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/ireland/" rel="tag">Ireland</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/irish/" rel="tag">Irish</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/joyce-james/" rel="tag">Joyce-James</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/popular/" rel="tag">popular</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/ulysses/" rel="tag">Ulysses</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/tag/varieties-of-english/" rel="tag">Varieties of English</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="banner sec">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-1"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-1'); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="rel-posts"> <h4>Related posts</h4> <div class="post-box"> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/03/17/explore-the-language-of-irish-english/"><img width="566" height="377" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-566x377.jpg" class="attachment-bigembed size-bigembed wp-post-image" alt="The language of Irish English" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-768x512.jpg 768w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-460x307.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-172x115.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-flag.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/03/17/explore-the-language-of-irish-english/" title="Explore the language of Irish English, from ‘gobdaw’ to ‘hooley’" rel="bookmark">Explore the language of Irish English, from ‘gobdaw’ to ‘hooley’</a></h3> <p>Today is St Patrick’s Day, which seems a perfect excuse to not only go ...</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/03/17/explore-the-language-of-irish-english/" class="more" title="Explore the language of Irish English, from ‘gobdaw’ to ‘hooley’"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="post-box"> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/03/15/unexpected-irish-words-in-english/"><img width="566" height="377" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-566x377.jpg" class="attachment-bigembed size-bigembed wp-post-image" alt="'Trousers' is one of several Irish words that appears in English." srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-460x307.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-172x115.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/trousers.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/03/15/unexpected-irish-words-in-english/" title="Irish words that appear in English" rel="bookmark">Irish words that appear in English</a></h3> <p>Most English speakers would not be surprised to hear that words like ...</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/03/15/unexpected-irish-words-in-english/" class="more" title="Irish words that appear in English"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-box"> <h2>Comments</h2> <div> <div id="disqus_thread"> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var disqus_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/16/an-american-in-dublin/'; var disqus_identifier = '38567 http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/?p=38567'; var disqus_container_id = 'disqus_thread'; var disqus_shortname = 'oxforddictionariesblog'; var disqus_title = "An American in Dublin"; var disqus_config_custom = window.disqus_config; var disqus_config = function () { /* All currently supported events: onReady: fires when everything is ready, onNewComment: fires when a new comment is posted, onIdentify: fires when user is authenticated */ this.language = ''; if (disqus_config_custom) { disqus_config_custom.call(this); } }; (function() { var dsq = document.createElement('script'); dsq.type = 'text/javascript'; dsq.async = true; dsq.src = '//' + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/embed.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(dsq); })(); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar"> <div id="accordion"> <div class="accordion"> <div class="accordion-item open"> <span>Categories<b class="hot"></b></span> <div class="type"></div> </div> <div class="data"> <ul> <li class="cat-item cat-item-8"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/competitions-and-games/" title="Check out our quizzes, games, and more! ">Competitions and quizzes</a> (173) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-10"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/dictionaries-and-lexicography/" title="The dictionary and lexicography blog that you've always been looking for!">Dictionaries and lexicography</a> (333) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-11"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/english-in-use/">English in use</a> (752) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-5"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/grammar-and-writing-help/" title="Do you have any pressing grammar questions? Need help with your writing? This is the place for you!">Grammar and writing help</a> (151) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-7"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/interactive-features/">Interactive features</a> (31) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-1288"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/oed-appeal/">OED Appeals</a> (24) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-13"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/other-languages/" title="Explore posts that discuss topics in languages other than English, including Arabic, Chinese, German, French, Spanish, and more!">Other languages</a> (153) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-12"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/varieties-of-english/" title="There are many different types of English around the world. Explore some of the varieties of English in this selection of posts.">Varieties of English</a> (62) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-9"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/word-origins/">Word origins</a> (370) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-6"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/word-trends-and-new-words/">Word trends and new words</a> (259) </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="additional-posts"> <div class="posts-head further"> <h4>Trending <span></span></h4> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/03/07/enquire-or-inquire/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/Enquire-or-inquire-336x179.png" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="Our video explains the differences between enquire and inquire, and when they should both be used."/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/03/07/enquire-or-inquire/">Video: ‘enquire’ or ‘inquire’?</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/08/12/fun-words-love-arabic/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/fun-with-arabic-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="Arabic words"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/08/12/fun-words-love-arabic/">Fun with words or why I love Arabic</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="gap-box side-ad"> <div class="banner">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-3"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-3'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/10/15/musical-lyrics-quiz/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/musicals-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/10/15/musical-lyrics-quiz/">Quiz: can you match the lyrics to the musical?</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/05/26/quiz-less-or-fewer/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/less-fewer-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/05/26/quiz-less-or-fewer/">Quiz: less or fewer?</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/05/01/common-boxing-idioms-metaphors/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/fight-of-the-century-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="There are many boxing idioms in the English language."/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/05/01/common-boxing-idioms-metaphors/">12 boxing idioms in English</a></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gap-box"> <div class="banner"> <div class="gap-box"> <div class="banner">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471358448959-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="additional-posts"> <div class="posts-head further"> <h4>further reading</h4> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2019/01/26/oxford-dictionaries-hindi-word-of-the-year-2018/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/campaign-launch-image-blog-header-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="Oxford Dictionaries Hindi Word of the Year 2018"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2019/01/26/oxford-dictionaries-hindi-word-of-the-year-2018/">Oxford Dictionaries Hindi Word of the Year 2018 is…</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2019/01/04/what-is-the-ling-in-darling/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/Ryan-Gosling-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="What is the ling in darling"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2019/01/04/what-is-the-ling-in-darling/">What is the ‘-ling’ in darling? (And what is the ‘dar-’ for that matter?)</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2018/12/05/curious-history-chauvinism/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/French-napoleonic-soldiers-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="Napoleonic soldiers Nicolas Chauvin of Rochefort"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2018/12/05/curious-history-chauvinism/">The curious history of ‘chauvinism’</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2018/11/30/weekly-word-watch-size-inclusive-ammartaggio-shat/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/SHAT-lego-men-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="SHAT lego men"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2018/11/30/weekly-word-watch-size-inclusive-ammartaggio-shat/">Weekly Word Watch: size-inclusive, ammartaggio, and SHAT</a></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display:none;"> <a class="addthis_button_facebook_like"></a> <a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="large"></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a> </div> </div> </div> <footer> <div class="footer-menu"> <ul id="menu-footer" class=""><li id="menu-item-24551" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-24551"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/about" itemprop="url">About</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24546" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24546"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/contact-form" itemprop="url">Contact us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24548" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24548"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://global.oup.com/privacy?cc=gb" itemprop="url">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-40976" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-40976"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/legal-notice" itemprop="url">Legal Notice</a></li> <li id="menu-item-40977" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-40977"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://global.oup.com/cookiepolicy/?cc=gb" itemprop="url">Cookie Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24550" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom last menu-item-24550"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/help" itemprop="url">Help</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer-logo"> <p>© 2019 Oxford University Press</p> <div class="social-nav social-bottom"> <nav class="nav-container nav-horizontal"><ul id="menu-social-bottom" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-40786" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-40786"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Facebook</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-40787" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-40787"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://twitter.com/OxfordWords" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Twitter</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-40789" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-40789"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.instagram.com/oxforddictionaries/" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Instagram</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-40790" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom last menu-item-40790"><a target="_blank" href="/web/20190425192216/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/feed/" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">RSS</span></a></li> </ul></nav></div> <div class="logo"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/http://global.oup.com/" title="Oxford University Press"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/img/footer-logo.png" alt=""/> </a> </div> </div> </footer> <script type="text/javascript"> // <![CDATA[ var disqus_shortname = 'oxforddictionariesblog'; (function () { var nodes = document.getElementsByTagName('span'); for (var i = 0, url; i < nodes.length; i++) { if (nodes[i].className.indexOf('dsq-postid') != -1 && nodes[i].parentNode.tagName == 'A') { nodes[i].parentNode.setAttribute('data-disqus-identifier', nodes[i].getAttribute('data-dsqidentifier')); url = nodes[i].parentNode.href.split('#', 1); if (url.length == 1) { url = url[0]; } else { url = url[1]; } nodes[i].parentNode.href = url + '#disqus_thread'; } } var s = document.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = '//' + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/count.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('HEAD')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('BODY')[0]).appendChild(s); }()); // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-527abdb33ac1ee08"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/app.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/device.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/plugins/jquery.cookie.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/social_buttons.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/resizeTo.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/plugins/jquery.mCustomScrollbar.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/plugins/jquery.mousewheel.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/selectbox.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/main.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216js_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js"></script> </div> </div> <div id="shortMenu"> <div class="bg close transition"></div> <div class="topHeader"> <div class="topHeaderContainer"> <div class="headerContent"> <a class="logo" href="#"><img class="mob" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/img/logo-s.png" alt=""></a> </div> <nav class="nav"> <ul id="menu-deep-blue-top-bar-1" class=""><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-24232"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/" itemprop="url">Dictionary</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24231"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/thesaurus" itemprop="url">Thesaurus</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24233"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar" itemprop="url">Grammar</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39260"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/grammar-a-z" itemprop="url">Grammar A-Z</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39261"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/spelling" itemprop="url">Spelling</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39262"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/punctuation" itemprop="url">Punctuation</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39263"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/writing-help" itemprop="url">Writing help</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39264"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/usage" itemprop="url">Usage</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24234"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore" itemprop="url">Explore</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39265"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins" itemprop="url">Word origins</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39266"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/language-questions" itemprop="url">Language questions</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39267"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-lists" itemprop="url">Word lists</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom last menu-item-40499"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year" itemprop="url">Word of the Year</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="social-nav social-top"> <nav class="nav-container nav-horizontal"><ul id="menu-social-top-1" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-40782"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-40783"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://twitter.com/OxfordWords" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Twitter</span></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom last menu-item-40785"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190425192216/https://www.instagram.com/oxforddictionaries/" itemprop="url"><span class="screen-reader-text">Instagram</span></a></li> </ul></nav></div> </div> <span class="close"><svg width="19" height="19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 19.1 19.1" enable-background="new -33 14 19.1 19.1"><path fill="#fff" d="m-13.9 16.1l-2.1-2.1-7.4 7.4-7.5-7.4-2.1 2.1 7.4 7.5-7.4 7.4 2.1 2.1 7.5-7.4 7.4 7.4 2.1-2.1-7.4-7.4z"></path></svg></span> </div> </div> </body> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function($){ $('.post-box img').resizeToParent(); $('.gen-post-img img').resizeToParent(); }); </script> </html>

CINXE.COM

An American in Dublin | OxfordWords blog