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A' cur blas air seanchas

Spicing up a tale

When we tell any story, even a story about what happened to you at the weekend or during the working day, it is important that there is enough language to make the story interesting, descriptive and attractive to those who are listening to us.

And there are plenty of idioms and idiomatic expressions in Gaelic that would spice up any story!

GNÌOMH | LEUGH AGUS EADAR–THEANGAICH

Do you know what these idiomatic expressions mean? See if you can translate them into English.

Dèan suidhe a–steach ris an teine.
Bha latha a rachadh agam air an sgeul aithris.
Thug i sùil air a chaisgeadh searrach.
Bha iad ri far–cluais aig an uinneig.
Ann an dubh dorcha, marbh na h–oidhche.
Bha e a’ seasamh air a chorra biod.
Bha e a’ cur às a chorp mu dheidhinn …
Tha beul gun phutan aige.
Bha iad a’ toirt a chreids …
Rinn mi sin gun fhios nach biodh …
Thàinig sin mar chlach às an adhair.
‘S e siubhal gun siùcar a bh’ ann.
Chaidh mi à cochall mo chridhe!
Bha mi mo chnàmhan air chrith.
Cha d’ fhuair an seanchas a bh’ aige mòran cluaise.
Ciamar a chaidh dhut? Seo dhut na freagairtean!

Dèan suidhe a–steach ris an teine.

Sit in by the fire

Bha latha a rachadh agam air an sgeul aithris.

There was a day I could manage to recite the story.

Thug i sùil air a chaisgeadh searrach.

She gave him a look that would restrain a foal.

Bha iad ri far–cluais aig an uinneig.

They were eavesdropping at the window.

Ann an dubh dorcha, marbh na h–oidhche.

In the black darkness, dead of night.

Bha e a’ seasamh air a chorra biod.

He was standing on tiptoes.

Bha e a’ cur às a chorp mu dheidhinn …

He was going on / ranting about …

Tha beul gun phutan aige.

He is a blabbermouth.

Bha iad a’ toirt a chreids …

They were pretending/claiming …

Rinn mi sin gun fhiosta nach biodh …

I did that in case …

Thàinig sin mar chlach às an adhar.

That came out of the blue.

‘S e siubhal gun siùcar a bh’ ann.

It was a wasted journey, a wild goose chase.

Chaidh mi à cochall mo chridhe!

I jumped out of my skin!

Bha mo chnàmhan air chrith.

I was shaking to the bone.

Cha d’ fhuair an seanchas a bh’ aige mòran cluaise.

His story didn’t get much attention.

GNÌOMH | SGRÌOBH: BONUS POINTS

Try and write a story using some of these expressions to spice up your story.

And perhaps these words which we learned in B1 Cuspair 26 Dualchas of some help to you as well!

Latha a bha seo …

One day … (past tense)

Uair dhan robh saoghal …

One upon a time …

O chionn fhada an t-saoghail …

Long long ago …

Fada ro linn do sheanar …

Long before your grandad’s time …

Nuair a bha an saoghal òg …

When the world was young …

Uair a bha siud …

Once upon a time …

cho sgìth ris a’ chù

as tired as a dog

cho sgìth ri seann chù

as tired as an old dog

cho aosta ri ceò nam beann

as old as the mist of the hills [mountains]

cho sean ri cnoc

as old as a small hill [hillock]

cho faoin ris na faoileagan

as daft as the seagulls

cho faoin ris na h–uiseagan

as daft as the skylarks

cho modhail ri luch ann an spòig a’ chait

as well behaved as a mouse in the cat’s paw

cho salach ri muc

as dirty as a pig

cho salach ris a’ mhuic

as dirty as a pig

cho maol ri ugh

as bald as an egg

cho sona ris an rìgh

as happy as the king

You can write a real story or a creative story.

Tell the story to your friend (or yourself!) when you are finished.