A collection of idiomatic expressions and sayings in Manx, with English equivalents and translations.
| Idioms | English versions |
|---|---|
| Cha beayn as lomman arree | As constant as the dry east wind ("As constant as the dry wind of spring") |
| Cha bennin rish son airh ny argid | I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole ("I wouldn't touch it for gold or silver") |
| Cha bog as eeym | As soft as butter |
| Cha boght as lugh killagh | As poor as a church mouse |
| Cha bouyr as clagh | As deaf as a doorpost ("As deaf as a stone") |
| Cha buigh as airh | As yellow as gold |
| Cha dullyr as vaik oo rieau | As clear as ditch water ("As gloomy/fuzzy as you ever see") |
| Cha feayr as clagh | As cold as a stone |
| Cha follan as breck | As fit as a fiddle, As sound as a bell ("As healthy as a trout") |
| Cha follan as mwaagh | As fit as a fiddle, Brimful of health ("As healthy as a hare") |
| Cha gial as sniaghtey | As white as snow, snow-white |
| Cha jeean as shellan | As keen as mustard ("As keen as a bee") |
| Cha marroo as skeddan | As dead as a dodo, stone dead ("As dead as a herring") |
| Cha meenearagh as muc | As bold as brass ("As bold as a pig") |
| Cha tarroogh as shellan | As busy as a bee |
| Cha mial as ainle | As gentle as a lamb ("As gentle as an angel") |
| Cha shickyr as ta'n Chaist er yn Doonaght | As sure as eggs is eggs ("As sure as Easter is on Sunday") |
| Cha skeoigh as lugh 'sy chreeagh | As snug as a bug in a rug ("As snug as a mouse at the border") |
| Cho ard rish Toor Vabel | As high as the Tower of Babel |
| Cho creoi rish y darragh | As hard as oak |
| Cho bouyr as clagh | Stone cold ("As cold as a stone") |
| Custhey skeddan marroo | Flogging a dead horse ("Flogging a dead herring") |
| Jeeragh tessen çheerey | As the crow flies ("Straight across the land") |
Information about Manx | Phrases | Numbers | Colours | Family words | Colours | Time | Idioms | Proverbs | Terms of endearment | Comparison of Celtic languages | Celtic cognates | Celtiadur | Songs | Tower of Babel | The decline and revival of Manx | My podcast about Manx | Links | Learning materials
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
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