How to talk about 'having notions' in Irish
Outside of Ireland 'having notions' means nothing more than having an 'idea', but watch out if someone ever accuses you of having notions in Ireland.
Having 'notions' in Ireland is a whole different ball game! In Ireland, 'having notions' means thinking a bit too highly of yourself - whether that's putting on airs, getting fancy ideas or just generally having delusions of grandeur!
Here are a few ways to talk about having 'notions' in the Irish language
1. Éirí in airde
The phrase 'éirí in airde' literally means 'getting higher', as in getting above yourself!
*Spoiler Alert* ;-)
The closing lines of Pádraic Ó Conaire's famous short story M'Asal Beag Dubh refer to the 'uppityness' of the donkey after his owner bought him a smart little green cart.
This is most undoubtedly a donkey with notions!
"Ach ní fhaca tú riamh an t-éirí in airde atá ann ó cheannaigh mé carr beag gleoite glasuaine dó."
But you never saw the notions that are in him since I bought a smart green little cart for him.
The phrase 'éirí in airde' is often used with the preposition 'i' (in); i.e. the 'éirí in airde' is literally IN someone!
Tá éirí in airde ann ó fuair sé an post mór
He's very uppity since he got the big job (*ann / in him)
Níl aon éirí in airde inti
She's very down to earth (lit. she doesn't have any notions in her) (*inti / in her)
The phrase can also be used with the preposition 'le' (with)
Níl aon éirí in airde ag baint leis
He's very down to earth (lit. There isn't any uppityness connected with him)
Tá go leor éirí in airde ag baint léi
She's very conceited
2. É féin a rug é féin
The Irish phrase "ceapann sé gurb é féin a rug é féin" literally means "he thinks he gave birth to himself"—basically, someone who’s so full of themselves that they act like they created their own existence. It’s the kind of fella who struts into a room like he invented walking, orders wine by the vineyard as if he owns it, or corrects a native French speaker’s pronunciation after one Duolingo lesson. In short, it’s peak notions!
Ceapann sé gurb é féin a rug é féin
Lit: He thinks that it was himself who gave birth to himself
Ceapann sí gurb í féin a rug í féin
She thinks very highly of herself
3. Ní raibh duine bocht ar a dhream
The phrase "ní raibh duine bocht ar a dhream" means "there was never a poor person in their family"—basically, someone acting like they come from pure wealth and prestige. Classic notions!
(The word 'dream' means 'a group of people'. Here it is used to mean someone's ancestors/tribe).
Cheapfá nach raibh duine bocht ar a dhream
You would think there was never a poor person among his people
4. An oiread dó/di féin
Another way to say that someone has 'notions' is to say that they think a lot of themselves.
Ceapann sé an oiread dó féin
He thinks a lot of himself ('an oiread' here means 'a lot')
Ceapann sí an oiread di féin
She thinks a lot of herself
Nach gceapann siad an oiread dóibh féin ó thóg siad an teach nua!
Don't they think a lot of themselves since they built the new house!
5. Ag cur gothaí ar
Agus an ceann deireanach...
And the last one...
Bhí sé ag cur gothaí air féin.
He was putting on airs / having notions
The word 'gothaí' means 'affectations' or 'pretentiousness', something which is closely connected with having notions!
Ná bí ag cur gothaí ort féin!
Don't be getting above yourself! (lit. don't be putting affectations on yourself).
Carry your notions with pride!
At the end of the day, having notions is just part of Irish life—something we mock, but secretly admire too. Sure, we’ll roll our eyes at someone’s fancy ways, but deep down, we all have a few notions of our own. And let’s be honest, life would be fairly dull without a bit of delusion and a splash of grandeur!
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