'If you do that you'll be crying down salt tears,' i.e., 'you'll deeply regret it.' _Salt tears_ is however in Shakespeare in the same sense. ('Hen. VI.')
'Down with you now on your two bended knees and give thanks to God.'
If you don't stop, I'll wring the head off o' your neck. (Rev. Maxwell Close.)
The roof of the house fell down on the top of him. (Father Higgins.)
The Irish _air sé_ ('says he') is very often repeated in the course of a narrative. It is correct in Irish, but it is often heard echoed in our English where it is incorrect:--And says he to James 'where are you going now?' says he.
In a trial in Dublin a short time ago, the counsel asked of witness:--'Now I ask you in the most solemn manner, had you hand, act, or part in the death of Peter Heffernan?'
A young man died after injuries received in a row, and his friend says:--'It is dreadful about the poor boy: they made at him in the house and killed him there; then they dragged him out on the road and killed him entirely, so that he lived for only three days after. I wouldn't mind if they shot him at once and put an end to him: but to be murdering him like that--it is terrible.'
The fairy says to Billy:--'I am a thousand years old to-day, and I think it is time for me to get { 135} married.' To which Billy replies:--'I think it is quite time without any kind of doubt at all.' (Crofton Croker.)
The squire walks in to Patrick's cabin: and Patrick says:--'Your honour's honour is quite welcome entirely.' (Crofton Croker.)
An expression you will often hear even in Dublin:--'Lend me the loan of your umbrella.'
'She doats down on him' is often used to express 'She is very fond of him.'
'So, my Kathleen, you're going to leave me All alone by myself in this place.'
He went to America seven years ago, and from that day to this we have never heard any tale or tidings of him.
'Did he treat you hospitably?' 'Oh indeed he pretended to forget it entirely, and I never took bit, bite, or sup in his house.' This form of expression is heard everywhere in Ireland.
We have in Ireland an inveterate habit--from the highest to the lowest--educated and uneducated--of constantly interjecting the words 'you know' into our conversation as a mere expletive, without any particular meaning:--'I had it all the time, you know, in my pocket: he had a seat, you know, that he could arrange like a chair: I was walking, you know, into town yesterday, when I met your father.' 'Why in the world did you lend him such a large sum of money?' 'Well, you know, the fact is I couldn't avoid it.' This expression is often varied to 'don't you know.'