I suppose every language has that one word that stands out from the crowd. The kind of word that says what it means and means what it says. I don’t think gobshite is Irish (or Gaelic) but it’s as much part of our language as go raibh mile maith agat.
Go on, say it – with feeling. “You are a gobshite!” “What kind of gobshite are you?” “Don’t listen to him, he’s only a gobshite.” “I wouldn’t vote for your man over there, sure he’s only another gobshite politician.”
Let’s hear it for the gobshite, a word as versatile as any I know.
If gobshite is the most versatile word in Irish-English, then the most versatile phrase has to be, “Ah, sure, you know yourself.”
‘How are you?” – “Ah sure, you know yourself.”
“What happened?” “Ah, sure, you know yourself.”
“What did she say?” “Ah, sure, you know yourself.”
It’s a genius way of answering a question while giving away nothing.
And when might I have had occasion to use it? “Ah, sure, you know yourself…”