Scottish English - Scotticisms

Scotticisms

Scotticisms are idioms or expressions that are characteristic of Scots. They are more likely to occur in spoken than written language.

Examples include:

• Whaur dae ye bide? meaning "Where do you live?" Possible answer: "I bide in Fife"
• I stay in Dundee meaning "I live in Dundee"
• It's a fair way tae Skye frae here meaning "It's a good distance to Skye from here"
• I'll see you up the road meaning "I'll come with you some of the way" or "I'll see you back at home"
• I'm gaun for the messages meaning "I'm going shopping for groceries."
• She learnt him some manners meaning "She taught him some manners."
• Are you thinking o' flitting? meaning "Are you thinking of moving house?"
• He's cried Dod after his faither meaning "He's called George after his father"
• It's my shy meaning "It's my throw-in" (when playing soccer; fast disappearing with increased TV coverage in English)
• He was sat on his hunkers meaning "He was squatting down"
• Gie's a shot then! meaning "Let me have a turn now" (for example, children playing)
• Caw canny meaning "Go easy" or "Don't overdo it", as in Ye'd better caw canny or Caw canny wi the butter., "Don't use up the butter."
• It's a sair fecht meaning "It's a real struggle/It's hard going."
• Aye, right! meaning "definitely not!" (The phrase "Yeah, right!" is used similarly in American English)

Scotticisms are generally divided into two types: covert Scotticisms, which generally go unnoticed as being particularly Scottish by those using them, and overt Scotticisms, usually used for stylistic effect, with those using them aware of their Scottish nature.