Irish As A First Language
Beyond the Pale: Well, it's not Irish-specific, but it applies in reference to the Dublin Pale, the area of settlement surrounding Dublin. To live "beyond the pale" was to be a long way away. Also, if you were bad, you could be tossed out of the pale, hence your behavior was "beyond the pale."
(I learned this from an Irishman whose hometown was just inside the pale.)
(I learned this from an Irishman whose hometown was just inside the pale.)
Labels: language
posted by Smitty Werbenmanjensen at 3:13 PM
6 Comments:
Some of us with Irish ancestors are just pale, even though we don't live beyond the pale.
What? It's not beyond the pail?
Only if they left the pail at the fence.
I thought "beyond the pale" meant beyond the protective fence surrounding a property or beyond the protection of the landlord.
Heck, I thought that "beyond
the pale" meant you wereen't inside a bucket!
I thought "beyond the pale" meant beyond the protective fence surrounding a property or beyond the protection of the landlord.
In a way, yes, but on a grander scale ...
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