Sayings

Submitted by: Elaine McGrath

"Keen Time!" This saying is often used as a way to describe a great time/upcoming event.

"Never left a kick in ‘em!” to hit somebody and knock them down—beat up badly

“You’re as slow as cold molasses” refers to someone moving very slowly

“Lose your water the winter?” Did your pipes freeze the winter

“Hard night on the water.” Often said on a freezing winter night in reference to the possibility of the pipes freezing. Also used in reference to a stormy night at sea

“Keen day on the mash.” A good day to go berry picking

“Coming from all ends of ‘er.” a noise or wind that is strong and loud

“Face on you like the gully of a tilt or face on you like an arse.” Used in reference to a cross looking person may also be used as an insult to mean ugly

“The flies would lift you.” A lot of flies

“Not enough to haul up a dory” A very few people

“Stiff as a poker.” Unbendable

“You’re off your rocker.” Insane

“Squall coming down the river.” Snow flurries making their way down through the country

“He’d cut your throat.” Means someone would talk badly about another

“ You going to the time?” Ask a person if they are going to an event—possibly in the Hall

“Goes to bed with the hens.” A person who goes to bed early

"bam'bye" To do something later on.

"Good as a concert!" To witness a funny or surprising event, it would be as good as any concert ever held, in any hall in Branch (as you all know, Branch concerts are the best!)

"Keen hard crowd!" A rough and rowdy group of people (as often seen on the corner ha! ha!)

"Tis goin to be a bad end to it" This phrase was and is still used today in reference to our fishery, and other resources.

"The long hungry month of March," The older folk of our community would often refer to March month as the month of the hash. When all other vegetables were gone after the winter and we still had lots of potatoes, we would eat lots of hash (mashed potatoes with fat pork).

"Go to the shop with a note." To be sent to a local store with a piece of brown paper with a list of food items.

"Keen day on clothes!" A fine day ahead with lots of good drying for your laundry.

"...he tore up the place!" To drive recklessly around the community (wake up everyone!)

"Good day goin' across" When a person has passed away and on the day of the funeral, if there was fine weather the old folk would always say, "they have a good day going across to the other side."

“Like a birch broom in the fits” refers to the untidy condition of ones hair.

“Fair weather to you and snow to your heels” This means good luck.

“May snow is good for sore eyes” this is believed to be true, that snow in the month of May was bottled and swabbed on a sore eye.

“Only a gunshot away” A very short distance; near at hand.

“White horses on the bay” Older fisherman would say a storm was on the horizon when the waves would break into foam.

“Too big for your boots” This was often said when a person assumed too much power or authority.

“Cross as the cats” Very cross-minded person.

“Foolish as a hen” Refers to somebody acting silly

“Saucy as a crackie” Witty or quick tongued (to back answer)

“White as the driven snow” This was often said was a person was very pale or had a sickly color.

“Solid as a rock” Strong or unbreakable.

"Never left a joog (pronounced J - ewe- soft g)" to empty something

"A highway!" a person that cannot be handled (ex: You're a keen highway!)

"Put the kylwash on it"- to end something, or to destroy it

"They're on the paths" referred to someone that is not home, always roaming

"Ya done the job on it" to break something or to shut it down

“Ya fixed it off altogether ” to break something or to shut it down

"Turn the stove on six and stog the funnel" This was often used in joking in preparing to warm a cold house.

"Ya can shake yer cap at it" to give up on something.

"Ya can f'erget it" - to give up on something.

Submitted by: Terry Power

“Keen Smack!” a hard blow or hit

“What’s on Ya?” What’s wrong with you?

“Smooth as a Pond.” seas are calm

The Gil Eannes wouldn’t go around the Hayjers!” rough seas in the cove

The Gil Eannes—a hospital ship, was considered the mother ship of the Portuguese White Fleet

“Went up the road on his side!” To walk or drive quickly

“The devil is only a seagull to him!” a very sly person

“What ails ya?” What is wrong?

“He got a keen physic!” A bad cold or flu

“That’s a keen goin’!” To move very quickly

“Half your prog, half your hay, eat your supper by the light of the day.”

If you had half your winter stores of food and hay remaining at Candle Mass Day (Feb 2)

You would make it through the winter with sufficient supplies

“He’d drink it off Nelson!” Do anything for a drink. Nelson was a one-eyed hero.

“The sea is breaking from Shango.” Rough seas breaking over the shoals off the Red Point.

“He wouldn't back from Shallow!” Used in reference to a fearless person. Mike Shallow was a boxing trainer from Grand Falls, who taught many who worked in the lumber woods in the Deer Lake area how to box. A couple of Shallow’s local students were:Bernard Joseph Nash and Ned Nash.

“As sure as God made little apples.” Most certainly—beyond a shadow of a doubt

“There’s a keen roar from the bar!” when the wind is blowing on the land you could hear the noise from the sea

“He drove shot to the Cannery.” a gunshot which travelled a long distance—the Cannery was located in the Wester’ Cove

“There’s a keen run in the Gut!” a sea rising in the Gut

“ He’s a keen gommel!” used to describe a person acting foolishly

“ You’re as welcome as the flowers in May.” a traditional Branch greeting

“ I’ll chuckle ya.” To gently hit on the chin, to grasp by the throat and shake

“On the commons” - Without a fence

Submitted by: Carol Anne (Power) Lyver

“ Let her go for the Gullies!” let loose, to act carefree

Submitted by: John Corcoran

“ You’re no slouch” person who does a task very well, a smart person