Let’s just get this out of the way. Derry Girls is the funniest thing on TV.
It’s rare that a such universally loved show comes along, but Channel 4’s comedy is just that, and it’s back for a second series after millions of us were immediately hooked after the first series aired last year.
If you still haven’t seen it (seriously?), the show centres around a group of five (reckless) Derry/Londonderry school friends and is set against the spectre of The Troubles.
Despite the dark backdrop of armed police and bombings hanging over the Northern Irish city, Derry Girls is warm, honest, nostalgic and properly laugh-out-loud funny.
We really want to be in Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and James’s gang, but that’s never going to happen unless we learn their lingo.
Luckily, we have a cracker of a glossary for that. Just don’t become a dose.
Bars: Gossip / scandal
Boke: Vomit
Brit: A member of the British armed forces
Broke: Embarrassed
Broke to the bone: Hugely embarrassed
Buncrana: A popular holiday destination
Buzzing: Very happy
Catch yourself on: “Don’t be so ridiculous”
Cack attack: A state of extreme nervousness “I’m having a complete Cack attack”
Chicken ball special: A local delicacy
Class: Brilliant
Craic: Fun, but also news e.g. “Tell us your craic?”
Cracker: Beyond brilliant
Critter: Someone who evokes sympathy e.g. “You poor Critter”
Dose: An unbearable human being
Dicko: A general insult
Eejit: Idiot
Hi: A sound placed at the end of almost any sentence for no particularly reason e.g. “No problem hi”
Gone: Please
Head melter: Someone who causes you mental distress
Lurred: Absolutely delighted
Mind: “Do you remember?”
Mouth: Someone prone to exaggeration
Mucker: Friend
No Bother: “That’s no trouble whatsoever”
Raging: Annoyed/angry
Ride (n): A very attractive person
Ride (v): To have sex
Ripping: Extremely annoyed / angry
Saunter: “Be on your way”
Shite the tights: Someone of a nervous disposition
Slabber: A show off
So it is/so I am: A phrase used for emphasis e.g. “I’m delighted, so I am”
Start: To provoke e.g. “Don’t start me”
Stall the ball: “Stop what you’re doing immediately”
Tayto cheese and onion sandwich: A local delicacy
Wain: A child or young person
Watch yourself: Take care
Wile: Very or Terrible
Wise up: “Don’t be so stupid and/or immature”
Yes: Hello
(Channel 4
Derry Girls returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday 5 March at 9.15pm.