SAMHLACHA (SIMILES) G-I

Cnuasaithe ag Donncha ÓBroin; An Dámhscoil Nua
(Compiled by Donncha ÓBroin; The New Bardic School)

G | I

G

Chomh gann le hairgead As scarce as money
gann=scarce, airgead=money
Chomh gann le sméara i mBealtaine As scarce as berries in May
gann=scarce, Bealtaine=month of May
Chomh garbh le coirt crann darach As rough as the bark of an oak tree
garbh=rough, coirt=bark, dair=oak (darach in the genitive)
Chomh gasta le cú As quick as a hound
gasta=quick, cú=hound
Chomh gasta le gaoth Mhárta As quick as a March wind
gasta=quick, gaoth=wind, Márta=month of March
Chomh geal le cailc As white as chalk
(Said of someone after fright, etc.)

geal=bright/white, cailc=chalk
Chomh geal le canach an tsléibhe As white as bog cotton
geal=white/bright, canach an tsléibhe=bog cotton
Chomh geal le cúr sceite As bright as blown froth
geal=bright/white, cúr=froth/foam, sceite=blown
Chomh geal le sneachta As white as snow
(Irish Bible)

geal=bright/white, sneachta=snow
Chomh geal le táth lín As white as a tuft of lint
geal=white/bright, táth=tuft/bunch, lín=lint/flax
Chomh geal leis an lil As bright as a lily
geal=bright/white, lil=lily
Chomh géar le bó mhaol As sharp as a hornless cow (i.e., blunt)
géar=sharp, bó=cow, maol=bald/hornless
Chomh géar le nimh As sharp as poison
géar=sharp, nimh=poison
Chomh géar le snáthaid As sharp as a needle
géar=sharp, snáthaid=needle
Chomh géar le súil chailín i lár cuideachtain As sharp as the eye of a girl in the middle of a gathering
géar=sharp, súil=eye, cailín=girl, cuideachta=gathering/amusement
Chomh géarchúiseach le nathair nimhe As “wise”/astute as a serpent
(Irish Bible)

géarchúisteach=astute, nathair=snake, nimh=poison
Chomh géarradharcach le gainéad As sharpeyed as a gannet
géarradharcach=sharpeyed, gainéad=gannet
Chomh glan le criostal As clean as crystal
glan-clean, criostal=crystal
Chomh glan le fíoruisce As clean as springwater
glan=clean, fíoruisce=springwater
Chomh glan le sagart As innocent as a priest
(In this case, glan means not guilty=clear)

glan=innocent (not guilty), sagart=priest
Chomh glan le scilling As clean/clear as a shilling
glan=clean/clear, scilling=schilling
Chomh glan le h-úll As clean as an apple
glan=clean, úll=apple
Chomh glan ó mhilleán le haingeal ó Dhia As clear of guilt as an angel of God
(Irish Bible)

glan=clear/clean, milleán=guilt/blame
Chomh glas le bun cuilinn As green as a holly stump
(Old-Irish period)

glas=green, bun=stump/stock, cuileann=holly
Chomh glas le féar As green as grass
glas=green, féar=grass
Chomh glas le geamhar As green as a springing shoot
glas=féar, geamhar=springing shoot
Chomh glas le spíonán/spÍonóg As green as Gooseberry
glas=green, spíonán/spíonóg=Gooseberry
Chomh glégeal leis an solas As brilliant as the light
(Irish Bible)

glégeal=pure white/brilliant, solas=light
Chomh glórach le cearc ghoir As noisy/vociferous as a broody hen
glórach=noisy/vociferous, cearc ghoir=broody hen
Chomh gnóthach le lúidín an phíobaire As busy as the piper’s little finger (ironical, not busy at all)
gnóthach=busy, lúidín=little finger, píobaire=piper
Chomh goirt le sáile As salty as sea water
goirt=salty, sáile=sea water
Chomh gorm le plúirín As blue as a bluebell
gorm=blue, plúirín=bluebell
Chomh gránna leis an diabhal As ugly as the Devil
gránna=ugly, diabhal=Devil
Chomh greamaithe le bairneach den chloch As stuck as a limpet to the rock
greamaithe=stuck, bairneach=limpet, cloch=rock
Chomh guagach leis an ngealach As fickle as the moon
(Irish Bible)

guagach=fickle, gealach=moon

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I

Chomh hiomadúil leis an dreoilín teaspaigh As numerous as the grasshoppers
(Irish Bible)

iomadúil=numerous, dreoilín teaspaigh=grasshopper
Chomh hiontach le sneachta dearg As wonderful/strange as red snow
iontach=wonderful/surprising, sneachta=snow, dearg=red
Chomh híseal leis an talamh As low as the ground
íseal=low, talamh=ground

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