'Haud yer wheesht': Scottish phrases that have helped shape the English language
Launched to coincide with World English Day, Phrase-ology highlights how language is constantly evolving, shaped by global influences and pop culture, while preserving phrases with origins that date as far back as Ancient Greece.
Led by computational linguistics expert Dr. Barbara McGillivray and Natural Language Processing specialist Iacopo Ghinassi, the research analysed millions of online documents to track the emergence and frequency of expressions.
The British Council then curated a final list of 100 phrases with intriguing backgrounds.
One of the oldest and most well-known Scottish sayings to make the list is 'blood is thicker than water.'
First recorded in 1737, this phrase emphasises the importance of family loyalty, suggesting that familial bonds are stronger than other relationships.
Another classic phrase, 'the best-laid plans,' comes from the 1785 Robert Burns poem To a Mouse. The line 'The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley' poignantly illustrates that no matter how carefully laid a plan may be, it can still go awry.
Scotland's influence also extends to the world of fashion, with the phrase 'dressed to the nines' originating in a 1719 epistle by Scottish poet William Hamilton.
The playful yet direct 'Haud yer wheesht!' – which translates to 'be quiet' or 'shut up' – can be traced back to the 1800s and is a common colloquialism in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. The word 'wheesht' is derived from the Irish Gaelic word 'faoistin,' which means to whisper or to be quiet and has recently gained renewed attention thanks to popular TV shows like Derry Girls and Line of Duty.
A phrase with a more subtle meaning is 'to give someone the cold shoulder.' First recorded in 1816, this expression refers to intentionally showing indifference or disdain, often by offering a cold piece of meat (the 'cold shoulder') to someone.
In a more dramatic context, 'to set the heather on fire' was first used in 1817 by renowned Scottish author Walter Scott. The phrase suggests creating a disturbance or making a bold statement, much like the expression 'setting the world on fire' in English. Historically, it also referenced becoming an outlaw or troublemaker.
Outside of Scottish phrases, the study also examined how different generations use language online, analysing comments across platforms with high interaction from specific age groups. While expressions like 'better late than never' and 'pipe down' remain widespread across generations, modern slang such as 'glow up' is more common among millennials and Gen Z.
Some phrases, however, bridge generational divides – 'keep it real', popular since the 1960s, remains widely used, while 'YOLO', although popularised by Drake in 2011, is also commonly used across all platforms and likely reached older generations through the influence of social media.
The research also looked at familiar English phrases with international origins. 'Moment of truth' is believed to come from the Spanish 'hora de la verdad', a bullfighting term. 'Long time no see' may have roots in Chinese Pidgin English or early 20th-century American Western literature.
'Chin chin', now a drinking toast, derives from the Chinese 'qǐng' (meaning 'please').
The study also highlights global linguistic parallels—like the Nigerian phrase 'to yarn dust', which mirrors the English phrase 'to talk rubbish' or 'to spin a yarn'.
The collection categorises phrases into eight groups overall. They include:
• Global English – Borrowed from other languages and cultures (e.g., let the genie out of the bottle, from Arabic). • Classic Evergreen – Long-standing phrases (e.g., raining cats and dogs, dating to 1661). • Generational – Popular in specific eras (e.g., instant karma, coined by John Lennon in 1970, common in the 2000s). • Pop Culture – Popularised by media across the ages (e.g., let them cook). • Sports – Derived from sports (e.g., straight off the bat). • Gen Z – Recent expressions and slang (e.g., no cap). • Language of Belief – Rooted in religion (e.g., turn the other cheek).
• Shakespeare – Originating from or popularised by his works (e.g., wearing one's heart on one's sleeve, Othello).
Peter Brown, director of British Council Scotland, said: 'The Scottish idioms and phrases that feature in our Phrase-ology list, along with many others, continue to influence how English is spoken today. Their historical roots and continued use across generations show just how much Scotland has shaped the language we speak.
'As more people begin to rediscover these expressions, they remain a vibrant part of Scotland's cultural legacy, reminding us all of the power of language to connect us across time and place.'
Mark Walker, director of English & exams at the British Council, said: 'This latest study into the evolution of English explores the phrases we use to express shared ideas and experiences – it shows how much English is shaped by people around the world and how it continues to grow and adapt.
'By celebrating the richness of our language, we're not just looking at its past, but also at the future of English. Whether for work, study, travel, relationships, or lifelong learning, as the global lingua franca, English is one of the key ways that people connect and engage across cultures.'
Dr Barbara McGillivray, leading expert in computational linguistics and digital humanities said: 'Working on this collection, we had the chance to explore the deep historical roots of English expressions while applying modern computational techniques to trace their evolution.
'Analysing the frequency and emergence of idioms, proverbs, and phrases, we uncover not only the impact of historical events but also how the digital era shapes the language we use today. This collection offers a unique perspective on how English, as both a living and historical entity, continues to adapt and reflect the changing world.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Bequest helps museum continue legacy in centenary year
The bequest will also be used to enhance and promote the Galleries and collections in years to come. While Ms Hubbard was born in Morningside, Edinburgh, in 1926, she grew up in Wemyssfield, [[Kirkcaldy]]. She went to Seaview Private School in the town and it was here that her passion for learning was nurtured. She developed a love for the arts and would spend a lot of time in the town's museum and art gallery with her parents. As it happens, the Galleries came into being as the result of another donation. When plans were being prepared for a war memorial to commemorate the soldiers who had died in World War One, local industrialist John Nairn donated further funding for it to be extended to include the creation of a gallery in memory of his only son, Ian, who died in France shortly before the armistice. Read More Argyll museum wins prestigious award after redevelopment success By coincidence, Ms Hubbard's father, Harry Hubbard, who was an architect in Kirkcaldy, was involved in drawing up the plans for the town's World War Two memorial. After leaving school, most of her working life was as a librarian at what was then [[Kirkcaldy]] Technical College, later to become Fife College. She never married and was known for giving many donations to worthy local causes. When she died in 2015, she left most of her estate 'for the benefit of Kirkcaldy Galleries.' Chris McLean, OnFife's Museum and Heritage Service Team Leader, explained: 'It took some time to settle Jean's estate, and it was not until 2023 that we began discussing how it should be used. 'We were very mindful of her wish that it be used for the benefit of Kirkcaldy and the Galleries, and with the Galleries' 100th anniversary coming up, along with the commemoration of the war memorial, which had also been given to the town and which her father had been closely involved in, it all tied in together and we started thinking about how to put this idea into action. Some of the money was used to purchase a piece of pottery, called the Referendum Teapot, by Scottish artist Susan McGill (Image: Supplied) 'With the centenary celebrations we wanted to be able to concentrate specifically on a special exhibition and other events around that, and we decided to create a temporary Project Curator post for a year to help do that. 'It was taken up on a job-share basis by two of our current team members, Jane Freel and Janice Crane, who have worked extremely hard with our Collections Development Manager, Nicola Wilson, and our Kirkcaldy Galleries' team to pull together all the activities around the KG100 events and exhibition.' Sadly, there are no paintings or photographs of Jean Hubbard but she is acknowledged in the A Century of Kirkcaldy Galleries exhibition that her bequest made possible. Some of the money was used to purchase a piece of pottery, called the Referendum Teapot, by Scottish artist Susan McGill. It was made to mark the Scottish independence referendum and reflects the thoughts and feelings of people at the time. The bequest has also been used to work with local groups such as the Beehive Nursery, with visits to the Galleries producing a wealth of animal-themed artwork for display in the art space, and with the Sewing Circle, which put together a banner illustrating 100 years of the Galleries in Kirkcaldy. With funding from Museums and Galleries Scotland, OnFife has also worked with The Hive, where young people from the LGBT+ community created a Pride banner which is on display in the centenary exhibition. And staff from OnFife worked alongside the Royal British Legion Scotland's Kirkcaldy branch to link the commemoration of 100 years of the War Memorial with the Galleries' centenary celebrations, including bringing Bud, Poppy Scotland's interactive touring exhibition to a Big Birthday Bash celebration in June, and culminating in a visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla in July 'We are very grateful to Jean Hubbard for her generosity which has enabled us to do a huge amount to celebrate the centenary and put the Galleries in the spotlight with displays and exhibitions,' said Chris McLean. 'From its very beginnings, the support of benefactors has enabled Kirkcaldy Galleries to become one of the best gallery spaces in Scotland and Jean Hubbard has continued that tradition, all to the benefit of the people of Kirkcaldy.' For more details of the centenary celebrations visit the KG100 page at
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Simple mistake everyone makes when frying eggs and how to fix it
Whipping up a batch of fried eggs is a simple process, but there are a few easy-to-forget steps that can make a massive difference to your breakfast, brunch or dinner Whether it's nestled in a full English, crowning a bowl of ramen or paired with a portion of chips, nothing quite matches the taste of a flawlessly fried egg. You might reckon you've got your egg-frying game down pat, but there are plenty of easy-to-overlook steps that novice cooks often miss in their quest for crispy edges and a lush, runny yolk. Just because it's a quick job doesn't mean there aren't loads of ways to jazz up your eggs – and you could be making blunders without even knowing it. Foodie news hub, Mashed has put together a comprehensive guide highlighting the easy-to-forget steps when frying eggs that, if remembered and applied, can lead to cracking results. From the type of eggs you're using to whether you're sizzling them in fat or oil, there are numerous tricks to take your eggs up a notch, with one glaringly obvious, yet frequently ignored, error, reports the Express. Think back to the last time you fried up some eggs, perhaps for a lazy Sunday brunch or as a hangover remedy. Can you recall which pan you used? By opting for the wrong kind of pan to fry your eggs, you're setting yourself up for a flop, which can be sidestepped with a top-notch non-stick or cast iron pan. If you're going for the latter, make sure it's well-seasoned to prevent your eggs from sticking or breaking up while they're bubbling away. This nugget comes courtesy of Joseph Provost, a chemistry and biochemistry professor at the University of San Diego. Mashed has quoted Joseph speaking to the Washington Post, revealing that "most pans, even the really good ones, are actually filled with little cracks and crevasses," which means when they're heated up, the metal expands and egg liquid gets caught in those tiny gaps. To dodge this culinary pitfall, opt for a non-stick solution, which acts as a slick barrier between the pan's surface and your eggs. Bear this tip in mind next time you're frying up eggs – it could be the game-changer you never knew you needed. For those on a quest for the ultimate fried eggs, consider cooking them in some form of fat – it adds taste and creates an additional protective layer on any pan, echoing the previous advice. It's also wise to preheat the pan before introducing the eggs. This principle holds true for most foods when frying, searing, or aiming for a golden crunch. If you're using fat, as suggested, wait until the pan is sizzling hot before adding it, then let it heat up a bit more before popping in your eggs. And here's a final nugget from the egg aficionados: let your eggs reach room temperature before cracking them open. If you cook straight from the fridge, you risk a rubbery white and an overdone yolk.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Former First Minister's in-laws in Gaza 'can't even find grass or leaves to eat'
Dundee councillor Nadia El-Nakla, the wife of Humza Yousaf, said it was 'traumatising' to watch her relatives go through a 'living nightmare'. The wife of former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf has said the lives of her family in Gaza are 'hanging in the balance' as she accused Israel of starving two million people in the Strip. Nadia El-Nakla said her family could not even find grass, leaves or any animals to eat, amid an Israeli blockade on the amount of food and supplies going into the region. The Dundee councillor said it was 'traumatising' to watch her relatives go through a 'living nightmare'. She described the territory as 'hell on earth'. Asked on BBC Scotland's Drivetime programme if she thought she would ever get back to Gaza to see her family again, she said: 'I think Gaza is gone – I don't think Gaza will exist any more. 'The situation is just incredibly difficult, heartbreaking, traumatising for us to watch, and for them their life is now hanging in the balance.' She said her cousin Sally, a mother of four, has been moved to different tents 15 times after her house was destroyed. 'She has no food,' Ms El-Nakla said. 'She had a loaf of bread the other day that she was trying to save for her children. My other cousin told her, 'look, just eat grass, eat leaves, eat plants', and she said 'we can't even find them'. 'There's no cash either, so even if I sent her £1,000, she can't access that money, and there's no way for her to buy anything. So it's just a living nightmare – it's hell on earth.' She added: 'It's just, it's so devastating because her husband is going out every day, and they're so scared that he'll not come back because of the bombing, to try and find food, and he can't find any.' She said that even for those who can access money, the price of a kilo of sugar is about 200 dollars (£148), making it inaccessible for most. She urged world leaders to do more to force Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, amid warnings from aid agencies about mass starvation. Speaking about her cousin Sally, she said: 'She sent me a voicenote saying 'I hate the world – no-one is coming to help us', and I could hear her children in the background. 'That's what breaks my heart the most, is they know that no-one's coming to help them, and to have your child hungry, to be hungry yourself, how that feels to have hunger, and how you're supposed to look after your kids, and they're crying to you because they're hungry – like I say, it's a living nightmare.' She added: 'Now nothing exists. It's bare survival. 'They feel that they're all going to die and we're all watching them through the process of being terrified for their lives from bombs, from being shot at and having to run, which I've had calls with her where she's like, 'I can hear the gunfire', and she's having to run, and then now calls that there's no food there. 'It's a silent killer. They're killing them so slowly and quietly, but they're killing them at every single point. And it's just devastating to watch. It's heartbreaking. It's sickening.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Ms El-Nakla said she feels 'physically sick' hearing about her family's situation in Gaza, adding that she feels 'completely inadequate as a cousin, as a human being, that I can't do anything'. She said she was angry with the UK Government, which she said 'isn't doing anything' to 'try to stop the genocide'. She said aid must urgently be allowed in to stop the 'catastrophic starvation of two million people'. "We are living in a dystopia where we are just watching two million people slowly die,' she said. 'For our own humanity, how can we live with that? Our Government has to do something.' The UK Government and Israeli embassy in London have been approached
