Donate SIGN UP

Scots language

Avatar Image
yellowduck | 21:12 Mon 06th Sep 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
6 Answers
What does 'Och aye, the noo' mean?
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 6 of 6rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by yellowduck. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
It means exactly what it says.
Does anyone in Scotland actually say this though ? To me this is a common misconception about Scots and I am a Scottish woman. I have never said this in my life nor do I know anyone who does but I am curious to know if any other Scots out there DO say this. Come on , let us know if you do and how exactly you would drop this into conversation.
It doesn't really mean anything. It's just a piece of typical music-hall comedian's so-called Scots, rather like: "It's a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht." In other words, a collection of words that no sane Scotsman would be likely to say. 'Och aye' in normal circumstances would mean 'Oh yes' and 'the noo' generally means 'just now', as in "I saw him the noo." I suppose it's just about possible, but not very likely, that someone might say - in response perhaps to: "Did you just arrive?" - "Och aye, the noo."

Basically, it's just a joking scotticism along the lines of: "Hoots mon...awa'!"

Never in my life have I said, or heard anyone else say "Och aye the noo".....Och aye as a sort of expression for just something to say was one of my grans favourites but never followed by anything.

Very much like the english commuter with an umbrella and bowler hat this is a silly stereotype.

You could say 'och aye, i'll dae it o the noo' meaning 'oh yeah, i'll do it just now, or something like that'.

1 to 6 of 6rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Scots language

Answer Question >>