Irish goodbye - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (2024)

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• Irish exit

Etymology[edit]

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun[edit]

Irish goodbye (plural Irish goodbyes)

1. A hasty exit made without saying farewells to anybody.

   to pull an Irish goodbye

   • 2015, Sarah Knight, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k‎^[1], Hachette UK, →ISBN:

     If you get cornered, make like Hotspur in Henry IV, Part One. Say, “‘O gentlemen, the time of life is short!’”. Then swoop off into the next room and quickly pull an Irish goodbye.

   • 2016, Rob Hart, South Village‎^[2], Polis Books, →ISBN:

     See Also

     Macmillan Dictionary Blog | Vocabulary | Adults | Onestopenglish

     So I pulled an Irish goodbye. Up and left before anyone realized I was gone. Thinking back on that now, I regret it.

   • 2023, Joey Hartstone, The Local‎^[3], Pushkin Press, →ISBN:

     It seemed I had flawlessly executed the Irish goodbye without even trying. All I had left to do was leave.

2. (less commonly) A long, drawn-out exit in which one or more participants repeatedly make farewells before continuing to speak.

   to avoid an Irish goodbye

Synonyms[edit]

• French exit

Translations[edit]

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