PHRASES
IN ENGLISH—IRISH DICTIONARY
F: He gave quite a good account of himself, rinne sé gnóthaí maithe; chruthaigh sé go maith.
In aid of, ar mhaithe le.
He laid his ambitions on the altar, thug sé cúl lena mhian (ar mhaithe le cúis, etc.).
For the sake of appearances, ar mhaithe le clú, le honóir.
To, for, on, s.o.'s behoof, ar mhaithe le duine; ar son duine.
For his own behoof, ar mhaithe leis féin.
For the benefit of the poor, ar mhaithe leis na boicht.
I did it for conscience sake, rinne mé ar mhaithe le mo choinsias é.
To contribute to the success of sth., oibriú ar mhaithe le rud, chun leasa do rud, ar son ruda.
Marriage of convenience, pósadh ar mhaithe le spré.
To marry s.o. for his money, duine a phósadh ar mhaithe lena chuid airgid.
For form's sake, as a matter of form, ar mhaithe le gnás.
A mere formality, gnás folamh, beart ar mhaithe le gnás.
I did it out of friendship, i bpáirt mhaitheasa, ar mhaithe leis, a rinne mé é.
For the furtherance of, in furtherance of sth., ar mhaithe le rud, le rud a chur chun cinn.
The nobility and gentry, maithe mpl agus uaisle.
F: The good people, na daoine maithe.
I did it for your good, mar mhaithe leat a rinneas é.
For the good of his health, ar mhaithe lena shláinte.
He has your welfare at heart, ar mhaithe leat, chun do leasa, atá sé.
He is acting in his own interest, ar mhaithe leis féin atá sé ag obair.
He acted from interested motives, ar mhaithe leis féin a d'oibrigh sé.
The little people, na daoine maithe.
To do sth. for filthy lucre, rud a dhéanamh ar mhaithe le na pinginí.
The nobility and the gentry, maithe agus uaisle na tíre; na huaisle agus na mionuaisle.
He did it to oblige me, ar mhaithe le gar a dhéanamh dom a bhí sé; mar chomaoin orm a rinne sé é.
Pro forma, ar mhaithe le foirmiúlacht.
To put oneself out for s.o., cur as duit féin ar mhaithe le duine.
For the sake of s.o., mar, ar, mhaithe le duine; ar son duine.
Art for art's sake, ealaín ar mhaithe leis an ealaín.
To save appearances, ar mhaithe le clú.
There is much to be said for going there, tá fáthanna maithe le dul ann.
He acted from selfish motives, ar mhaithe leis féin a rinne sé é.
He is well shod, tá bróga maithe air.
To stand aside in favour of s.o., tarraingt siar ar mhaithe le duine.
It was only for the sake of talking, ní raibh ann ach ar mhaithe le caint.
He acted from unselfish motives, ní ar mhaithe leis féin a bhí sé.
P: He’s pretty useful with his fists, tá doirne maithe aige.
Jur: To watch a case, freastal ar chúis (ar mhaithe le duine).
(Of candidate) To withdraw in favour of s.o., an áit a fhágáil ar mhaithe le duine eile.
The parish worthies, maithe mpl an pharóiste.