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Àrainneachd

B1
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Cho faoin ris na faoileagan

As daft as the seagulls

We learnt the expression cho sgìth ris a’ chù (as tired as the dog) in A1 Cuspair 3. Now we’ll learn some more expressions which use cho … ri (as … as). This structure is called a samhla (simile)—saying that something is like something else. We have loads of them in Gaelic.

cho [buadhair] ri [ainmear]

as [adjective] as [noun]

Cho (as) requires ri/ris (to) to complete the expression as [adjective] as [noun].

Ri is used with indefinite singular or plural nouns; and

ris is used with definite singular nouns; but

both ri and ris can be used with definite plural nouns.

cho marbh ri sgadan

as dead as a herring

cho dubh ris an fhitheach

as black as the raven

cho faoin ri(s) na faoileagan

as daft as the seagulls

And here’s a small selection of our favourites!

cho fuar ris a’ phuinnsean

as cold as poison

cho mosach ri mathan

as nasty as a bear

cho fiadhaich ri broc

as wild as a badger

cho garbh ris an ròcas

as rough as a rook

cho fliuch ri lach

as wet as a (wild) duck

cho fliuch ri tòn tunnaig

as wet as a duck’s backside

cho fliuch ri sgarbh

as wet as a cormorant

cho fliuch ri iasg

as wet as a fish

cho teth ris an èibhleig

as hot as a cinder

cho teth ris an teine

as hot as the fire

cho teth ri gaol seòladair

as hot as a sailor’s love

cho blàth ris a’ bhainne

as warm as the milk

cho fuar ris an t–sneachd

as cold as the snow

cho fuar ris a’ bhàs

as cold as death

cho fuar ris a’ pholl

as cold as the mud/bog