Irish

Proverb

bíonn cluasa ar na claíocha

1. walls have ears
   • 2004, The Irish Times, “An turcai a thainig ar ais on mbas” [“The turkey that came back from the dead”]:

     "Scata ban nó scata géanna," a deirtí. Ní dócha go bhfuil sé á rá a thuilleadh. Tá na Póilíní Smaointe gach áit na laethanta seo. Ná hoscail do bhéal! Ar eagla do chos a chur ann. (Nó an dá chos). Agus tá cluasa ar na claíocha, gan dabht. Bhí a fhios agat é sin.

     "A flock of women or a flock of geese," they used to say. They probably don't say it any more. The Thought Police are everywhere these days. Don't open your mouth! For fear of putting your foot in. (Or both feet.) And walls have ears, no doubt. You know that.

Synonyms

• bíonn cluasa ar an gcoill

References

• "cluas" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.