cainnt

Dul chun chainnte le duine fá rud, to approach a person about something. Caide an chainnt atá ort, (i) Why are you talking. (ii) Then where is your argument. Níl gar i gcainnt, it is no use talking. A chainnt d’aithin mé, I recognised him by his voice. Ní dheárna siad cainnt ar bith de, they said nothing about it, they kept it dark. Cá bhfuil mé ag cainnt? But what am I saying? Cá mbíonn sé ag cainnt? Why does he speak at all (since he cannot without making a fool of himself)? Baineadh an chainnt de, he was left speechless. Níl ann ach cainnteannaí daoine, it is only an idle tale. Níl ach a bheith ag cainnt ar Chromul, talk about Cromul (This man is ten times worse). Prov: Bidh cead cainnte ag fear chaillte na h-imeartha, (i) The loser should be allowed to make excuses. (ii) he may talk and talk, but he has lost the game, fight, battle. Nuair tháinig an chainnt leis, when he recovered his speech. Chuir sé chainnt orm, he accosted me. Thug sé carraidh cainnt a bhaint asam, he tried to get me to talk.