Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
May the road rise with you
English answer:
"May you succeed in your journey."
Added to glossary by
FNO
Mar 23, 2009 20:11
15 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
May the road rise with you
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Irish saying
Up till now, I've had but faulty tries that barely scratch the surface of a convincing explanation to this one. How on earth "may the road rise with you" can stand for a "may you be successful in life/your intent/your goal/etc"??? It's easy to say that's the meaning, but to justify the alleged purport, tsc tsc...
Anyone?
Anyone?
Responses
| 5 +3 | "May you succeed in your journey." |
Christina Keating (X)
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| 4 +3 | May the road rise to meet you |
Suzan Hamer
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| 5 | an Irish blessing |
carly kelly
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Responses
+3
3 hrs
Selected
"May you succeed in your journey."
"go n-éirí an bóthair (recte. bóthar) leat"
The form "éirí" is based on the verb meaning "rise". But, when combined with the preposition "le" it means "succeed", Therefore, it might be more accurately rendered by "may you succeed in your journey".
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Note added at 9 hrs (2009-03-24 05:50:40 GMT)
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There is no idiom in Irish having to do with roads rising. I'm sure many Americans find it charming, but the Irish don't speak like that. This is not an idiom. It's literally to do with succeeding on your way.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2009-03-24 05:57:12 GMT)
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http://www.daltai.com/discus/messages/12465/12162.html?10829...
The form "éirí" is based on the verb meaning "rise". But, when combined with the preposition "le" it means "succeed", Therefore, it might be more accurately rendered by "may you succeed in your journey".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2009-03-24 05:50:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
There is no idiom in Irish having to do with roads rising. I'm sure many Americans find it charming, but the Irish don't speak like that. This is not an idiom. It's literally to do with succeeding on your way.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2009-03-24 05:57:12 GMT)
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http://www.daltai.com/discus/messages/12465/12162.html?10829...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Much obliged indeed for the enlightenment, Mrs Keating. So we have a misinterpretation case here, do we?! and aparently generally acepted from way back at that!"
+3
2 mins
Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Netherlands
Fussy editing for fussy people.
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: English, Dutch to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
May the road rise to meet you
I'm sure I've heard that before; may your path be easy and smooth.
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Note added at 3 mins (2009-03-23 20:14:52 GMT)
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Ah, yes. It's an Irish blessing:
"
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you."
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Note added at 3 mins (2009-03-23 20:14:52 GMT)
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Ah, yes. It's an Irish blessing:
"
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you."
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
NancyLynn
: you bet! :-)// I know it from countless Hallmark St. Patrick's Day cards, I think I stood out a bit in this French Canadian enclave LOL
4 mins
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Thanks, Nancy. Isn't amazing the trivia we have roiling around in our minds?
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| agree |
carly kelly
: oops Suzan, didn't see your note
8 mins
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That's OK, Carly. Thanks for agreeing.
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| agree |
jccantrell
: And may you be in heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead.
42 mins
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Amen.
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| disagree |
Christina Keating (X)
: éirí is rise, but éirí + le is succeed. May the road rise... is nonsense.
3 hrs
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The asked wanted an explanation of "May the road rise with you."
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| agree |
airmailrpl
: may your path be easy and smooth.
7 hrs
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Yes, thank you.
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| agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
8 hrs
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Thank you, Patricia.
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| disagree |
Edith Kelly
: with Christina
9 hrs
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See my note to Christina.
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9 mins
carly kelly
Italy
Italy
Native in English
&
English
Italy
For your want of a better word...
Native in: English 
Works in: Italian to English, English, Irish to English
an Irish blessing
the English translation of the irish gaelic "Go n-éirí an bóthar leat" - literally "May the road rise to meet you"
"Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.
Go raibh cóir na gaoithe i gcónaí leat.
Go dtaitní an ghrian go bog bláth ar do chlár éadain,
go dtite an bháisteach go bog mín ar do ghoirt.
Agus go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís,
go gcoinní Dia i mbois a láimhe thú"
"May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand".
http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/articles/frequent-trans...
"Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.
Go raibh cóir na gaoithe i gcónaí leat.
Go dtaitní an ghrian go bog bláth ar do chlár éadain,
go dtite an bháisteach go bog mín ar do ghoirt.
Agus go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís,
go gcoinní Dia i mbois a láimhe thú"
"May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand".
http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/articles/frequent-trans...
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Christina Keating (X)
: It's always translated incorrectly.
3 hrs
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| agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
8 hrs
|
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