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poison
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
adj. — in expression, Newfoundland, Ottawa Valley
to be annoyed or upset with something; usually in the phrase I'm poisoned.
Type: 2. Preservation — The term poison refers to the feeling of being upset, annoyed, disappointed or irritated (see DNE, s.v. "poison" (v)). It appears to be used most commonly in its adjectival form, particularly in the phrasal construction I'm poisoned (see the 1997, 2003 and 2011 quotations). However, it can be used as a verb, describing the action of causing these unpleasant feelings (see the 1924 quotation). This meaning appears to be outlined in one of COD-2's definitions of "poison", which is to 'spoil or destroy (a person's pleasure)' (see COD-2, s.v. "poison" (6)). The term poison is stated to be of Irish English origin (Clarke 2010b: 107), existing as a direct translation of the Irish Gaelic terms "neimh" and "neimhneach", which mean 'poison' and 'peevish, passionate, spiteful', respectively (see DNE, s.v. "poison" (v)).
Clarke (2010b: 150) uses poison as an example of lexicon change in Newfoundland as a result of "waves of 'trendy' or 'slang' vocabulary" that pass through younger speakers via media or the internet. Clarke (2010b: 150) notes that "among younger females, the adjective 'rotted' is a new import to express displeasure or disgust," which is today one indication that poisoned may be on the decline, like so many other traditional terms in Newfoundland.
The term is apparently also used in the Ottawa Valley, which saw considerable Irish and Scottish immigration (see the 2009 and 2011 quotations).
See also DNE, s.v. "poison" (v)).
Clarke (2010b: 150) uses poison as an example of lexicon change in Newfoundland as a result of "waves of 'trendy' or 'slang' vocabulary" that pass through younger speakers via media or the internet. Clarke (2010b: 150) notes that "among younger females, the adjective 'rotted' is a new import to express displeasure or disgust," which is today one indication that poisoned may be on the decline, like so many other traditional terms in Newfoundland.
The term is apparently also used in the Ottawa Valley, which saw considerable Irish and Scottish immigration (see the 2009 and 2011 quotations).
See also DNE, s.v. "poison" (v)).
Quotations
1924
[ENGLAND 115 We'm havin' a fine, smooth time alang. Most gen'ly it'd poison ye wid frost, out yere ... but now we'm havin' it pretty moild. P 148-60 [The hat] would poison me if I saw it on someone else.]
1980
Daily News 29 May, p. 3 [The St John's City] Council is also 'poisoned' with the possibility CN's recent announcement about plans to add 350 rooms to the Hotel Newfoundland, may jeopardize the plans of local [entrepreneurs] for the development of land adjacent to city hall.
1984
"Teaching is not the same as building something," he admits. It's hard to know what kind of impact you're having on students. You can look back sometimes and know that 20 or 30 graduates are gainfully employed and that you had something to do with it. But then once in awhile one will come back and say, 'All that shipbuilding you threw at me, I was poisoned with it for three years. Now I wish I'd had a little more!'
1997
In Newfoundland, Port de Grave fisherman Jim Porter said that he is fed up with the political process after seeing constant cutting of federal programs that were supposed to help fishermen who lost their livelihood when fish stocks collapsed in 1992. He didn't watch either of the debates."I'm poisoned with it all," Mr. Porter said.
2003
"We came out here to fight for our children and he brushed us off," she said. "Now we have to re-group and go over our ideas, but this is not over, not by a long shot. We're not giving up." "I'm poisoned. He won't be getting any support from me," added Albert Courtney, who represented the Forsey Place Tenants Association at the rally.
2004
"It's really an inconvenience. You got to go out every couple of days and buy a couple of jugs of water and then you got to take your clothes out to the laundromat. You really get poisoned with it all."
2005
"There are so many people affected," said Clouston, who added that tinting a five-passenger car costs around $150. "There are a lot more things the police could be doing than harassing people for window tint. There's a lot more important things going on in this province than that. It's crazy. I've never seen anything like it in my life. People are really getting poisoned with it."
2009
Will: Shur you wouldn't know it's our 60th would you? Sixty years in Confederation and not a whimper out of Danny and the boys. All shoved under the rug it is. Not even a few fireworks over the harbour - nuttin! I knows why he didn't go with the big bash Tom I do. They aren't foolin' me.
Tom: Why? Cause he's PC?
Will: I'll tell you later. I'm poisoned with the lot of 'em I am.
Tom: Why? Cause he's PC?
Will: I'll tell you later. I'm poisoned with the lot of 'em I am.
2011
"You look unhappy," I said as my friend mopped his brow and crossed over to the chest freezer. From among the frozen cod that filled it, he withdrew three beers and passed one each to his wife and me. Clutching our icy bottles, we all took a good big glutch of the deliciously cold liquid. "Unhappy?" my friend said, "Yes boy, I'm poisoned".
References
- DNE
- COD-2
- Clarke (2010b)