It's Often A Man's Mouth Broke His Nose

"It’s often that a man’s mouth broke his nose" is one of those grand old Irish sayings that warns against the dangers of talking too much—especially when the wrong words leave your lips!

Now, picture it: A lad walks into the pub, full of bravado, and decides to tell big Mick—a fella built like a stone wall—that his football team is useless, his pint-pouring skills are questionable, and, just for good measure, that his mother’s stew isn’t half as good as she thinks it is.

The room goes quiet, the tension thick enough to butter a slice of soda bread, and before the poor gobshite knows it—BANG!—he’s holding his nose and suddenly regretting every word that just came out of his mouth.

The meaning? Simple: Too much talking (especially the wrong kind) can land you in serious trouble. Whether it’s gossiping, mouthing off, or getting involved in a fight you’ve no business being in, your mouth can write cheques your nose isn’t prepared to cash!

So, if you ever see someone running their gob a little too freely, maybe throw them a gentle warning: "Ah now, it’s often that a man’s mouth broke his nose—maybe finish your pint and call it a night, eh?" Because, let’s be honest—a pint is far easier to swallow than a punch!

Remember, it's far easier to swallow a pint than a punch? That’s the real wisdom behind this a saying born from centuries of Irish wit, pub wisdom, and the occasional black eye.

Now, we Irish love a good chat, a bit of banter, and even the odd heated debate over football, politics, or who makes the best brown bread, but there’s a fine line between a bit of craic and asking for a thump.

Some people don’t know when to put a cork in it, and before they realize their mistake, their nose is pointing in a slightly different direction than it was five minutes ago!

And sure, haven’t we all seen it happen? There’s always that one lad who gets a bit too bold after a few drinks, starts slagging the wrong person, and suddenly finds himself on the receiving end of a lesson in manners—delivered via fist.

Meanwhile, the wiser folks in the pub shake their heads, take a sip of their pints, and say, "Well, he brought that on himself, didn’t he?"

But the beauty of this saying is that it’s not just about literal broken noses—it’s about knowing when to shut your gob in all areas of life. Maybe you’re about to bad-mouth your boss without realizing he’s standing right behind you. Maybe you’re giving out about Auntie Mary’s awful Christmas presents and—wouldn’t you know it—she’s just walked into the room. Or maybe you’re arguing with your other half, and just before you say something you’ll deeply regret, you remember this grand old saying and wisely decide to zip it instead.

At the end of the day, the best way to avoid a broken nose, hurt feelings, or lifelong regret is simple: know when to hold your tongue. And if you must say something, make sure it’s worth the risk!

Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.