General
houl yer whisht
What does houl yer whisht mean?
An instruction to be quiet or hold one's tongue.
"Houl yer whisht, I'm trying to listen."
Origin
Hiberno-English 'hold your whisht' (see 'whisht').
Frequently asked questions
What does 'houl yer whisht' mean?
It means 'hold your tongue' or 'be quiet' — a way of telling someone to stop talking.
What is 'whisht'?
'Whisht' is a Hiberno-English word for silence or hush, so 'houl yer whisht' literally means 'hold your silence'.
Is 'houl yer whisht' rude?
It's blunt but usually affectionate or exasperated rather than genuinely offensive.
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