Catherine in Battle Creek, Michigan, saw a bumper sticker with the Scots phrase Dinna fash, meaning “Don’t worry.” Dinna in this phrase means “don’t” and fash incomes from a French verb fâcher, meaning “to make angry.” Another version is Dinna fash yourself. Also, to fash one’s thumb means to “trouble oneself,” and fashious describes something or someone “vexing” or “troublesome.” A wealth of information about these terms is available online as the Dictionaries of the Scots Language website. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Dinna Fash”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hello, this is Catherine Hannon.
I’m here in Battle Creek, Michigan.
What can we do for you, Catherine?
I saw a bumper sticker on a car, and it says, Dena Fash. Do not fash, it’s Dena Fash. The Scots for don’t worry, evidently. I wonder if you often hear it said, Dena fash yourself. And I wonder if it’s more than just don’t worry.
Oh, it could be.
Yeah.
So let’s break this down. So it’s D-I-N-N-A is one word and F-A-S-H is another. And I’m wondering what it’s doing on a bumper sticker in Michigan.
So was I, but I thought it was fascinating.
Yeah.
Fascinating.
And it is a classic Scots expression. It generally means don’t trouble yourself or don’t worry, don’t bother. Don’t worry, be happy. I need this expression.
Yeah, it’s kind of the Scots version of that. And dinner, as you say, Catherine, is a way of saying do not. It’s the Scots way of saying it. And fash is the verb. And fash is pretty interesting. It basically comes from a French verb meaning to make angry, supposedly. That’s what all the dictionaries suggest, although they’re not 100% on that. Fashe, F-A-C-H-E-R.
I wondered if it didn’t have a kind of meaning, don’t beat yourself up.
Well, it can have that. It’s all about context, right? I have seen a variety of different uses because fash, the verb, doesn’t have to be attached to dinner. It can be used in a variety of different ways. For example, I’ve seen no fash your thumb, which means don’t lift a finger basically, but literally translates as don’t trouble your thumb. What a great reminder for us all.
Dinner fash.
Yes.
Don’t trouble yourself. Don’t bother. Don’t worry.
Yeah.
Well, Catherine, thank you for bringing that message to us and to lots and lots of listeners around the world.
Well, thank you. Appreciate it. Take care of yourself in the FESH.
Sure.
Bye-bye.
Take care.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
