Lairy

Lairy (adjective / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Getting lairy, Lairy as, Lairiness)

Definition:

Lairy means loud, rowdy, showy or looking for attention, often after a few drinks. A lairy person is boisterous and a bit aggressive, and might start trouble or simply show off. It can also describe loud, flashy clothes or behaviour.

Where Lairy Comes From:

Lairy is thought to come from the Australian and old English slang “lair” or “layer”, meaning a flashy, showy person, and probably “leery”. It was in British use by the early 1900s, and it spread widely after the Second World War, becoming a staple of pub and football-terrace English. Some of its history is uncertain, but the sense of showing off has stayed the same.

How People Actually Use Lairy:

“Getting lairy” is the most common way to hear it, and it describes the point in the evening when someone becomes noisy, cocky and a bit confrontational. It can be harmless, as in singing loudly, or it can be a warning sign of a fight. It also covers bold patterns and bright colours, as in a lairy shirt, which is slightly teasing but not harsh.

Is Lairy Offensive?

Not at all. It is a descriptive word, and people often use it with a smile about friends who have overdone it. If you are told to stop being lairy by a bouncer, however, it is time to calm down.

Examples in the Wild:

• “He gets lairy after two pints.”

  Meaning: He becomes loud and cocky when he drinks.

• “Do not get lairy with me, mate.”

  Meaning: Do not start being aggressive.

• “That is a lairy shirt, where did you get it?”

  Meaning: It is bright, loud and attention-grabbing.

Similar Slang:

Cheeky, Mate, Flex, Sweaty, Rowdy, Boisterous

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