a(n) lug ar a(n) lag a thitim (ag)
Pure idiomHeadwords
Description
Lagmhisneach; éadóchas.
Corpus examples
Do thuit a lug ar a lag ag clainn Israéil go léir nuair a fuaradar go raibh Airc an Chonnartha imthighthe uatha.
Ansan, nuair a ghabhann aon rud beag i n-ár gcoinnibh, tuiteann an lug ar an lag againn láithreach, agus siúd ag lorg sóláis saoghalta sinn.
Ní dhéanfaidh sé féin ná a chrann-tabhail a thuille bárthain dúinn. Gan Cú Chulainn sa mhórchath ní bheidh rí ná rath ar shluagh Chonchobhair. Tuitfidh a lug ar a lag acu. Tiomáinfimíd romhainn iad 'na ndíosgar.
Additional examples
Do thuit an lug ar an lag aige, Lit., the small fell upon the weak with him, i.e., littleness in him had no support but weakness, therefore the whole fell, i.e., he collasped. (Lug is old Irish for small. It lives still in this phrase, and in the comparative lugha = smaller; less.)
Thit an lug ar an lag aige, he was flabbergasted, he lost courage.
Do thuit an lug ar an lag aige, he collasped through dismay, etc.
He gave way to despair, thit an lug ar an lag aige.