Soft day, thank God

Suggest a Correction

Meaning

A mild, damp or lightly rainy day, acknowledged with gratitude or dry humour. Regional and often wry rather than devout. It can sound stereotyped when placed indiscriminately in Irish dialogue. Regional use: Irish English.

Origin

Irish English uses 'soft' for weather that is moist, misty and not harsh. The set greeting is culturally familiar and appears in 20th-century Irish writing, while a possible parallel is Irish 'la bog,' literally 'soft day.' The precise first speaker and date are unknown; it is a vernacular weather formula rather than a quotation with a single author.

Research Sources

  1. A soft day, thank God Language Log, University of Pennsylvania
  2. Soft day, thank God The Irish Times

Variants

  • A soft day, thank God
  • Soft day, thanks be to God

Usage Examples

  • Soft day, thank God, said Nora as the mist settled on the lane.
  • It was a soft day, thank God, with enough drizzle to freshen the grass.
  • The visitor called it rain; the postman called it a soft day, thanks be to God.

Keep Exploring

Browse all phrases