Peas wisp

[sfulton]

Has anyone heard of the saying "peas wisp" meaning something is wrinkled or a mess? If so, I am just wondering what the origin of the saying is.

Thank you.

[HillyHugger]

Don't you mean pea swisp?

[sfulton]

I'm not sure! I've only ever heard it spoken and not written down - what is a pea swisp?

[HillyHugger]

No idea I was just being mischievous

[sfulton]

I see! It might seem like I've lost the plot but it really is a something I've heard said often. It must be an "irish-ism!" given that I'm from Northern Ireland!

[swedeheart]

Yep it seems to be an Irish saying judging from the title of the book.

[heathfield]

Never heard of this expression, but it's very apt in describing a tangled mess. If you think of an entwined mass of growing peas, then, once they've died off, grapping a handful, (wisp), it's utterly descriptive.

[sfulton]

Many thanks for all your input. - especially to Swedeheart who confirmed I'm not losing it!

[wallacia]

i have looked for peas wisp,cannot find it anywhere even tried this site,(which includes every word saying in the british isles)

http://www.onelook.com/

i find everything here.

[jno]

typical, you ask a question about a remote corner of the English language and only a Swdish gal knows the answer!

[Boman]

As a child I would hear my mum calling things a peas wisp, and yes it means a tangled mess. I would say it's an Irish thing.