IF there is one thing that Sintelliners are proud of it is our strong local identity.

People, places, local institutions and businesses, and our heritage are all part of the mix of ingredients, which make St Helens what it is.

But so too is our rich local dialect, some of which is distinct to St Helens.

We've been delving into our archives - and asking some of our more experienced wordsmiths - to come up with some of St Helens' most distinctive words and phrases.

There are some we have heard of but, admittedly, plenty that we haven’t.

Do you recognise them and are there any other words or phrases we've missed off?

We'd love to hear more from our readers.

Words and expressions used in St Helens – but not exclusive to the borough

Words

Stone plonk: I can’t drink that tea, it is stone plonk.

Bawtered or bortered: It was hot in the factory and he was bawtered in sweat.

Snooin’: I went down the cellar and it was snooin’ with mice.

Clemt: I am clemt I have not eaten all day.

Mard: The boy did not want to play football and moaned all afternoon, he is really mard.

Nesh: He said it is cold in here, he must be really nesh.

Mither: He could mither a nest of rats.

Moth-etten: The book was tatty and looked moth-etten.

Slutch: He walked through the field and was covered in slutch afterwards.

Expressions

Don’t stand in front of the telly, you weren’t made at Pilks.

Put wood I’th ole there’s a draught in here

He had teeth like the Stores’ (Stowers) horse.

Our maud is coming to the match with me

My mam was jangling on the phone all morning.

He favvered an old man in that old coat.

That beer is flat, it favvers Burgy Water.

She looked like Tilly going for liver

A few more favourites of our readers

I don’t know what for do for best! or What t do f't best"

Up the dancers go up the stairs

Cock! As in... ya alright cock?  Used as a friendly welcome in St Helens, but you may get funny glances if use it further afield

It’s like Blackpool illuminations in here. This roughly translates to "there's too many lights on in there – turn them off" 

It's keld in there. As in: "It's freezing."

Got anything to share with us? Drop us a note by emailing news@sthelensstar.co.uk