Lace-Curtain Irish

Refers to Irish immigrants who, though living in shanties (shacks) would hold their airs and snobbishness. So called because they'd hang lace curtains in their tiny shacks.

My mom keeps the family silver in her double-wide, she's modern day lace-curtain Irish.

by billmax August 4, 2010

Lace curtain Irish

Individuals who take the dishes out of the sink before urinating in it.

My family were lace curtain Irish who came over on a cattle boat that carried no cattle.

by Tcallahan October 8, 2022