Dad was from Manchester, mum was from Slough -- been living in the US for many many years now! I think it was a Southern expression because I beieve my mum used it and not my dad........she also used to say, 'you look like the wreck of the Hesperus........' which if I had any decent level of historical knowledge at all, I would probably know where it came from.

Other Brits out there, my curiosity has now been roused......does anyone know the origin of that phrase (or any of the three) - can't .... for toffee, Mrs.Binn's twins (pronounced Mrs. Binn's twinses....,and you look like the wreck of the Hesperus.....