BS: Those handy UK expressions...

Subject: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 10:22 PM

We've all heard them from time to time. They are those mysterious expressions which are quintessentially of the UK and sound quite odd to North American ears. They are one of the most endearing traits of Britons, I think.

For instance...

"tosser"

I have been called a tosser on many occasions by a certain member of the British Isles who posts on this forum. It was puzzling. I'm not a baseball pitcher or anything like that. I wasn't sure what he meant, but I gathered from the context that it wasn't anything good.

Still, I was not sure just how insulted I ought to be when called a "tosser". Should I shrug it off, or should I get really upset? Should I consider legal action? Should I hire someone professional to quietly deal with the situation? Decisions, decisions.

Anyway, "tosser" is definitely a good one. It has staying power.

Here's another: "git" It seems to mean something a bit similar to a tosser, but one is never simply a git. One is a stupid git. If there are any intelligent gits around, they are clearly keeping a very low profile.

Then there's "gobsmacked". I love that one! So expressive.

So we have:
tosser   
stupid git    and   
gobsmacked

Three great UK expressions.

Would anyone like to suggest some others?

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 10:45 PM

Tosser is certainly not complimentary! Git often has connurtations of meanness.......Gobsmacked is pretty self explanatory. Here's a couple more -- wanker, quite nasty and much like tosser - prat - a bit of an idiot.....

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:05 PM

I like brick myself, so be a brick and get over it already.
At least they don't call you a todger!

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:24 PM

Besides meaning a cat, mog can also mean Miserable Old Git!

I love gobsmacked and wanker. In fact, I find myself using them quite often.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:43 PM

Oh yes, "moggie". Moggie's a good one. It means a cat, but it somehow conveys a good deal more about the cat, I think, than the mere generic word "cat" does. It suggests a certain homely quality, a raffish sort of informal and neighbourly way of referring to a familiar animal that is often seen in the vicinity of one's digs.

"Digs!" There's another one. I think it must derive back to a time when Britons scraped out holes in the ground to live in and pulled some thatched roof or something like that over them. If Sir Francis Drake and the other bold seafaring chaps off "Plymouth Ho!" had not sent the Armada packing in 1588, the Brits might still be living that way! If so, we would be obliged to send them foreign aid, and we're already stretched too thin....so thank you, Sir Francis!

Thanks for bringing up the connection between "old" and "git", Kat. It's an important one too. A "miserable old git". Gawd...I love the sound of that! It summons up such a vivid picture in one's mind. You know exactly what it means the moment you hear it.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:49 PM

Here's another great one:

"Push OFF!"

...and in the same vein...

"Oh, sod off!" (great for expressing just how exasperated and completely FED UP one is with some stupid prat...or git...or tosser...as the case may be)

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Peace
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 12:35 AM

I can't be arsed.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:05 AM

It took me a long time to figure out what "and then the penny dropped" meant.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:44 AM

Little Hawk - just to be nit-picky...

Plymouth Hoe is not always followed by an exclamation mark (or bang)and is spelled with an 'E'. Westward Ho! is the one with the punctuation and is the only town or village in Britain to be a) named after a novel (many other have had novels named after them) and b) to have an exclamation mark (there is one other town in Quebec that has a bang as part of its official name). I've never been there but I have it from one who knows that it is not really as exciting as the name and punctuation would suggest.

Personally I've always liked 'wally' (from the large, bright green, slightly limp pickled gherkin found in chip shops) which seems to have been entirely British in origin.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Dave Swan
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:46 AM

I was not best pleased.

D

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: John O'L
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:52 AM

"'Ow's yer farver?"

Never knew what it meant but always liked it.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 03:12 AM

you've never had a bit of 'hows your farver?' then?

You surprise me - a man of your je ne sais quoi.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 03:59 AM

"How's your father"(followed by "orl right!" is the rhythmic phrase used to denote a familiar tag ending of a song|: another version isrendered in American as "shave and a hair cut two bits".AS WLD refers to earlier, it is also used to denote a little touch of Harry in the night, hanky panky,Ugandan business,spearing the bearded clam,jig a jig etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: sian, west wales
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 04:43 AM

One evening in a pub, soon after I had moved to Wales, I had to ask the people I was with what they meant by 'slag'. A couple of the guys looked a bit embarrassed but replied that a slag was someone who went out with tossers and wankers. I'd heard 'tosser' before so I asked what a 'wanker' was ... whereupon the conversation immediately turned to something else, completely.

Another saying might be, "Don't get your knickers in a twist." That breaks up one of my Canadian friends every time.

And in Wales (you did say 'UK') if someone is incredibly angry, you say they're tampin' (tamping) mad. If they're very ill, they're "poorly" or even, "She's bad under the doctor." If they're moving very quickly, they're "going like the clappers" ... although that may be a UK one as well.

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 04:50 AM

Go to Croydon any day and you will hear many hideous expressions from the oiks!

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:01 AM

What about Birmingham ? how can all those people have the same speech impediment ?

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: GUEST,Sapper on the TRU; Doing the Chiltern Line
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:09 AM

One I recall from my Army days is "AS much use as tits on a bloody bull frog."

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Jeanie
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:58 AM

Very much like a wally, there's a plonker...

The amusement - and bemusement - about expressions also happens between different regions of the UK, as well as from one side of the Pond to the other. Having been born in Wales, and having lived most of my life in southern England, I'm always amused by the Northern expression "Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs !"

My Scots grandfather always used to welcome people at the front door by saying "Come away in !"

I think I speak "normal" English (I suppose we all think that !), but I find that in some schools I have taught in, the children are very amused by my saying things like "Jolly good !" and "Okey dokey" - I think they count that as somehow "posh". They tell me they have never heard anyone say things like that.

Oooh, here's one that I've heard and had to have explained to me: lary (as in "a lary (very bright/garish patterned) tie").

Fascinating to delve into language differences and nuances. You never do meet a young git, do you ? I've just looked the word up. It is a variation of the noun "get", meaning a fool/idiot, from Middle English, "get" being a noun for "offspring of animals" (< beget). So really, I suppose, all gits ought to be young.

Toodleooo

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Jeanie
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:24 AM

Me again.....Just thinking, what is the younger version of an "old git" ? A young...what ? All I can think of is a "young Herbert", but I'm begining to think I'm very old-fashioned and talk like Bertie Wooster.

What about the expression: "Matey" ? I only ever use that in a derogatory sense and for strangers who never hear me saying it, so not for mates at all, and only ever when driving the car, as in: "You wait your turn, Matey !"....

Little Hawk: I loved your definitiion of "moggie", by the way. That was spot on. Oh, just thought of some more good expressions: "the bees knees"..."the cat's pyjamas."

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: TheSnail
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:37 AM

"Don't get out of your pram" to someone who is about to lose there temper and "Who rattled your cage?" to someone who already has.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: David C. Carter
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:39 AM

"as much use as an ashtray on a motor bike"

"have a butchers at this" as in "butchers hook" Look.

"leg over" as in-"Did you get your leg over last night?"

"He's as tight as a camel's arse in a sandstorm"

David

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:02 AM

"Oik" has been mentioned above, and I don't think anyone know where it come from. Means much the same as "yob" which is "boy" backwards, and is disparaging.

I think a fair number of words that look strange to Americans are shared with Australians - for example "bloke" which is said to come from Shelta.

"Digs" used to be "diggings", for example in A Study in Scarlet, when Dr Watson meets Sherlock Holmes for the first time, the mutual friend introducing them says "My friend here wants to take diggings, and as you were complaining that you could get no one to go halves with you, I thought I had better bring you together."

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: redsnapper
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:26 AM

"A piece of piss" (= easy) is one I have never understood the origin of. Does anybody know?

Pooch is of course a canine moggie.

RS

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:42 AM

We were always 'daft apeths' if we were being silly.

I took this to mean we were acting like fools and idiots. Anyone else come across 'apeth', other than as the archaic form of 'apes' - to imitate someone in the manner of Chongo the Chimp?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:48 AM

Lovely Scottish one, " hey Jimmy, whats yer name ? "

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Newport Boy
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:57 AM

"Daft 'apeth" was common for a small person not worth very much. H'apeth or 'apeth was the common abbreviation for ha'penny, or halfpenny. It's the only bit I remember of a children's rhyme:

An 'apeth of chips to grease your lips.

Anyone know the rest?

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:00 AM

I think it's " 'ap'orth" - meaning worth a ha'penny, a half-penny.

Then there is the way we use "sod" - "sod off", "silly old sod", "silly young sod". And "bugger" - "buggering around", "bugger me", "do bugger all".    None of which have any connection whatsoever with the Friends of Dorothy.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:11 AM

I doubt if wankers go out with slags! Aren't wankers, by nature, solitary creatures? ;-) I think tosser has the same origin (wank=toss off? Maybe?) I find wanker is much overused and find myself using it only for persons, usualy white van or BMW drivers, performing selfish acts!

Now then, Wassock is a completely different kettle of fish. Originaly a smelly heap of manure that had formed a crust it then came to mean anyone who was particularly unpleasent in any way.

What about the great Lancashire expressions 'Yer gurt nog!' (You great noggin - don't ask!) or 'Clowt yed' (Cloth Head).

There's hundreds of 'em!

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:20 AM

"Pillock" is very handy sometimes.

"Thanks very much", meaning the reverse.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Newport Boy
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:34 AM

Thanks McGrath, "a'porth" is right. The wealthy would have a penn'orth.

I shouldn't have read this thread - my brain is now churning.

My father-in-law always said of an action which was less than effective - 'As much use as shouting "shit" up a dark alley'.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 11:01 AM

Makin' love to a 'well-worn' lady (or by an under-endowed male)
Like throwin' a bean-bag in The Albert Haall

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 11:11 AM

"I doubt if wankers go out with slags! Aren't wankers, by nature, solitary creatures? ;-) I think tosser has the same origin (wank=toss off? Maybe?) I find wanker is much overused and find myself using it only for persons, usualy white van or BMW drivers, performing selfish acts!"

Tosser is another word for wanker, and goes back to at least the 1930s.

The comedian, Max Miller, used to tell a joke that went as follows:- "I was walking along this narrow mountain ledge the other day, when I came face to face with a pretty young woman. I didn't know whether to toss meself orf, or block 'er passage"

ergo Tosser = Wanker.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Rog Peek
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:18 PM

'As much use as a nine bob note.'

Used to work fine, but now it seems only people over 50 know what i'm talking about. Bloody decimalisation!

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:26 PM

"Stone" as in "six-stone weakling"

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Gedpipes
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:54 PM

Goodness me Little Hawk.
Just look what you have started. I think most of the comments above do appear to have emanated from fairly decent coves, not like the other thread we were privy to sharing where there appeared to be a large number of dull johnies participating.
Toodley pip
and of course
Blue skies

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 03:35 PM

Har! Har!   By God, it's wonderful what is coming forth on this thread! It makes me want to purchase air fare to the British Isles right away. Once there I would scout around, seeing if I could spot any tossers, wankers, and/or miserable old gits...and maybe even meet a slag or two while I was at it. No wonder Chongo has such fun whenever he goes to Britain.

Liz, thanks for the tip about Plymouth Hoe. Another important bit of trivia that I can put in my mental storage bin for future reference.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 03:45 PM

More recently you have your "Kevs" and "Sharons" - many of them live in Essex reportedly - as well as your "chavs", your "spotty (H)'erberts" - they usually serve behind the counter at fast food places - and every day you meet "cautious Cuthberts" on the roads.

Not that I'm bovvered - me? bovvered? talk to the hand!...

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 03:47 PM

I enjoy those expressions too, but the US can do well on it's own:

Useless as tits on a boar hog....

Uglier than death takin' a shit...

Crazier than a shithouse rat...

That woman was so tall she could stand flat-footed and piss in the radiator of a Chevy pickup...

Yo' mama so fat she keeps her diaphragm in a Pizza box...

And so on and so forth. Where's Kendall when we need him?

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 03:52 PM

A "spotty (H)'erbert"!!!!   Oh, man, I get that picture in my mind as clear as day. If they were in Canada, they'd be working at the Tim Hortons donut shops and variety stores.

Is the "cautious Cuthbert" the natural counterpart to the "nervous Nellie"? One could set up a matchmaking service that focuses on bringing such types together in order to make sure that the future supply of spotty (H)'erberts never runs out...

I was a spotty (H)'erbert once...years ago. Fortunately, the condition passed eventually.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 04:52 PM

Watch it George! I resemble that remark.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Rumncoke
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 04:54 PM

To be given t' Scarborough warning - that is no warning at all and usually a fist in the face but I think it stems from the time when Scarborough had a tendency to hang criminals for the first offence.

Excuse, please the explosive 't' of South Yorkshire that is the substitute for 'the' but more so.

Numpty has drifted down from the far north, on the air waves (radio) I think.

A numpty is a dimbo.

Ackers or Sheckles is money, usually coins which you might divy up with your mates if you had been carol singing round the estate (housing estate) thought if the people had been stinjey they might not have shelled out much cash.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: astro
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:01 PM

There seems to be sayings in America that imply some impediment in looks:

she looks like the back side of a country fence...

he looks like 5 miles of bad road...

then there's:

that dog won't hunt...

but, I think we were talking about England....

astro

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:09 PM

On the other bus = Of a different sexual orientation.

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:09 PM

Not specifically England, as the thread heading indicates.

Where input from across the Atlantic would be helpful is in identifying which every day idioms used here aren't in use over there. For example, am I right in understanding that "slowcoach" isn't, but you'd use "slowpoke" instead?

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Micca
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:13 PM

Geordie, I first heard a version of that as like " throwing a tab(cigarette) down Northumberland Avenue ( a wide thoroughfare in Newcastle on Tyne)in South Shields!

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Anne Lister
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:25 PM

The north-south divide again - I remember being totally gobsmacked once at university when a friend (Lancashire, I think) went into her room to see what her boyfriend was up to. She came out again and said "We won't bother him now, he's hard on."   My jaw dropped. She then explained that it meant he was fast asleep ...
How about "collywobbles"?

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Little Hawk
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:31 PM

Yes, McGrath, North Americans say "slowpoke". (it's not a sexual reference, by the way...)

I never heard the expression "that dog won't hunt" until I saw Bobert use it, which he does quite often.

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:40 PM

Git , sometimes rendered in Scotland as Get, and as such is regarded as far more offensive than Git is in England.
G,

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 06:46 PM

What a difference a vowel makes. As with "feck".

Subject: RE: BS: Those handy UK expressions...
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:02 PM

Brits might say of an ugly girl, "She's got a face like a slapped arse", or "She looks like the North end of a South bound Camel".

I have heard someone described as a "right Prattock", explained as meaning halfway between prat and pillock, a pretty narrow gap to squeeze into, I'd have thought.

Don T.