Well, as a rank newcomer, I need to weigh in on this one, 'cause I do love the way people from all over express themselves. Sometimes you can meet someone from far away, and if the language is still in common, though different, you can get goosebumps listenining to the way they say stuff.

Which brings me to an expression which UK folks may chime in about, which is a title to a song I heard on a record of a great Northumbrian band of the Seventies/Eighties, I think called "Canny Fettle". The expression (and title) is "varry canny", and the song itself is one of those great English music hall-ish kind of songs about the ordinary which elicits the aforementioned goosebumps. Not in the DT, as far as I can tell...

It starts out with " A South Country fellow one day says to me, 'ye Newcastle folk is queer "tawkahs" (talkers)'and the respondent in the song proceeds to explain the meaning of the expression 'varry canny'; it's a delight. As a Yank, I don't know "squat" (there's one)about the song origin, but it is certainly one of the best efforts to explain by examples what an ordinary statement, which is actually very rich, can mean.

This would be a great last call song for the assembled throng at the Mudcat Tavern, right after 'Ale, Glorious Ale'. We would all do well to get through life everyday "daein'(sp?)varry canny." I'd be pleased to hear if anyone knows more about this great expression.