Going back to a point about midway up this thread, the origin of the, ahem, the "mutt's nuts" was discussed by Stephen Fry, in one of the series of "QI", though I have been unable to trace it.

Way back in the olden days, apparently between the wars, the boys' toy "Meccano" was sold in two versions, the "Box Standard" and the "Box DeLuxe".

The "Box Standard" became "Bog Standard" (referring to anything means plain, basic, one-size-fits-all) and the "Box DeLuxe" became the, er, canine equipment.

A phrase I have come across in Sheffield and Manchester:
- "Me stomach thinks me throat's been cut" = "I'm hungry"