Subject: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Schantieman Date: 10 Feb 03 - 02:07 PM In a MudChat discussion earlier this evening I was careless enough to use this expression. CapriUni asked where it came from. A Google search has thrown up this: "I'LL GET ME COAT" Darrin asked about the origins of the catchphrase "I'll get me coat". Richard "Mad Stoat" Powell expounded: It's a corruption of the olde Englishe phrase "Alget, me goat." which in turn is a corruption of the Aramaic "Alga mee goo." A literal translation of which is "One shall fetch one's over garment." The origin of the Aramaic phrase is lost in the mists of time, but is believed to derive from the nomadic cattle herders of the Middle and Near East, who were well known for forgetting to take an overcoat when they went into town. Invariably they would walk into a bar and regale the regulars with wild tales of cattle herding and then offer to buy everyone a drink. They would then realise they'd left their money in their overcoat, and under the unamused glare of everyone, would mutter, "Alga mee goo." This is also to believed to be the cause of their nomadicity as they never returned to buy the bar a round of drinks. DNA fingerprinting has traced the current day descendants of the cattle herders to the Northern British Isles. ...which may not be utterly authentic. Any ideas out there? Steve |
Subject: RE: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Schantieman Date: 10 Feb 03 - 02:14 PM ...and it's used on the UK TV comedy series The Fast Show (apparently!) |
Subject: RE: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Nemesis Date: 10 Feb 03 - 02:34 PM And by the same comedian who uses the phrase "which was nice!" Which was nice... as he walked past the PEL petition at Victoria last week! |
Subject: RE: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: GUEST,Wyrd Sister Date: 10 Feb 03 - 03:03 PM And there's the noth-west (uk) version "get your coat, pet, you're pulled" |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Geoff the Duck Date: 10 Feb 03 - 07:12 PM Or occasionally - Get your pet goat! You've Pulled! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Murray MacLeod Date: 10 Feb 03 - 08:04 PM This catchphrase didn't exist prior to the advent of the Fast Show. "Suit YOU Sir" .... Murray |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Murray MacLeod Date: 10 Feb 03 - 08:06 PM Ambiguous previous post. "I'll get my coat " didn't exist as a catchphrase until the advent of the Fast Show. Murray |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: CapriUni Date: 10 Feb 03 - 10:32 PM Heh, heh... Thanks Schantiman! "The Fast Show," eh? That would explain why I'd never heard the expression until I entered into the Brit-rich environs of the newsgroup Rec.arts.drwho... Of course, this was also the first newsgroup I'd stumbled into, so I wasn't sure if it was a British Culture thing, or an Internet Culture thing... Though I liked your goat etymology, Schantieman... Though ... have you ever tried to get a goat? Damned hard critters to catch (had two pet ones, for a while, when I was growing up)... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Ebbie Date: 10 Feb 03 - 10:54 PM Somehow I doubt that the origin of the phrase is recent. I remember the phrase: Here's your hat/coat- what's your hurry? from way back. I don't remember when I first heard this 'new' one but it seems to me that it may derive from the earlier one. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Schantieman Date: 11 Feb 03 - 05:31 AM It doesn't seem that new.... any more theories? S |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Mrs.Duck Date: 11 Feb 03 - 06:09 AM Ebbie I remember that one as "Must you go-where's your hat?" Same idea though. I am certainly unaware of the phrase "I'll get my coat " being used before The Fast Show but that doesn't mean it didn't - maybe we should ask them! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Steve Parkes Date: 11 Feb 03 - 07:42 AM Getting one's goat is easier than having it. You can't have your goat and eat it, as that's not kosher. Steve |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: M.Ted Date: 11 Feb 03 - 11:53 AM If you've heard "Here's your hat and coat, what's your hurry?" from way back, it may be time to take inventory-- |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Schantieman Date: 11 Feb 03 - 11:58 AM ...I'll keep my coat on...I'm not stopping! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Steve Parkes Date: 11 Feb 03 - 12:23 PM Ken Platt: "I won't take me coat off, I'm not stoppin'!" |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Schantieman Date: 11 Feb 03 - 12:38 PM Who he? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Ebbie Date: 11 Feb 03 - 12:52 PM LOL, M. Ted. But thou dost know what I mean, eh? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Nemesis Date: 11 Feb 03 - 06:43 PM Capri: Although, the person recently witnessed in the UK as having carnal knowledge with a nanny goat in a field in full view of a stopped railway carriage must have succeeded in getting his goat .. certainly, it got a lot of other people's goat! (He was subsequently caught and prosecuted .. not sure what hppened to the goat..) |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Mr Red Date: 11 Feb 03 - 08:49 PM Schantieman tghis is a clear cut case of - I'll get my anorak...... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Steve Parkes Date: 12 Feb 03 - 02:47 AM And don't forget the terrible wrong that was done to Robert Post. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Nigel Parsons Date: 12 Feb 03 - 05:59 AM Early-ish sighting on Mudcat: Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Matchstich Men' Brian and Michael From: GUEST,Zebedee at work - PM Date: 03 Jan 01 - 08:06 AM "We're from Dartmoor on the run" I think I'll get my coat (or possibly an anorak) Ed |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 12 Feb 03 - 09:26 AM ...Schantieman hasn't heard of Ken Platt, eh? Young people today.... RtS (they'll be saying they don't know who Al Read was, too I suspect) |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Snuffy Date: 12 Feb 03 - 09:33 AM There was enough said at our Edie's wedding. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Guessed Date: 12 Feb 03 - 09:56 AM Or was it a quote of Ghandi's er ........ I'll get Mahat............ |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Snuffy Date: 12 Feb 03 - 07:05 PM Mahatma Coate-Jeeves |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Alice Date: 12 Feb 03 - 10:46 PM This entire thread is greek to me. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Steve Parkes Date: 13 Feb 03 - 03:52 AM OK guys -- less bubble for Alice! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Mrs.Duck Date: 13 Feb 03 - 08:32 AM Worse thing about the goat is she never even bothered to visit him in jail!! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: GUEST,Mr Red (with one hand on the dictionary) Date: 13 Feb 03 - 08:35 AM not hircine eh? I'll get my donkey jacket............... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Steve Parkes Date: 13 Feb 03 - 12:18 PM Aynuk goes for a job at the Balcksmith's. Blacksmith: Have you ever shoed an 'oss? Aynuk: No, but Ah'm always tellin' next door's donkey to bugger off. Blacksmith: Do' tek yower coat off ... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: Mr Red Date: 13 Feb 03 - 05:06 PM Could this goat referrence be a bodhran joke in disguise "Beat it Kid" I'll get my goatskin............ |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Origins: 'I'll get my coat' From: GUEST Date: 27 Oct 11 - 08:33 AM UMM , OR MAYBE JUST FROM THE HARRY ENFEILD SHOW , BAD JOKE THEN ILL GET MY COAT .... |
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