Folklore: WHOGABRA

Subject: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: jeffp
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 10:38 PM

Another thread has established my father as a source for the term, "WHOGABRA," meaning "Who gives a big rats ass?"

I'll ask him if he remembers where he got that from. Could be fun tracking down the origin.

My question to Peace is, "Where did you find a reference?"

And to the rest of you, any ideas of the history of this cryptic rejoinder?

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Peace
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 10:58 PM

The reference wasn't to your father, Jeff. I remarked that I had to use the internet to Google the term WHOGABRA to see hat it meant. I could find few references, and you having said that your dad had told it to you--well, I remarked that it must be his expression. Sorry for the misunderstanding. However, maybe it WAS his expression. Let's look.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Peace
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 11:00 PM

The earliest references seem to be fairly recent. (Last few years.)

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: jeffp
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 11:03 PM

I'll have to check with him. He's 82, and I must have been under 20 when I heard it from him, so that would be 30+ years ago right there. Could be fun looking into it. You never know where these things may lead.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Peace
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 11:07 PM

I think it would be lots of fun. Let's do it. See if your dad recalls. I'll mark this thread. Have to get for now. Later.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 11:18 PM

Well,ya' got my attention anyway. I love this kind of stuff. I'm not on much right now but I'll be looking in and looking for this one.......What the hell, ya' know? Whogabra.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 04:41 AM

It's the man that invented ALGEBRA that I want to get hold of, the bastard caused my a load of grief in school!
G.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Paul Burke
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:03 AM

Tough, Al Khwarizmi died about 850AD.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:13 AM

I didn't start school till 0900, that's why I missed him!
G

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: MMario
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 08:08 AM

The phrase was current in my high school in the late 60's, early 70's; and we were a backwater. So it must have been around for a while before that, or else someone on a popular TV show used it.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: skipy
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 08:24 AM

Giok, you are over 4000 years too late!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 01:17 PM

But in geologic time that isn't a long time as fossils go.
*G*

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Peace
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 03:23 PM

OK. So the thingy is back to the 1960s now.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Peace
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 03:24 PM

BTW, Giok. I will not remark on Ebbie's comment. But man oh man, that gal is insightful, isn't she?

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 04:13 PM

I've met the lady in question Bruce, so I refrain from further comment!
G.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: jeffp
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:26 PM

Anyway, back to the original subject of the thread (really? how gauche!). I talked to Dad and he learned it from a guy at work back in the mid 70s. We were living in suburban Maryland, he was working for a company in Northern Virginia and working on a project in Washington, DC. He was able to narrow it down between July 1974 and October 1975.

He actually had some sort of records near at hand because he looked it up and called me back.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 08:04 AM

I made a T-shirt with WGASA on it. The news clip I saved read to the effect - "a street name in a Californian Zoo got left off the decision process so the draftsman wrote wgasa drive instead - and - so the myth perpetuates - they made the sign and people asked and asked ......" of course it must be true I read it in the newspaper.

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: GUEST,A former Army officer
Date: 21 May 14 - 09:48 PM

In 1974, in my unit in Germany, WHOGABRA was used as "Who gives a big rat's ass" for the motto of the CPA - the "Captain's Protective Association"

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 22 May 14 - 02:53 PM

I quite like NORWICH, which servicemen overseas put on their envelopes. It's Nickers Off Ready When I Come Home. (but they obviously couldn't spell knickers!)

Subject: RE: Folklore: WHOGABRA
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 22 May 14 - 06:50 PM

I remember NORWICH and also ITALY (I trust and love you), which I suspect some maidens have ended up regretting!