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13 May 07 - 05:30 PM (#2050894) Subject: Folklore: Taking the Mcikey -- Origins From: Amos There is a theory that the expression "to take the mickey" -- to make fun of -- is derived by rhyming slang from "take the mickey bliss"<=="take the piss". Does anyone have any evidence in support of this notion? I have no idea what "mickey bliss" means. is it a known phrase in UK slang? Any idea where it comes from? And does the expression bear any relation to the reputation of the Irish as fast talkers? A |
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13 May 07 - 05:32 PM (#2050898) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mcikey -- Origins From: GUEST,Canadienne it's an abbreviated form of "micturation" Amos - are you sure you're not taking the piss? |
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13 May 07 - 05:41 PM (#2050905) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: katlaughing For further info: click ...not much more in answers, though! |
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13 May 07 - 07:08 PM (#2050960) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: Geoff the Duck The link above takes us to someone who clearly does not know much about the phrase as he/she/it misses half of the phrase. It is "to take the piss out of someone". I may get back to this thread later. Quack! GtD. |
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13 May 07 - 09:12 PM (#2051036) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: Bob the Postman Sorry to be anal about matters urethral, but one who micturates commits the act of micturition, with an "i". |
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14 May 07 - 08:52 PM (#2051882) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: The Walrus The phrase owes its origins to the terms "Piss proud" and the command "piss off". "Piss Proud" is defined by Francis Grose* as "Having a false erection" (from pressure in the bladder). This phrase was used (possibly later) to define one who would 'over inflate' their importance or actions, leading to the instruction to "piss off", effectively a statement that the listeners didn't believe the tale and that the speaker should stop acting so self important. From this we can easily equate "to take the piss out of someone" to be the action of reducing pride (pomposity pricked). To give the phrase a faux politeness it is a short step to "take the micturition" (or "take the micturate"), in turn shortend to "Take the mickey". At least that's the tale I got it Walrus * Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. |
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14 May 07 - 09:42 PM (#2051909) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: Q (Frank Staplin) Goeff the Duck has the last quack on this one. Quotes from Oxford English Dictionary: 1. to tease. 2. to break the spirit of "She's a terror. I expect she'll try to take the mickey out of you all right!" (1948) ".... everyone was trying to take the mickey out of him" (1952 ff.) The penis has nothing to do with the phrase, but 'mickey' is rare slang for a penis. James Joyce, in Selected Letters, 1909: "Gently undo ... the fly of my trousers and gently take out your lover's fat mickey." A 'mickey' also is short for a Mickey Finn (knockout drops put in a sucker's drink). Supposedly from Finn's saloon (Chicago). |
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14 May 07 - 10:01 PM (#2051923) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: GUEST,.gargoyle AMOS
Your lead (without context), and your following posters have taken a run ... along a far different line...than my understanding in a more TFolk interptretation
Mickey Finn
If you would like chemical/historical information - try to keep this thread "alive" for eight days - I'm ready to slip myself "A Mickey" and will be out until called-upon.
Sincerely, |
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14 May 07 - 11:52 PM (#2051993) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: Murray on Saltspring In Larne, around 1941, my friend referred to his penis as his mickey. It's pet name, something like "bobby" (my own Fife childhood, in the thirties), "Peter", and "John Thomas". Compare "Roger", mostly as a verb, = "have intercourse"; the term was often (significantly enough" applied to a bull. |
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15 May 07 - 12:10 AM (#2052007) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: The Fooles Troupe Mickey Mouse! Agghhh! |
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15 May 07 - 06:10 PM (#2052857) Subject: RE: Folklore: Taking the Mickey -- Origins From: Geoff the Duck The explanation given by The Walrus is pretty much what I have previously heard quoted. I find it more believable than some mythical version of Cockney Rhyming Slang. I have NEVER heard the phrase Mickey Bliss and would reckon that is just something completely fabricated. Mind you I come from "Up North" where Bradford non-rhyming slang goes "Apples and Pears"= a bag of fruit! Quack! GtD. |