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06 Sep 11 - 03:46 PM (#3219152) Subject: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: MGM·Lion "My God: 11 o'clock already and not a whore in the house dressed" ~ Used particularly by women behind time, according to Nigel Rees and Eric Partridge; to which, Rees reports, correspondents added such locutions as, "and not a po emptied, and the street full of [Spanish/Swedish] sailors." Neither can give an origin of this formulaic catchphrase-complaint. I bet someone on Mudcat will know. And has anyone any significant variants from above version[s]? ~Michael~ |
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06 Sep 11 - 04:09 PM (#3219157) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Smokey. My mother used to say "...and not a pot washed". |
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06 Sep 11 - 04:47 PM (#3219178) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Noreen My mother used to say "...and not a child in the house washed". I think it was an Irish expression. Don't know anything more on it than that, though. |
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06 Sep 11 - 05:12 PM (#3219184) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Smokey. I had always assumed it was a quotation, either literary or music-hall. It would be interesting to hear any other variations. |
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06 Sep 11 - 05:59 PM (#3219210) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Smokey. I remember another, though more generally indicating procrastination: "...and this won't knit the baby a bonnet". |
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07 Sep 11 - 02:09 AM (#3219346) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Doug Chadwick ..... and not a dish washed. DC |
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07 Sep 11 - 03:09 AM (#3219356) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: JennieG Smokey, my late FIL used to say "this won't buy the baby a new frock". Cheers JennieG |
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07 Sep 11 - 03:23 AM (#3219357) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: GUEST,CrazyEddie "What? Six O'Clock, and not a child in the house washed yet!" Occasionally "And the last bus gone, and no-one on it!" would be added, (often by another speaker). |
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07 Oct 11 - 04:11 AM (#3235217) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: MartinRyan ".... , not a child in the house washed and the sailors on the town" |
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07 Oct 11 - 04:26 AM (#3235219) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: MGM·Lion Glad to see this thread of mine refreshed after a month away. I would point out that my OP asked ~~ "Neither {Rees or Partridge] can give an origin of this formulaic catchphrase-complaint. I bet someone on Mudcat will know. And has anyone any significant variants from above version[s]?" ~~ and the result above has been many interesting variants {pt 2 of my query}, for which thanks to all posters; but no suggestions as to origins, my main enquiry. Anyone? ~M~ |
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07 Oct 11 - 02:54 PM (#3235477) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: McGrath of Harlow You'll never find an origin - even if you found it was in a book somewhere, you can be sure someone will find an earlier variant... |
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08 Oct 11 - 06:18 AM (#3235710) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Mo the caller If Mudcat can't find an origin how about asking Susie Dent on Countdown (which is a UK tv game show with letters and numbers. Susie gives us an 'origin of words' in spot each show). |
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08 Oct 11 - 09:38 AM (#3235765) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: McGrath of Harlow Terry Wogan is wont to use "not a child in the house washed", and that's probably given it wider provenance. I suspect if you looked around you'd find it cropping up in some 19th century novel, but I would suspect any author using it as quoting it from having heard it. Probably started up as "not a child in the cave..." |
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08 Oct 11 - 09:47 AM (#3235770) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Kevin Sheils I recall various pantomime variants. "6 o'clock and still no Dick" "Nine months gone and no sign of Aladdin" Although how widespread, old or genuine I can't say. |
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14 Sep 15 - 05:04 AM (#3737196) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: GUEST I recall another variant 'Eleven o'clock; not a whore in the house dressed and the Russian cavalry in the courtyard'. I have no idea of the source but would love to know. |
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15 Sep 15 - 03:42 AM (#3737379) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Jim Carroll "I think it was an Irish expression." I think it was too - a regular saying during my childhood The term 'whore' is common in Ireland today as one of grudging admiration; such as referring to politicians during the Celtic Tiger years who practiced 'cute whoreism' - Taoiseach, Charles Haughey was proud long-running holder of the title - "A cute whore, that one". More of a term of abuse, now that the Tiger has lost its teeth. Jim Carroll |
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15 Sep 15 - 05:06 AM (#3737387) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: GUEST,Peter Laban Hoors, Jim. Hoors. |
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15 Sep 15 - 06:52 AM (#3737406) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Jim Carroll I think that's the Irish spelling Peter!!! Another sying my mother had whan I was taking my time doing what I was asked - "Stop messing about like a whore (hoor?) with a hat on" Jim Carroll |
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16 Sep 15 - 05:21 AM (#3737613) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: akenaton Guest.... That saying, "Eight o'clock an' no' a hoor in the hoose washed" was common in my youth in Scotland, it referred to Late starting at work, a state of un-readiness. I think it pertained to "hoors" in a brothel being washed and ready to attend their customers. |
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08 Apr 17 - 05:38 AM (#3849413) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: GUEST A marine engineer who sailed with me used to say, "The street full of masters and mates and not a whore in the house washed." He was native of an Irish seaport and had no idea of the origin of the expression. It must have been handed down. |
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08 Apr 17 - 01:38 PM (#3849493) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: Thompson "…not a child in the house washed" is universal in Ireland; I'd guess that this is a daring/alcoholic variant. Cute hoors (whores) are certainly politicians, developers, bankers, etc in Ireland; the term used to have a grudging admiration, and as Jim Carroll says the admiration waned when the Celtic Tiger lost its teeth. Even now that it's growing a new set of teeth and claws, there's a certain amount of jaw-clamping when the term is used nowadays. |
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20 Apr 24 - 11:07 AM (#4201286) Subject: RE: Folklore: 'Not a whore in the house...' From: GUEST I knew an actor named Clifford Gentle, who fancied himself as a man of letters etc. and he said “Not a bed made, not a po emptied and the town full of Spanish captains!” I always assumed it was a line from one of the Restoration comedies… Cliff gave it a camp twist. |