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Jonathon GREEN's avatar

The headline was taken from a great Brit. comedienne, Hylda Baker of whom you may know but just in case (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylda_Baker). Her own catchphrase was 'She knows, y'know' (to be spoken in Lancashire accent) and referred, I believe, to her foil, the silent Big Cynthia, played by a succession of men in drag. I should have added a pic.

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Jonathon GREEN's avatar

Oh yes. I cannot speak for your version of St Custard's, but we (St Hugh's, named for a blood libel) had a cut-out/over-ride: ‘Baggy no par!’ (Bags I no part!) which freed one from any involvement. And indeed, never thought of it before, but the day we left prep school such childish things were thrown off and never voiced again. (Though GDoS records adult use of 'bags/bagsy' as a demand)

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Benjamin Dreyer's avatar

Well, that was just amazing. Thank you.

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Jonathon GREEN's avatar

So was your comment.

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Bethan Gilmore's avatar

So interesting! The last one “who are you” made me remember that one can still hear this phrase chanted repetitively and somewhat aggressively by football crowds with a particular intonation, a very long ‘are’ and very short ‘you’ - who aaaarrrrre ya who aaaarrrrrre ya etc. There is probably no connection but it would be interesting if there was given the same tone of aggression and challenge!

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Jonathon GREEN's avatar

Only three on line mentions of spotted tum, and one suggests a. it's Scouse, and b. the canonical answer is: ‘same as my arse for pimples.’

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Giles MacDonogh's avatar

'Quiz?'

'Ego!'

[Who wants?

'Me!']

Last head when I was 13?

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Sue Sanders's avatar

Language is humorous and fascinating! Can you use “quoz” in Scrabble?

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peter's avatar

Unfortunately not, it is not in the scrabble dictionary.

I remember the daft phrase 'How is your belly off for spots' as a greeting in East London 50 years ago, also alternative rhyming slang Apples and Stairs for Pears for instance.

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Michael Blake's avatar

I rather like:

The British-English phrase I should cocoa, also I should coco, is an expression of emphatic agreement, meaning I should say so, I should think so, I should hope so. It is also used ironically as an expression of disbelief, derision, etc., meaning I should think not.

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Jonathon GREEN's avatar

You will a brief take on Billy Cotton's favourite catch-phrase here: https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/ojgeg6i

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Jacqueline Berry's avatar

I want to bring "Bender" back! Sounds much nicer than bullshit. And I absolutely love "There he goes with his eye out." It made me laugh just to read about it!! Thank you for this fun article on slang.

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Rosie Whinray's avatar

Bender is a multifaceted slang term, meaning also 'homosexual' or 'drunk for a long time'. It also makes me think of the Futurama character Bender, an irascible robot whose job is ... bending things

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Luke's avatar

Years ago, I worked with a man raised in England (I am not sure exactly where). The "who are you?" phrase reminded me of something he told me. In his neighborhood, if you were approached (aggressively, it seemed) by an anonymous someone who said "See you Jimmy, what's yer name?", it meant he wanted to fight, a reason being unnecessary.

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Bob Rosenberg's avatar

From the end of the 19th century, we have the delightful Slang and Its Analogues, by Farmer and Henley. Having toiled in late 19th century prose, I found this an invaluable resource. And hugely amusing.

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Maryanne James's avatar

Great way to start the day! Thank you for a fascinating read!

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Giles MacDonogh's avatar

Mine, but in response to you. It's what we used to say at school: 'Quiz' - 'Ego!' If you said Ego you got whatever it was. It might have been a sweet, it could have been something vile.

Another word was 'Rats!' That was something you said when someone offered you something disgusting.

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Giles MacDonogh's avatar

that should read 'last heard'.

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Jonathon GREEN's avatar

Is this something of mine or of yours? Can't find it. Given my ageing fingers/mind, I imagine the error is all my own work.

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