Dialect/slang

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 9:36 am

[quotenick="Si"] Geordie-exile wrote: I think I'm right in saying that 'big girl's blouse' and 'I'm all unnecessary' were catchphrases of Hylda Baker. She knows yer know!Also, "'as 'e been?" or "Joined in holy mattress money" and "it's quarter past....ooh, I must get a little hand for this watch!" My all time favourite Hylda Baker line - when she was introduced to somebody for the first time she would proffer her hand and say :-"YOU 'AVEN'T 'AD THE PLEASURE OF ME 'AVE YOU ??."

TelBoy · Post by **TelBoy** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 9:59 am

I’ve not gone through every posting on this thread so this may have already been mentioned but my father used to use the phrase “I’ll stand the Drop of York” as in for example “If this isn’t the best pint I’ve ever tasted I’ll stand The Drop of York” I found a reference on t’net that The Drop was a specially constructed platform from which the condemned were hung at York. The doors leading to it can still be seen apparently. This must be an old phrase as the last hanging in York took place in 1896.Also “dancers” for stairs as in “Get up those dancers to bed”. I’m not sure where this originates.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 10:39 am

Hi TelBoy - thanks a million for that - I am now 72 and spent my first three decades hearing my Dad saying that the would "stand the drop of York" and never could work out what it meant. Thanks again.

TelBoy · Post by **TelBoy** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 11:26 am

Cheers Blakey.Apparently the Drop was first used shortly after 1868 when public hangings were banned by act of Parliament, so I think the origin of the phrase can be pinpointed fairly accurately to this date. The drop must have had some impact on the public’s imagination for the phrase to pass into common usage.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 5:35 pm

TelBoy wrote: Cheers Blakey. The drop must have had some impact on the public’s imagination for the phrase to pass into common usage. Indeed it must - and it won't have done much for the criminal's neck either !!

TelBoy · Post by **TelBoy** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 8:34 pm

Yup, quite an impact!Now then, regarding "dancers" for stairs. I was musing over the matter while I was doing the washing up this evening (very new man) when a possible answer came to me. Could it be one of those Cockney rhyming slang phrases that don't actually rhyme (an example of which eludes me at the moment)?In this case stairs rhymes with Fred Astaire(s) who is.... Ta - Da! a dancer!!Or maybe not.

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 9:20 pm

TelBoy wrote: Yup, quite an impact!Now then, regarding "dancers" for stairs. I was musing over the matter while I was doing the washing up this evening (very new man) when a possible answer came to me. Could it be one of those Cockney rhyming slang phrases that don't actually rhyme (an example of which eludes me at the moment)?In this case stairs rhymes with Fred Astaire(s) who is.... Ta - Da! a dancer!!Or maybe not. It is, apparently, cockney rhyming slang, along with apples and pears, for stairs.Allegedly, Daisy Dancers, originating from Dancing Bears = stairs.

weenie · Post by **weenie** » Thu 26 Jun, 2008 1:33 am

apologies if repeated this but as i have just moved from scarborough back to leeds i have to tell ya that i always say in some sentances "barring this barring that" eg."yeah will do barring arr lass she call-ing to er on t'other side of wall" barring = apart from they used to comment on what i call me parents old dear - mam old man - dad and if you are male and referring to your missus my husband says "her indoors"

Si · Post by Si » Thu 26 Jun, 2008 9:23 am

Can't recall if I've mentioned this one before, but when I was younger, some people said "gives it" instead of "said" when relating a conversation, eg:'Fred gives it "Blah blah blah," so Dave gives it "Blah blah blah."'Anyone else heard this?

weenie · Post by **weenie** » Thu 26 Jun, 2008 11:04 am

Si wrote: Can't recall if I've mentioned this one before, but when I was younger, some people said "gives it" instead of "said" when relating a conversation, eg:'Fred gives it "Blah blah blah," so Dave gives it "Blah blah blah."'Anyone else heard this? i've heard it and still use it and other people i know still say it too .