Thankful for another memorable Thanksgiving!
Been feeling a little wistful about our years in London lately and was reminded of this note I, the American, used to send out to the largely British staff every year at this time. Here it is from 2008:
Avril showed up early for a meeting the other day and saved me from a brain train of negative thoughts that closely resembled one boxcar collapsing into another. I was thankful for the momentary derailment.
Even better, Av gave me a new entry for the notebook of British sayings I’ve been keeping since my first day on the job here. What used to serve as a personal reference guide (so I knew what the heck you all were telling me) has now become a place where I jot down a phrase, noting the person who gifted it to me. So, as a tribute to Thanksgiving – the very best of all American holidays – I hereby express my thanks to the English contributors* over the years. Their teaching, generosity and encouragement have provided colour and brightness to many a grey and rainy day.
Here’s a “taster:”
- “(About as) useful as a chocolate teapot” – completely useless
- “Chuffed, dead chuffed” – delighted, extremely delighted
- “Happy as Larry” – deliriously happy
- (“Bit of”) a bugger’s muddle – dilemma
- “Take the piss” – (this one still makes me wince) taking liberties, joking, tease
- “X couldn’t organize a piss-up in a brewery” – useless individual
- “X could talk the hind legs off a donkey” – talkative individual
- “(In a or) having a right flap” – in an agitated state, wigging out
- “Absolutely shattered” – exhausted
- “This will all end in tears” – predictable disaster
- “Having kittens” – throwing a fit
- “Another bite of the cherry” – a second chance, additional opportunity
- “Bless his/her little cotton socks” – cute, a blessing, ‘Awwww …’
- “Near as dammit” – close enough
- “Trolleyed, pissed, bladdered” – when one imbibes a bit too freely, drunk
- “Like meat and drink (veg)” – what comes naturally
- “Running around like a blue arsed fly” – erratic, excited behavior
- “Scores on the doors” – the wrap-up, the skinny
- “In a right 2 and 8” – a tantrum
- “Very bib and tucker” – dressed up, buttoned up
- “Suited and booted” – see above
- “All cock-a-hoop” – excited, happy
- “Not for yonks” – ages, a long time
- “In a right paddy” – upset
- “(His/her) knickers in a twist” – when you’re in a right 2 and 8, or a right paddy
- “Knackered” – whooped, tired. (If you’re Spanish and speak with an English accent and you’re in the confines of a very loud pub in Brighton, it sounds like ‘naked,’ but that’s a story for another day)
- “A poisoned chalice” – not the opportunity, good fortune it appears to be
- “I’m going up the wooden hills of Bedfordshire” – slipping off to sleep
- “Problems back at the mill” – issues at home
- “How long is a piece of string?” – the quantitative answer is unknown
- “That will go down like a bucket of warm sick” – very unpopular idea
- “(A bit) Jack the Lad” – a party boy, loutish
- “(That will go down) like a fart in church” – see bucket/warm sick above
- “Plodding through treacle” – slow progress. Often used when describing procurement negotiations
- “You don’t buy a dog and bark yourself” – useless expenditure
- “Smalls, pants” – men’s underwear (‘pants’ can also be used to describe women’s underwear)
- “Up the duff” – bun in the oven, pregnant
- “(Having a) knees up” – a drunken experience
- “A big jolly” – see knees up
- “Chatham House Rules” – meeting participants are free to use the information received but it may not be attributed
- “Manky” – disgusting, in Valley Girl-speak ‘Gross’
- “(A touch of the; Eww, he/she’s got) the dreaded lurgy” – all-purpose for cold or flu-like symptoms
- “A bun fight” – heated altercation with no lasting importance
- “Tickety-boo” – all is well, doing just fine, going smoothly
Whether you celebrate or roll your eyes at all of this, I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
Jon
*The late great James Maxwell. Susanna Flynn, who makes me laugh every time I’m with her. Avril Fudge, my former PA, Sherpa and first English coach. Beth Harrold, perhaps the most patient and kind person on the planet. David Kean and Anthony Wreford, dear friends and former DAS Europe. Mark Hume, a man who has no equal. Serena De Morgan, who often says things so utterly brilliant I fail to realize it until minutes/days later. Suzanne Doerr, lovely former colleague. Richard Aldwinckle, former colleague I didn’t understand for a least a year – my loss. Ruth Yearley, who has introduced me to many things – from HP Brown Sauce and the bacon buttie to EBay to true creative genius. Clare Pring, who has provided me with at least half of the above. Roy Edmondson, who is showing great potential to become a future top contributor. David Gallagher, Texan and proud British citizen who remains uncomfortable using the word “mate.”