Todays BWOTD is a common descriptive phrase, that I have caused bewildered looks with since moving here!"I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole''Barge Pole' = ten-foot poleThis is a very commonly used phrase back home.
This one makes total sense, and is much like our "wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole." Do you have anything similar to "colder than a well digger's ass" or doesn't it ever get that cold in the UK? LOL!
That is exactly what I thought when I saw 'barge pole'--ten foot pole. Well digger's ass, yep, know that one too...and I can't think of another one to save my neck (maybe something like that one???)
"Brass Monkey weather" - to answer the question about the cold. We usually say it's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. It isn't quite as rude as you'd think and has something to do with ships. If you give me a day or two I can come back with the origin - or we could have a little competition.
Yes, I know that one...both my sons (who picked up the lingo while we lived in the Mother Country) both use that instead of the ten foot pole...funny how things stick. Sandi
This one makes total sense, and is much like our "wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole." Do you have anything similar to "colder than a well digger's ass" or doesn't it ever get that cold in the UK? LOL!
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what I thought when I saw 'barge pole'--ten foot pole. Well digger's ass, yep, know that one too...and I can't think of another one to save my neck (maybe something like that one???)
ReplyDeleteNewly come to your blog...I'll be back!
"Brass Monkey weather" - to answer the question about the cold. We usually say it's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. It isn't quite as rude as you'd think and has something to do with ships. If you give me a day or two I can come back with the origin - or we could have a little competition.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know that one...both my sons (who picked up the lingo while we lived in the Mother Country) both use that instead of the ten foot pole...funny how things stick.
ReplyDeleteSandi
Or better still, I wouldn't touch it with someone else's barge pole.
ReplyDeleteWasn't brass monkey to do with cannonballs in Nelson's fleet? Weren't the cannon balls kept on something called a monkey? or a brass monkey?
ReplyDeleteI'm not entering your competition with such a half-baked answer.