5/22/09

Brit' Word of the Day

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 pole

This is a very commonly used phrase back home.

6 comments:

Gaelyn said...

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!

Susie Q said...

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???)

Newly come to your blog...I'll be back!

Expat mum said...

"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.

Sandi McBride said...

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

Janet said...

Or better still, I wouldn't touch it with someone else's barge pole.

Iota said...

Wasn'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?

I'm not entering your competition with such a half-baked answer.