Vernacular quiz for non brits.

[MANICHAEAN]

There was a thread the other day related to English vernacular & I cast around for a few more examples. See how you do.

I'm plumb tuckered.

I'm knackered.

Sloshed.

Six parts to the wind.

Half cut.

Got the hump.

Its a syrup and fig.

Half a mo.

Naff off. (Royal connotations)

In the club.

[Maximilianus]

I will have a go with a few. Someone please tell me if I'm correct



I'm plumb tuckered: I'm exhausted/extremely tired (I understand it has an American origin and in its full it would be "I'm plumb tuckered out")

I'm knackered: I'm extremely tired.

Sloshed: very drunk.

Half a mo: half a month (though mo is also an abbreviation for moment, right?)

Naff off: a forceful expression of dismissal or contempt.

[MANICHAEAN]

Maximilianus
Excellent. 5 out of 10.
"tuckered' Its obsolete English from 1833 & you are right, its normally "tuckered out"
"mo" we normally use for "moment"
"Naff off". Famously used by Princess Anne when pursued by the media at a show jumping event, she came off her mount & let loose at them.

[kasie]

Manichaen - I've never heard 'plumb tuckered' used in UK. I've heard it used in Australia, though.

[prendrelemick]

The only one I don't know is "its a syrup and fig"

Is it anything to do with the bowel loosening properties of syrup of figs?

Also, we would say, "three sheets to the wind" rather than "six parts to the wind" for someone considered a bit mad.

[MANICHAEAN]

Must have been from my days in a bed sit in Earls Court!

[TheFifthElement]

The only one I don't know is "its a syrup and fig"


I'll give you a clue: it's cockney rhyming slang.

Manichaean - could you add:

- chunnering, and
- mithering

to your list? I bet some of our southern counterparts might not know what those mean!

[MANICHAEAN]

Prendrelemick

Since when did you become a non Brit?

"Syrup & fig" / "Wig"

Interesting interpretation of wind force!

[Niamh]

The only one I don't know is "its a syrup and fig"

Is it anything to do with the bowel loosening properties of syrup of figs?

Also, we would say, "three sheets to the wind" rather than "six parts to the wind" for someone considered a bit mad.

Yeah we'd say three sheets to the wind over here too. I dont know syrup and fig. But then i dont know cockney

[MANICHAEAN]

Actually, it is 'syrup of figs'... (http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/slang/syrup_of_figs)


It was a common expression in South London when I was a kid, and I think it still is.

We had history teacher who, having explained the background to the dissolution of the monasteries, said, "Any questions?"

My mate Pete raised his hand and said, "Yes sir. Is that a syrup, or what?"



Yeah we'd say three sheets to the wind over here too. I dont know syrup and fig. But then i dont know cockney

Fifth Element

This southern counterpart does not know.

Can I take a guess. Is "chunnering" something to do with bowel movements or being physically sick?

"Mithering" Have not got a clue!

[BienvenuJDC]

Six parts to the wind.



I've also heard this as "three sheets to the wind"...

EDIT: I guess I'm a little late with this comment...LOL...

[prendrelemick]

Prendrelemick

Since when did you become a non Brit?



Give up mithering!

[MANICHAEAN]

Got it. I think.
Nagging, scolding,pestering,annoying,fussing.
Scottish varient: mothering?

[Maximilianus]

Maximilianus
Excellent. 5 out of 10.
"tuckered' Its obsolete English from 1833 & you are right, its normally "tuckered out"
"mo" we normally use for "moment"
"Naff off". Famously used by Princess Anne when pursued by the media at a show jumping event, she came off her mount & let loose at them.
Thanks for every explanation http://smiles.kolobok.us/personal/hi.gif


Manichaen - I've never heard 'plumb tuckered' used in UK. I've heard it used in Australia, though.
This (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=plumb%20tuckered%20out) is a very interesting link explaining its origin.


Can I take a guess. Is "chunnering" something to do with bowel movements or being physically sick?
The Urban Dictionary gives this for chunnering (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chunnering): "when someone keeps going on and on about something that no one else is really interested in". And it gives the following example: "Mikylie kept chunnering on about how exciting his lan parties were and he met females there".

I also found "chunner (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chunner)" to be a synonym for "moron"

This thread is fantastic. It's really expanding my vocab :D

[TheFifthElement]

The Urban Dictionary gives this for chunnering (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chunnering): "when someone keeps going on and on about something that no one else is really interested in". And it gives the following example: "Mikylie kept chunnering on about how exciting his lan parties were and he met females there".

I also found "chunner (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chunner)" to be a synonym for "moron"

Well done Max! Though I do like Manichaean's definition


Can I take a guess. Is "chunnering" something to do with bowel movements or being physically sick?
which expresses quite nicely what it's like when someone is chunnering on!


Got it. I think.
Nagging, scolding,pestering,annoying,fussing.
Scottish varient: mothering?
I don't know about the Scottish variant, but mithering is a word often used by mothers in relation to their kids...'will you stop mithering!'

It is also used to express when you can't be bothered with something, 'I can't really be mithered' or 'I'm not mithered'.

Okay, a common word in UK but maybe not overseas, how about: butty?

[MarkBastable]

Does anyone have any idea why this post of mine, which was properly and successfully displayed a few posts back:

Actually, it is 'syrup of figs'...


It was a common expression in South London when I was a kid, and I think it still is.

We had history teacher who, having explained the background to the dissolution of the monasteries, said, "Any questions?"

My mate Pete raised his hand and said, "Yes sir. Is that a syrup, or what?"


...has now been subsumed into one of Manichean's, as if I had never existed?

[kasie]

Thanks for the reference, Max.

Fifth - Is 'chunnering' the same as 'chuntering', then? And it sounds as if 'mithering' is the same as the Welsh 'moithering', which can be active, as in 'Will you stop moithering me, I'm busy.' Or passive as in 'I'm all moithered, I've got that much to do, I don't know where to start.'

Butty - in (South) Wales, has an entirely different meaning to the rest of the country (a 'sarnie') - it's an adaptation of 'Buddy', a friend - 'Hiya, Butt' can be loosely translated as 'Good day, my friend'.... we don't talk all posh, we do talk tidy 'round 'ere, bach...

[prendrelemick]

Does anyone have any idea why this post of mine, which was properly and successfully displayed a few posts back:

Actually, it is 'syrup of figs'...


It was a common expression in South London when I was a kid, and I think it still is.

We had history teacher who, having explained the background to the dissolution of the monasteries, said, "Any questions?"

My mate Pete raised his hand and said, "Yes sir. Is that a syrup, or what?"


...has now been subsumed into one of Manichean's, as if I had never existed?


Well, it has been noticed that you two are never seen together in the same place.:wink5:

We say chuntering rather than chunnering round here.

[Niamh]

A do love a good chip butty!

[MANICHAEAN]

I am initially a North London boy (Fulham).
Mark Bastable is a South London boy.
Two totally different tribes.
But then, thats a completely different thread.

[prendrelemick]

Here are some more

Fair clammed
Nesh
Braw
Haver
Minging

These are more regional than Manichaean's. How many do you recognise?

[Niamh]

I only know minging.

[qimissung]

Nesh-someone who is over-sensitive to the cold.
"You nesh git, you don't need a coat."

Haver-to talk nonsense. Used in The Proclaimer's song "500 Miles":

"When I wake up, well I know i'm gonna be,
I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next you ( what )
When I go out,( when i go out ) well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you
If I get drunk, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
When I haver, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you"

[qimissung]

Oh, and braw means fine, pleasant weather, usually Scottish.

[MarkBastable]

I am initially a North London boy (Fulham).
Mark Bastable is a South London boy.
Two totally different tribes.
But then, thats a completely different thread.

No, no, no. Fulham isn't North London. Fulham is West London. Try telling any of the 30,000 people at Craven Cottage that they are North Londoners. You'll find yourself skimming across the Thames and ricocheting off the Harrods warehouse before you can say Parson's Frigging Green.

[prendrelemick]

West London! was yours a posh gaff.

The words I posted were all words I've heard used recently either on the telly or in conversation, so they are still going -just.

I'm fair clammed or clemmed, means I'm bl--dy freezing.

[Whifflingpin]

Is Mark one of the Lewisham Road Bastables?