SAY WHAT? Crusade no. 7

I was reading Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team blog about family sayings, which got me thinking about all the odd phrases I use.  My boyfriend is from the south of England and often picks me up on my Lanky (Lancashire) sayings (and how I pronounce words), asking what they mean and quite often I have no explanation although I know in my head what it means!!! 

Here's a selection:   oo's a little choochy face (who's a cutey - when speaking to the cat);  it'll be reet (everything will turn out right); werve yer bin (where have you been) or asti bin (have you been); a lazy wind (so strong/cold it blows right through you); buzz (bus - my boyfriend constantly picks me up on this one!)

It also got me thinking about phrases and words my parents/grandparents used to say, such as "put yer face straight" (stop scowling); "mi belly thinks mi throat's cut" (I'm very hungry) & spittin' feathers (thirsty); "tha can talk hind legs off a donkey" (you talk too much); "up the jolly dancers" (upstairs - might refer to Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers); "am goin' wum" (I'm going home); "puttin' me feet up" (relaxing);  addled (confused); butty (sandwich), doorstop (thick sandwich); cack 'anded (clumsy); "ow yer diddlin (or fettlin)'?" or owdo (how are you) to which you'd reply "am champion (or gradely)" (I'm fine);  ta (thank you), ta muchly (thanks a lot), tata/tara (goodbye) & going tata's (going for a walk); eigh up (please move out of the way or look at that); flummoxed (flustered, confused); in a jiffy (in a moment); stop mitherin' (stop complaining/stop bothering me); jiggered or wacked (tired); shape yersen (pull yourself together); mardy-arse (spoilt or sulky); jammy beggar (lucky person); moggy (cat); nowt (nothing), owt (anything), owt fer nowt (something for nothing), owtelse (anything else) & summat (something); erry up (be quick); owdonabit (just a moment/slow down); thisen (yourself); sithee (look here/there); rag 'n bone man (a man with a pony & cart who went round the backstreets collecting old clothes); as thick as two short planks (not very clever); umpteen (many); gerrit et (get it eaten); don't be obstroperous (difficult); a clip roun' th'ears (a smack on the head); sken eyed (cross eyed); put wood in th'ole (close the door); eighup (hold on) and my all time favourite Lanky word - eebahgum! (blimey/crikey).

Then there's the word "nethen" (now then) - my grandad used to play a trick on me, he'd get the fire poker and whilst drawing an imaginery moon on the floor say "the moon is round, has two eyes, a nose and a mouth, nethen" and I'd have to do exactly the same as him, but I never got it right because I forgot to say "nethen" at the end!!!  Very frustrating for a little 'un I can tell you!

I'll leave you with some good advice - "Be good, an' if tha' can't be good be careful and if tha' can't be careful buy a pram"!!!

More pearls of wisdom can be found here - Trouble a' t'mill

Comments

[michelle]

Sue, thanks for sharing your sayings - a cultural difference not only within your country but within our common language. You are reminding me of some of my mother-in-laws saying...she grew up in County Durham.

[Fiverdog]

Hi Michelle - as well as having cultural differences between countries, we even have them between neighbouring towns! I always find it fascinating how dialects can differ so much within such small areas ... VIVE LA DIFFERENCE! lol

[Crafty Green Poet]

This brought back a lot of memories, luckily I have enough Scots now that I won't just be duplicating you when I do the Crusade!

[Fiverdog]

Hi Crafty Green Poet - are you originally from Lanky?

[carlene]

Love all your great sayings, would love to hear someone with the accent say them to me!

[Crafty Green Poet]

Well I'm originally from Worsley, which was Lancashire when I was born but is now part of Greater Manchester. I've linked to your post directly from mine.

[Fiverdog]

Hi Carlene - you probably wouldn't understand a word I say! lol

Crafty GP - I don't accept that I'm in GM and will always be a Lanky Lass!

Sue