Chris Harris No, this is culturally a paraphrase referencing the brilliant actor’s industrial drinking: going to an off licence for a bottle of whisky.’ But maybe not completely off subject. “Gone for a Burton” is one of those wonderfully British expressions that sounds almost cheerful until you discover what it originally meant, because although today … Continue reading Popular Idioms and Phrases: “Gone For A Burton”
Tag: British Idioms
British Idioms – Sweet Fanny Adams: The Curious and Tragic Origins of a Familiar Phrase
by Chris Harris Sweet Fanny Adams: The Curious and Tragic Origins of a Familiar British Phrase If someone offers you or asks you for something and you reply, “You’ll get Sweet Fanny Adams,” or FA, of course, everyone understands what you mean. It is one of those phrases that sits comfortably in everyday British conversation. … Continue reading British Idioms – Sweet Fanny Adams: The Curious and Tragic Origins of a Familiar Phrase
Popular Idioms and Phrases and Why We Say “You Wait Ages for a Bus, and Then Two Come at Once”
by Chris Harris The Historical Roots of a Familiar Expression The phrase “You wait ages for a bus, and then two come at once” goes back to the lived realities of twentieth century British cities. Public transport in places like London, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham was notoriously irregular during the post-war decades. You may remember … Continue reading Popular Idioms and Phrases and Why We Say “You Wait Ages for a Bus, and Then Two Come at Once”