Creative language explored

Thank you baggythecrust for letting me know that this thread is under other subjects. I had already looked for it everywhere in vain when it occurred to me to look back at the bad language thread for a clue. Tracing posts is not easy.

I need time to think up some clever contributions.The only one that falls into my mind is "aroint thee witch, the rump-fed ronyon cries" from Macbeth. I don't think it meant that the ronyon ate a lot of rump-steak.

I remember our whole French class back in about 1952 fell about laughing when asked to translate "bottes d'asparges" Turned out it just meant "bunches of asparagus" but it became the expletive of choice for a year or so. It was nice and explosive - and perfectly respectable if parents asked what it meant.

My DH has chipped in with a memory (also somewhere in the fifties) of camping in a small tent with several friends. Most of them were chainsmokers, and the only non-smoker in the gang got so fed-up with being unable to breathe that he exclaimed "You are a lot of bucking fuggers"

twizzle I'm never ceased to be surprised and humoured by your contributions. I believe that this thread has great promise...use of clever words that bring a smile to the face

They're good ones - but then, we all know Shakespeare had a way with words, don't we??

As an early teenager my ultimate swear expression was 'knickers and spit' or just 'knickers'. Of course, if you'd seen our school knickers back then, you'd understand the power of the garment as a swear word.

Now as a 66 year old, I still don't say anything worse that 'shit' when under duress. I sometimes say it in German because it sounds worse. To tell the truth, I'm pretty bad at swearing - anything worse than that makes me sound like an amateur.

King Lear has another great line - not particularly creative, but often quite useful:

"Howl, howl, howl!"

baggythecrust...love it...I shall etch this quote in my memory bank

baggythecrust! - good idea.

My favourite is from Henry IV Part 2

"You scullion, you rampallian, you fustilarian, I'll tickle your catastrophe"

No idea what it means though !!!