bless him!

Aaah.

Worse than that, Richard Bacon on Radio 5 also thought it was a damp squid and couldn't explain the meaning of the phrase to (Little) Jimmy Osmond. Luckily Peter Thingy was there to explain!

I have just checked on t'internet to make sure I am not mistaken, and, yes, it was a lady called Kitty Lester who had a hit with "Love Letters" in the 60s. I knew the name rang a bell!!

Ooooh....do we have a pop star in our ranks?

Well! I always thought it was squid!

I think everybody most people do.

(I knew it meant, sort of, a firework that didn't go off because it was damp)

Yes Jingl you're right and a firework is a squib not a squid. Surely most squids are damp most of the time so what would be the significance of a damp squid anyway? Damp squibs don't 'go off' - hence the anti-climax! That was such a boring explanation - went like a damp squib really.

Yes! It's weird. I know what a squid is too - some sort of fishy thing (I think).

Have vaguely wondered about the logic of the saying!

I have just asked DH and son. They both know it is squib!

It's just me!

And Syberia's OH!

Right Syberia. Say "bless her" about me too, please.

It's got to be ageing brains!

Well, in my case, that is.

Syberia how I wish it was true but I thought that was Ketty Lester - I can't sing a note never mind sing like Ketty Lester!

On the original topic, surely squid are always rather damp as em said and it would be against their rights to be set on fire!!

Well, if I walked into a fishmonger today and asked for half a pound of the little b----rs, I still wouldn't know which to ask for.

I have a dear friend who uses the expressions " It takes two to tangle" (tango) and " he is just swinging his leg" (swinging the lead). She always makes me smile!!

Hmmm, a thread on malapropisms?

My aunty always used to talk about the alligator in her washing machine. (agitator)

My FIL had always had ' an elegant sufficiency ' after a meal bless him

My MIL didn't go out of her house very much in later life. 'I've got acraflavia, dear' she would explain.

i had an aunty who recommended Perry Sitimol for headaches.

Ooh Susie.

susie

The old lady I used to live next to suffered a variety of ailments, most of which she felt were the after-effects of her hysterogamy.

Re fish/fireworks - over 30 years ago, in Rome, H and I had delicious meal in a cafe. We'd chosen something we'd never heard of and asked the waiter what we'd eaten - "Ees squeebs, no?"

And that's what squid has been called in our house ever since.

I know this is not in the same league, but I have heard a lot of people who claim close acquaintanceship with Arthur (Itis)

'Elegant sufficiency' was what the ladies of Cranford said when they served, or were served, tiny snacks at their tea parties. I love Mrs. Gaskell's novels.

I once worked with a lady who bought all her furniture at mi5 (we think she meant MFI but had'nt the heart to tell her)