Gransnet forums

Chat

Idioms phrases and proverbs

(61 Posts)
Elizabeth1 Thu 08-Feb-18 11:09:02

Let’s have fun
Who knows what Jock Tamsons bairns mean? Please then add an idiom a phrase or a proverb of your own.

Elegran Thu 08-Feb-18 11:21:15

"We're all Jock Tamson's bairns" means "We are all relations, all the same" or that none of us is any better or any worse than any other, and we should all stick together. Could be because Tamson means the son of Tam, and the whole village would know Jock and Tam and their forebears, so they wouldn't be able to put on any airs.

How about "What's for you won't go by you." ?

shandi6570 Thu 08-Feb-18 11:32:43

Maybe someone can tell me what my Dad meant when he used to say 'five to play sixes with' if I ever asked him a question he didn't want to answer. It worked as I always walked away puzzling about the phrase and for some reason never asked him to explain.

Granny23 Thu 08-Feb-18 11:36:15

The corollary of the positive JTB is the decided 'put down' of 'Ah Kent his Faither' applied to anyone who is perceived to be getting above themselves.

mcem Thu 08-Feb-18 11:39:36

How about 'His/her coat is hinging on a shoogly peg' ?
Would love to think that's where TM's neat little jackets are.

Granny23 Thu 08-Feb-18 11:50:23

Which translates as 'You are on your final warning'

How about 'the ba's on the slates?

Christinefrance Thu 08-Feb-18 12:03:12

I have noticed that many of the sayings I heard as a child are no longer in use. I have had blank looks from people when I have used some expressions.
Once in a Sheffield flood - how did that originate
When I moved to Suffolk people said " it's funny raining" or " it's funny sweet" meaning its very sweet or raining heavily.

mcem Thu 08-Feb-18 12:48:55

And bear in mind that 'If you're no' among the craws you'll no' get shot!'
If you don't associate with undesirables you won't end up in trouble!

farview Thu 08-Feb-18 13:29:40

As a child,if was told I couldn't do/have something..on asking "why" dad would say." because X is not a Y and Y is not a Z!!!???

Jane10 Thu 08-Feb-18 13:32:50

Yer bums oot the windae! =your response is inaccurate

grandtanteJE65 Thu 08-Feb-18 13:36:40

My grandmother said of people who were too busy minding others' business that "their eyes are standing out like chapel hat pegs"

grandtanteJE65 Thu 08-Feb-18 13:38:23

Schumaker's bairns are aye ill shod

hildajenniJ Thu 08-Feb-18 14:27:54

When saying goodbye to my mother, she would offer say, "if I don't see you through the week I'll see you through the window". I never understood what she meant, and I still don't.

Daddima Thu 08-Feb-18 14:58:25

On speaking about a rather snooty spinster in our village, my mother said was single because she’d, “ let the bunnets go by ‘cause she was waiting for a hat”.

Elizabeth1 Thu 08-Feb-18 15:58:47

All very very funny please can explanations come along with the phrases it makes for good reading.

midgey Thu 08-Feb-18 16:10:28

When I asked question whyI was always told ..because y is a crooked letter that can never be straightened. Very frustrating! When I asked what someone was making..sky hooks for teddy bears..

Christinefrance Thu 08-Feb-18 17:25:36

That reminded me grandtante When I said I didn't want to breastfeed my daughter the midwife said " well why not, you have nipples like chapel hat pegs" still not sure if that was a good thing.

Floradora9 Thu 08-Feb-18 17:55:21

All fur coats and name knickers

Floradora9 Thu 08-Feb-18 17:56:43

sorry all fur coats and nae knickers

Floradora9 Thu 08-Feb-18 17:57:39

nae knickers

BeeWitch Thu 08-Feb-18 18:34:19

If I asked my Granny what was for tea, she always used to say "two jumps at the cupboard door and a bite at the knob". Never worked that out....confused

grannyticktock Thu 08-Feb-18 20:03:27

Daddima, it's great to be reminded of that. My mother (Glasgow/Lanarkshire background) used to talk about "Letting the bunnets go by waiting for the hats" and used this to chide me gently into settling down as soon as a nice young man came along (in case the "hat" never materialised).

She also used the phrase "bunnet crack" to refer the the chat (crack) you have as you're getting ready to leave a gathering, putting on your cap (bunnet). Very useful phrase, but with no standard English equivalent that I'm aware of.

Elizabeth1 Fri 09-Feb-18 08:55:42

'A penny for your thoughts'?
An invitation to a person lost in thought to share his or her preoccupation.

Rosieroe Fri 09-Feb-18 10:54:44

‘Another clean vest will do him’
On someone who looks ill... ?

mumski Fri 09-Feb-18 11:34:17

DH family used to say "This watch is running on teacakes ... it's running on currants!" in other words it keeps stopping all the time confused