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Funny little colloquial phrases

(150 Posts)
nanna8 Sat 06-Mar-21 07:38:33

I was thinking about this today. One that I like here is, ‘Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.’ Still in use today for when something is better than nothing!
Another good one still in use is,
‘A kangaroo loose in the top paddock’ for someone a bit strange.

Blossoming Sat 06-Mar-21 23:37:29

‘A sandwich short of a picnic’ would be the kangaroo equivalent here.

LauraNorder Sat 06-Mar-21 23:46:38

My favourite Aussie one is ‘go bite yer bum’.
More affective than ‘please remove yourself from my presence’.
Or is it effective, I used to know these things.

paddyanne Sat 06-Mar-21 23:50:47

The lights are on but theres no one home is the same thing here Blossoming or He's on a brain share and its not his turn until next week

nanna8 Sun 07-Mar-21 06:44:28

I like that last one, never heard that before. Another is charging like a wounded bull for people who over charge for their services and ‘if he had another brain it’d be lonely’ though I haven’t heard that for a couple of years.

Aveline Sun 07-Mar-21 07:58:56

A coupon short of a toaster or a sandwich short of a picnic.

Aveline Sun 07-Mar-21 07:59:15

Not the full shilling.

Lucca Sun 07-Mar-21 08:00:34

Lift doesn’t go to the top floor.

lemsip Sun 07-Mar-21 08:04:54

A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted.

Anniebach Sun 07-Mar-21 08:05:52

Not the brightest coin in the mint.

Baggs Sun 07-Mar-21 08:21:41

Said in my Grandad's South (West as was) Yorkshire accent: Let's 'ave a loook at these 'ere 'errins 'eads. (herrings' heads)

DD1 says she's only ever heard me say this but I'm sure I didn't make it up!

Baggs Sun 07-Mar-21 08:22:16

Said for anything a bit tricky/complicated that requires some consideration.

M0nica Sun 07-Mar-21 08:51:45

His/her get up and go, got up and went.

grandmajet Sun 07-Mar-21 08:53:23

I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it left!

Jaxjacky Sun 07-Mar-21 09:54:05

The breaking strain of a wet Kit Kat. Used about me when I dither about an offered drink in our local and then say yes please.

LadyGracie Sun 07-Mar-21 10:00:21

No carpet on the upstairs landing.

Parsley3 Sun 07-Mar-21 10:18:21

Yer bum’s oot the windae which in translation means something like you have been caught out.

grandmajet Sun 07-Mar-21 10:20:01

All fur coat and no knickers!
(Chilly)

Callistemon Sun 07-Mar-21 10:31:57

Continuing with an Australian theme:
Pull ya head in, mate (meaning is obvious)
He's a right drongo (idiot)
You flamin' galah (don't be so stupid)

Nearer home:
About as useful as a chocolate fireguard
Couldn't organise a booze-up in a brewery
Or a feast for pigeons in a cornfield

chocolatepudding Sun 07-Mar-21 10:36:27

"On the huh" meaning something is not level or is wonky (East Anglian phrase)

Witzend Sun 07-Mar-21 10:38:29

Two unsuitable for delicately-minded maiden ladies, sorry.

I used to like this one of my father’s - falling over was ‘going arse over breakfast time’. Never heard it from anyone else though.

Nor his expression for being scared witless - ‘shitting little blue lights’ - DBro and I were wondering just the other day whether it was his own invention, since we’ve never heard it anywhere else.
My DF had what would still be considered a ‘posh’ voice but his language was very often ‘colourful’. My DM always put it down to his WW2 years in the RN, since we never heard so much as a ‘colourful’ word from his parents.

polomint Sun 07-Mar-21 10:44:11

Yer talking mince...means your talking rubbish

LauraNorder Sun 07-Mar-21 10:44:34

Callistemon, I still use drongo and galah, I’d forgotten they were Aussie ones.
Orlin is often a bloody drongo or a flaming galah.

Callistemon Sun 07-Mar-21 10:56:44

It has to be said in an Aussie accent of course!

Nannarose Sun 07-Mar-21 11:03:55

'Will's mother' features in a lot of Midlands sayings - it's a bit black over Will's mothers' - and - going all round Will's mother's' (the long way round)