| Saying |
Translation/Meaning |
I'll gie yo' a right bloody cork-aiver
OR Yo'll 'ave a bloody cog-winder in a minute. |
A threat of a good hiding to a naughty child |
| I could-a drapped cork-legged! |
I could have died, as in "I was very surprised" |
| Well, e's took 'is eggs to a fine market, ay 'e? |
said when someone who showed great promise comes to a bad end |
| E's proper poorly. |
He not well. |
This 'ay gettin the babbie a new bonnet or
this ay gonna feed the babbie |
Meaning that it's not getting the job done or no progress being made. |
| Making a noise like a gleed under a door. |
Someone singing badly. |
| Up the wooden hills to bedfordshire. |
Up the stairs to bed. |
| Yo lift and oil grunt. |
You lift, I'll grunt. |
| Shift ya feet from up the 's 'ole. |
Move your feet away from the fire. |
| As gain as a glass eye. |
As useful as a glass eye (to actually see with). |
| As big as a bonk 'oss. |
As big as a bank horse.(ie a large horse that worked on a pit bank. |
| Yo' soppy (or daft) ha'p'orth. |
You silly idiot (ha'p'orth = half penny worth). |
| A bibble in a can or a pea in a colander |
Someone who rattles on & never stops talking. |
| Put wud in the 'ole. |
Put the would in the hole ie Shut the door. |
| Er cor stop a pig in an alley (or an entry). |
Meaning she is bow legged. |
| Stop your blarting. |
Stop crying. |
| A blind mon on a gollopin' hoss'ud be glad to see it. |
When referring to something that was less than perfect. |
| Fer two pins I'd thump you! |
Meaning that for something very trivial I'd hit you. |
| It's a bit black over Bill's Mother's. |
The weather looks bad in the far distance |
| Well, I'll goo to the foot of our stairs! |
Well I'll be damned. |
| Stop yer werriting (or mythering). |
Stop your worrying (or being irritating). |
| He's as fat as a tunkey pig. |
A tunk(e)y pig was a piglet that was fattened up for Christmas etc. |
| Her's a right haiver. |
She's really big. |
| Stop yer ivverin' an' ovverin' an' get on wi'it. |
Stop messing about and get on with the job. |
| Ee giv' 'im a right lampin. |
He gave him a thorough beating. |
| Yow big lommock. |
You clumsy idiot. |
| In a tiswas |
In a state of confusion.
A way to prevent an attack by mounted soldiers was to scatter special nails called
Caltraps, Crows foot or Tiswas in the road.
This was a four-legged nail device made in such a way that however they were
thrown down, one spike was always pointing upwards. The idea was to lame the approaching horses.
A modern day caltrap
I suppose the saying originated from this time with the horses and riders not knowing which way to turn to get
away from the spikes.
|
| We 'ad a bostin time. |
We had a great time. |
| 6 o'clock and ne'er a pidgeon um |
Not quite sure about this one. I think it may mean that time is ticking on (Thanks to Lyn Corbett) |
| I'iv got a bally airk from atin them swaits |
I've got a stomach ache from eating those sweets
(Thanks to Zoë Miller from Cradley Heath) |
| Ne'er a wun cum a nie |
No-one came to visit (Thanks to Lyn Corbett) |
