[quote="Earwicker"][quote="rzs"]The ever-present "How'way Man" in the North East of England got old for me. I can only appreciate it now years afterwards.
This is a very over used expression that seems to mean anything the speaker chooses (e.g. "Get on with it," "Leave me alone," "You've gone too far," and just plain "How'way Man.") I'm not even sure if I spelled it correctly, having never seen it written. It was just spoken profusely.
I know there are some people on this board from the North East, so while we're at it, could you please verify spelling on this phrase as well as the on the also common (circa mid to late '90's) word "chava" meaning a specific type of Geordie teenage thug who wears a track suit in the summer, a Berghaus ski jacket in the winter and haunts Newcastle's Metro line asking everyone "lend us 10 pence, how."
Another favorite of mine is "playing silly buggers," referring to the type of procrastinating/general screwing around usually done by a family pet or small child.
They called cigarettes "tabs" there as opposed to "fags" which I think was more of a Southern thing??? I could be wrong, though.[/quote]

Not sure of the exact spelling of 'How'way man' but would expect it to be something along the lines of 'Ha'way Man' or 'How'ay Man!' or even dropping the H so it would be more like 'A'way Man! This H dropping version is the one more popular in this neck of the North Eastern woods and means, usually 'come on, now, please be reasonable'.
Now I am writing this and getting the strange sensation that I've already written this somewhere on this thread. If so I hope I was drunk and that that this is not an incredibly early indicator of Alzheimers Disease.

To add - the expression 'you/she/he has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp' is a good one. There are alternative variations on the same theme.

Also around here I have heard olds term money 'spondoolix'. I think this might be Irish in origin but know no more than that but I like it and occasionally use it.[/quote]




I remember "spondoolix." That reminded me of another that I never understood the origins of, "cushdy" meaning cool/awesome/etc. For example:
Speaker 1- "Have you seen (insert name of really good movie here)?"
Speaker 2- "Aw, it was cushdy, that."

Is this still in use?

steve wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:"shit the bed"

can be used in any situation as an exclamation of surprise.

In New England, particularly Boston, this means a mechanical failure that leaves one in a bad situation:

The washing machine shit the bed, and now everythings sudsy and wet.

The van shit the bed and we missed two gigs.

Used this way in Upstate New York also.

Plantweed wrote:

steve wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:"shit the bed"

can be used in any situation as an exclamation of surprise.

In New England, particularly Boston, this means a mechanical failure that leaves one in a bad situation:

The washing machine shit the bed, and now everythings sudsy and wet.

The van shit the bed and we missed two gigs.

Used this way in Upstate New York also.

My friends started using the phrase 'Don't Shit in the Shower'...

as in, you can stay here, because your too drunk, but...

Rodabod wrote:
Another favourite of mine:

He's a bit of a Harry Hoofter.

AKA a 'Tin Roof' (poof)

Poof, seemingly can also be spelt poove or pouffe. FYI.

night_tools wrote:

Rodabod wrote:
Another favourite of mine:

He's a bit of a Harry Hoofter.

AKA a 'Tin Roof' (poof)

Poof, seemingly can also be spelt poove or pouffe. FYI.

On the subject, where did 'shirt lifter' come from?

my friend from NY particulaly liked 'minge flaps' when he was here

I always liked:

"Uphill Gardner" = gay man

"Rotter" = a foul person

"Slapper/Tart/Slag" = a well oiled woman

and I've always been partial to the oft used "Cunt"...the Brits own this one!

Regarding New England:

honeyisfunny wrote:
"shit the bed"

can be used in any situation as an exclamation of surprise.

In New England, particularly Boston, this means a mechanical failure that leaves one in a bad situation:

The washing machine shit the bed, and now everythings sudsy and wet.

The van shit the bed and we missed two gigs.

Shit the bed is quite a common saying in New Hampshire and brings to mind a great saying - "Hot Supper" or " Hwat Suppah" This is a regular event in northern N.H. when your car is on the way to "shitting the bed" you put the old girl up on cinder blocks, drain the oil and run the engine until it ceases. It makes a hell of a noise and usually beer cans are tossed at the car when she does manage to pop.

Also in New Hampshire if a girl has experienced an unusual amount of cock she is deemed a "Sled Dog"...I'm sure this is used where ever Dog-Sledding is a popular winter sport.

americans can't swear like we do. we own cunt, wanker, twat, shit, bastard, bugger, bollocks etc...it's true. let's have a swear off!


incidentally,

'having it right off'--having a brilliant time

'having it off'--tiresome expression for 'having sex' "i was 'avin' it orf wiv the missus when i 'erd the door go"

'blinder'--something superb

'superb'--something exceptionally blinding

'chow mein?'--do you know what i mean?

'ye wha?'--pardon me, what was that you said?

'ere!'--hey, you there, come back!

oh yeah....I forgot:

"gone pear shaped" = Things have taken a turn for the worse

I used to work for this british record producer and he would often say:

"It's all gone Pete Tong" = See above *Pete Tong is some shitty dance dj....so this especially pertained to music gone wrong

fantasmatical thorr wrote:americans can't swear like we do. we own cunt, wanker, twat, shit, bastard, bugger, bollocks etc...it's true. let's have a swear off!


incidentally,

'having it right off'--having a brilliant time

'having it off'--tiresome expression for 'having sex' "i was 'avin' it orf wiv the missus when i 'erd the door go"

'blinder'--something superb

'superb'--something exceptionally blinding

'chow mein?'--do you know what i mean?

'ye wha?'--pardon me, what was that you said?

'ere!'--hey, you there, come back!

"yeah, buy why go through all that work when you can just say 'fuck'?"