dont know.the label has fallen offWhat are you gawping (gorping) at?
Bob
What are you gawping (gorping) at?
Bob
I can remember it only from my time in Birmingham and have not heard it used since I left, so I assumed it was a local expression my grandmother at Harborne used it a lot as did one or two of the aunts (her sisters).Gawp is a word in general use, not a local word. Also know in the northern USA. Collins dictionary says it has the same meaning as Gawk but I don't think I have heard that one.
Not heard that one but I like it.Have any of you used or heard the term "goostops" it was given to me years ago when asking for directions to somewhere. First left, over the bridge and turn left at the goostops ( traffic lights! )
Firstly, welcome to the forum!I still get funny looks when I say I've been all round the Wrekin as I've lived in Lancashire for the last 30 odd years. This thread has brought back to me all the Brummy sayings I grew up with and yes, we did call hands donnies, have arley barleys and 'san fairy ann' and 'any road up' were common expressions in our family.
Yes, we used to go to the outdoor, have a piece - or a cob - for our dinner, and it was always pikelets, never crumpets - although funnily enough, my wife's from North Yorkshire and also calls them pikelets.
Loved the savoury duck story - a very similar thing happened to me a few years ago. I was in the office on the phone to Mrs. Jonny and we were having our usual 4pm conversation about that evening's catering arrangements: I said "so - what do you fancy for tea then" after which my boss, a posh home counties type, looked over the screen and asked me why I always talked to my wife every afternoon about drinking tea. I explained that tea was what we ate in the evening, whereupon I was told "Oh you mean your SUPPER". I confused him further by telling him "no, no, supper's the snack you have before you go to bed".
Firstly, welcome to the forum!
I got a very funny look from a colleague only the other day when I mentioned that I'd scraged my knee!
Once reading this ye olde words come back. I must start using em again. scraged has been replaced by scruffed that wont do. donney is hands . Hold ya donney when crossing the road . hmmm how many moreFirstly, welcome to the forum!
I got a very funny look from a colleague only the other day when I mentioned that I'd scraged my knee!
brummies always shortened words due to the fact there was no time to waste. Hence no time for or er and ar stick an a on the end acta for actor this is now re in vented as text spelling . wrekin we must of been post cause it was all around th wreking or reking. far travel . i ent goin all around the wrekin for that. not worth it.I thought 'All Round the Wrekin' was a Shropshire phrase that had got as far as the Black Country but not to Birmingham where I had never heard it used. I was surprised when a friend from Birmingham used it and it turned out that he had been to school at Wrekin College.
I remember 'Barley' from school often with crossed fingers meaning 'truce'. I am told it is from the French 'parlez' which is the command 'speak'.
I have also been told that 'Donny' is from the French 'Donnez moi le main' which is 'Give me your hand' although if talking to a child (or girl/boy friend) it should strictly be 'Donne moi ta main'
was it some saying at school . wonder what it means. arley barley there was moreAs a child I used Arley Barley and Feet off Ground.
perhaps a bit to flush. or was the douce wildWell, none of these were ever used in my family, not my grandmother or my mother or even any aunts. Birmingham born and bread and heard them all around but none ever uttered in my house. We did have a bathroom - is this the reason ??? LOL
Shortie
French words used in English don't always mean what we think they mean. I live at the end of a Cul-de-Sac but if I translated that into English from the French I might upset the moderators. As I moved out of Birmingham across the border into the Black Country, I am told I should call it a Pudding Bag Street.