• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

he's in is oil-tot ??

Hi Terry, We used say that about a person who was having happy time, why oil tot i don`t know!!, have used that saying since i learned to talk and still use it now, i think its said all over Brum. He`s in his oil tot!!.
 
my dad used to say this about a certain stubborn relative...."theres them that are not so deaf as them as wont listen",and it fit my relation to a t

33bus:)
tom
 
Hows this Tom

If something "fits to a T" then it's perfect for its purpose. The allusion here is said to be with a T square. This piece of apparatus is so accurate that a precise right angle fits it perfectly. :)
 
I asked Carl Chinn if he could help with this one and here is his answer;
Hello Wendy
below is the entry for Carl Chinn and Steve Thorne, Proper Brummie.
best wishes
Carl
To be in your oiltot. To be very pleased EG “‘E’s in ‘is oiltot over summat.” Tennant (1983) suggests that this phrase probably originated from “the old habit of a worker drinking a tot of olive oil on payday to line his stomach before going out drinking, supposedly to stave off getting too drunk.”
 
Wendy
In his Oil Tot
used in Birmingham/Black country to denote being in his element/happy. Origin not known but may refer back to biblical expression "my cup (of oil) runneth over".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top