Now that you have one of the most famous and authentic English Pubs (outside of England) in your great city I thought I would give you a little history lesson about where some of the more unusual English sayings come from.
When you are sat having a packet of chicken flavoured Walkers Crisps and a nice pint of ale why don’t you try these out on someone and see whether they understand what the hell you are saying. Saying it in an English accent would be even better!
One for the Road:
There is an old pub in London which used to have gallows adjacent to it where prisoners were taken to be hanged. The horse-drawn dray, which carted the prisoner to their death was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the prisoner if he would like “one last drink”. If he said yes, it was referred to as One for the Road. If he declined, that prisoner was said to be On the Wagon.
Someone who has stopped drinking and then becomes a pisshead again is referred to, even today, as someone who has fallen off the wagon.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water:
In the 1500’s baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of nice clean water, then all the other sons and men washed, then the women had their turn and finally the children, last of all was the babies. By then the water was so dirty that you could lose someone in it, and sometimes the babies drowned. This is where the saying Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water comes from.
Interestingly enough, most people got married in June, because they took their yearly bath in May and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. This is where today’s custom of carrying a bouquet when getting married came from.
It’s raining cats and dogs:
In the same time period houses had thatched roofs, thick straw piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying Its raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom, where bugs and other dropping would mess the bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That is how canopy and four poster beds came into existence.
Saved By The Bell / Dead Ringer:
England is incredibly old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people, so they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realised they have been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, thread it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell.
Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell; thus someone could be saved by the bell or was considered to be a deadringer.
Doesn’t have a pot to piss in:
In olden England they used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot and then once a day it was taken and sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were considered “Piss Poor” (still used today to refer to poor people). However worse than that were the really poor folk, who couldn’t even afford to buy a pot, they “didn’t have a pot to piss in” and also used today to describe someone with absolutely no money.
I feel enlightened. Thanks, Craig, for the wisdom. I will use all of these phrases when I visit next week. Working on my British accent now :)
Woooooa, hang on just a minute! You can’t just drop in about coming to England as though it is a little trip to Walmart!! When and where?? X
English people are just a little strange….
Really cool,I like this kind of stuff… Craig, is it true that the old saying mind your P’S & Q’S — came from barmiads being told to watch the customers quarts and pints??
I can’t imagine waking up in a coffin underground. That’s your worst nightnare!
Thanks for the information!!! I learned something new today!
Thanks – I now understand what my grandpa meant when he said repeatedly that he arrived in America without a pot to piss in.
The saved by the bell quote freaks me out. My will and testament will now have, ‘one giant fog horn to be placed in the coffin if you please young sir’.
My mum still shouts “Stone the Crows!!” when she is especially frustrated at me. And to this day I still haven’t found out the exact meaning. One is Farmers used to try and kill crows who were big pests for their crops and even young lambs.
Ha ha it also said the phrase hasn’t been used often since the 19th century. Bloody hell Mum, who old are you ;)
See! This is why cremation is vastly preferable to burial. Sure, it would totally suck to wake up suddenly in a raging inferno. But it wouldn’t last that long. And it saves space.
SWEEEET ! Good stuff !
@Scott – I think that Ps and Qs is correct! Funny, eh?
Another English idiom: “Rule of Thumb.” In 17th and early 18th century England it was perfectly acceptable for a man to beat his wife with a switch or branch as long as it was no bigger than the diameter of his thumb. Glad we only have the quip and not the rule anymore!
Just in time for my trip to London next week! Can you follow this up with a must-do London list? Staying @ Westminster Bridge, office @ Vauxhall..
Cousins from and Kinson and Orpington arrive Saturday. I’ll test them on these!
@summer2
I would definitely take a river trip up the thames on a Thames Clipper of Duck Tour. Head to Grenwich and spend the day exploring there. The tower of London is still always worth a visit and if the weather is good you can climb Tower Bridge. If you want to catch a show Ghost The Musical is absolutely incredible, the effects will blow your mind!! Eating wise, there is so much to explore. Andrew Edmunds in soho is my favourite, but you will need to book, otherwise for quick and easy try Wagamama, great Asian food!! Ifyou get stuck just give me a shout. Have a great time
Great Post – Thank you!
@craig
Are these for real?! I kept waiting for the punch line somewhere. And I love Wagamama!!
Craig, thank you so much! Love your list, especially the food ideas :) What does one wear to an afternoon event at the House of Lords?
@summer2:
Wow that should be an incredible day out. I have heard it is a very unique experience to go there. I am not sure if there is an exact dress code however I would say you are pretty safe by wearing either a smart suit or dress with a jacket. I am guessing but think a hat is optional. For a visit to the palace it is expected that you wear a hat however a visit to the Houses of Parliament or House of Lords it is optional. Have a great time!
Craig u made all of that up. Nice try.
@conor, nope those are all true, or as true as they can be to us…I have a book that tells where sayings come from and I knew about all of them except the Saved by the Bell one; I thought Screech made that one up…LOL.
@ the original Coleen.
Well said!! Thank you.
Thanks for your help, Craig, I’m really looking forward to it! I work for an animal welfare charity and we’re fortunate to hold an awards event there every year.
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