Brit-Speak Q&A

footfootfoot · 12-28-2009, 03:16 PM

What means "Dickie Bird"? as in

On a tree by a river a little tom-tit
Sang "Willow, titwillow, titwillow!"
And I said to him, "Dicky-bird, why do you sit
Singing Willow, titwillow, titwillow'?"

Sundae · 12-28-2009, 03:20 PM

- Dicky bird is a small bird. Little bird would probably be the most accurate translation.
- Dicky can also mean ill, ie a dicky tummy, or a dicky ticker (heart)
- Dicky Bird was a famous cricket umpire (Dick and Dicky being a nicknames for Richard in the last century)

DanaC · 12-28-2009, 03:24 PM

Also used in the context of silence/isolation: not a dicky bird.

footfootfoot · 12-28-2009, 03:24 PM

Thanks, luvs.

Undertoad · 12-28-2009, 03:42 PM

The on-air pseudonym of the main character in the film Comfort and Joy.

Clodfobble · 05-17-2010, 01:38 PM

Explain this one to me, if you please:

Your children's television program Charlie & Lola has been imported over here for many years. On the Disney website, there are a number of themed games you can play, one of which is Flip-Flop: an analog to our game of "memory," except instead of precisely matching the images under the cards, you are to match things in logical pairs, like the pirate with the pirate ship, etc.

First off, I have trouble with the so-called correct match of a mermaid and fish sticks... "because mermaids always eat niblets of the sea!" That's weird enough in itself, but cannibal mermaids notwithstanding, I simply can't fathom this one:

The Lion matches The Toothbrush. "Because lions are always stealing your toothbrush!"

WTF?

Shawnee123 · 05-17-2010, 02:16 PM

The lions are lyin' about your toothbrush? Huh?

That post cracked me up!

Yeah, why the hell would mermaids eat seafood? I've always used that as my excuse for hating crustaceans. And you never see fat mermaids. They probably eat kelp all the damn time!

Pie · 05-17-2010, 03:25 PM

Most fish eat smaller fish. Q.E.D.

Shawnee123 · 05-17-2010, 03:43 PM

But, does a centaur eat smaller horses? Do cow-people eat smaller cows? Do mole people eat smaller moles?

Clodfobble · 05-17-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pie

Most fish eat smaller fish. Q.E.D.

Yabbut, how do they bread and fry them underwater?

monster · 05-17-2010, 03:59 PM

Are you sure it's British? Standards must've slipped after I left ....oh no wait, my kids watched Teletubbies...

lumberjim · 05-17-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Yabbut, how do they bread and fry them underwater?

OBVIOUSLY you don't watch enough SpongeBob

HungLikeJesus · 05-17-2010, 11:51 PM

And the little mermaid wore an alge-bra.

kerosene · 05-18-2010, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

OBVIOUSLY you don't watch enough SpongeBob

Yeah, those fish sticks probably came from the chum bucket.

HungLikeJesus · 05-18-2010, 12:51 AM

By-the-way, it seems that every time I go away for a week someone changes their user name.

12-28-2009, 03:16 PM	#1
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Brit-Speak Q&A What means "Dickie Bird"? as in On a tree by a river a little tom-tit Sang "Willow, titwillow, titwillow!" And I said to him, "Dicky-bird, why do you sit Singing Willow, titwillow, titwillow'?" __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-28-2009, 03:20 PM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	- Dicky bird is a small bird. Little bird would probably be the most accurate translation. - Dicky can also mean ill, ie a dicky tummy, or a dicky ticker (heart) - Dicky Bird was a famous cricket umpire (Dick and Dicky being a nicknames for Richard in the last century) __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

12-28-2009, 03:24 PM	#4
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Thanks, luvs. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

05-17-2010, 01:38 PM	#6
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Explain this one to me, if you please: Your children's television program Charlie & Lola has been imported over here for many years. On the Disney website, there are a number of themed games you can play, one of which is Flip-Flop: an analog to our game of "memory," except instead of precisely matching the images under the cards, you are to match things in logical pairs, like the pirate with the pirate ship, etc. First off, I have trouble with the so-called correct match of a mermaid and fish sticks... "because mermaids always eat niblets of the sea!" That's weird enough in itself, but cannibal mermaids notwithstanding, I simply can't fathom this one: The Lion matches The Toothbrush. "Because lions are always stealing your toothbrush!" WTF? __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

05-17-2010, 02:16 PM	#7
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	The lions are lyin' about your toothbrush? Huh? That post cracked me up! Yeah, why the hell would mermaids eat seafood? I've always used that as my excuse for hating crustaceans. And you never see fat mermaids. They probably eat kelp all the damn time! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

12-28-2009, 03:42 PM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The on-air pseudonym of the main character in the film Comfort and Joy.

05-17-2010, 03:25 PM	#8
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Most fish eat smaller fish. Q.E.D. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

05-17-2010, 03:43 PM	#9
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	But, does a centaur eat smaller horses? Do cow-people eat smaller cows? Do mole people eat smaller moles? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

05-17-2010, 03:59 PM	#11
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Are you sure it's British? Standards must've slipped after I left ....oh no wait, my kids watched Teletubbies... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

05-17-2010, 11:51 PM	#13
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	And the little mermaid wore an alge-bra. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

05-18-2010, 12:51 AM	#15
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	By-the-way, it seems that every time I go away for a week someone changes their user name. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

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