British phrases - Page 5

Sundae · 11-13-2006, 02:03 PM

No offense taken - I shall ask around here anyway.
Throws yet more confusion on Prince Albert in a can though.
Or do I have it confused with another Prince?
More confused than ever now

dar512 · 11-13-2006, 02:33 PM

There was/is a brand of tobacco called Prince Albert that came in a tin.

Elspode · 11-13-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

There was/is a brand of tobacco called Prince Albert that came in a tin.

They probably have John Adams Tobbacco in a tin in Britain...

DucksNuts · 11-13-2006, 04:09 PM

I believe the naming of the Prince Albert piercing came from the use of a small pin that was used in men's pants in the *old* days to make them sit flat/neat.

Aliantha · 11-13-2006, 04:15 PM

Wow...what a smarty 'pants' you are Ducks!

DucksNuts · 11-13-2006, 08:15 PM

or I could be bullshitting :p

Nah, I did read that somewhere, I remember useless shit like that

Urbane Guerrilla · 11-13-2006, 11:36 PM

This doubtless belongs over in the American phrases thread, but yes, Prince Albert is a brand of tobacco that can be gotten in tin cans, likewise its competing brand Sir Walter Raleigh, whose association with Virginia tobacco and tobacco products would be understandable.

It was a downright traditional phone prank to call up the town drugstore and ask, "Do you have Sir Walter Raleigh in the can?" "Yes." "Well, let him out!" Click. "The can" being yet another term for the bathroom. Never heard of any fast-thinking drugstore clerk saying something like, "He's in there with Prince Albert and God knows what those two Englishmen are up to!"

wolf · 11-14-2006, 12:15 AM

When is it proper to refer to one's (business) superior as "Guv'nor?" This was often a form of address used in the book Black Beauty, and it confused me quite a bit, because none of the people so addressed were ever elected to public office ... I also saw it used on the TV show, Life on Mars, where the head of the detective division was called "Guv" a lot.

The other thing, this is old usage ... why would initials followed by a line be used in novels, where obviously things were made up anyway, to refer to the Countess of S---- or the Baronet of Q----- ?

DanaC · 11-14-2006, 01:24 AM

Possibly because there really was a Baroness of Q----, not to be mistaken with the one in the story, or possibly to make you think it was a real person being described....Not entirely sure though

Sundae · 11-14-2006, 07:58 AM

Guv or Guv'ner is still sometimes used, but mostly in a mocking way. I queried something in the recent office move and the furniture mover shrugged at me and said "Dunno love, ask the Guv'ner" I doubt he called his manager that to his face, but it underlined the fact that he wasn't prepared to make any decisions himself.

I didn't watch Life on Mars, but has good reports from friends - did you like it?

And thanks to all who cleared up the Prince Albert thing. I knew "can" was US for toilet, but didn't put the two together....!

wolf · 11-15-2006, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I didn't watch Life on Mars, but has good reports from friends - did you like it?

I thought it was an outstanding show, both as a police drama and for the major plot point (cop from 2006 has near fatal accident, ends up in early 1970s ... which is the dream?). I sincerely hope that BBCAmerica picks up next series.

DanaC · 11-14-2006, 08:13 AM

Also, Guv is sometimes used in place of 'Boss' or 'sir' usually when there is no real assumption of higher rank. For instance, a delivery man might ask "Where d'ye want this Guv?"

Flint · 11-14-2006, 01:44 PM

I "get" guv'ner, because I like to call people "captain" or "chief" . . .

xoxoxoBruce · 11-14-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

I "get" guv'ner, because I like to call people "captain" or "chief" . . .

Do they use Colonel in Texas too, or is that an antebellum south thing?

JayMcGee · 11-14-2006, 06:29 PM

'Guv' was also used extensivly in 'The Sweeny', which was contemperous with the setting for 'Life on Mars'. Which, incidently was a great series and well worth watching.... can't wait for the next series (season, to our cross-Atlantic chums....).

I querstioned one of my mates ( an ex-chief inspector for Cheshire Constabulary) and he confirmed that 'gov' is still used by plain-clothes divisions, though frowned upon in uniformed branch.

11-13-2006, 02:03 PM	#1
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	No offense taken - I shall ask around here anyway. Throws yet more confusion on Prince Albert in a can though. Or do I have it confused with another Prince? More confused than ever now __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-13-2006, 02:33 PM	#2
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	There was/is a brand of tobacco called Prince Albert that came in a tin. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-13-2006, 04:15 PM	#5
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Wow...what a smarty 'pants' you are Ducks! __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-13-2006, 11:36 PM	#7
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	This doubtless belongs over in the American phrases thread, but yes, Prince Albert is a brand of tobacco that can be gotten in tin cans, likewise its competing brand Sir Walter Raleigh, whose association with Virginia tobacco and tobacco products would be understandable. It was a downright traditional phone prank to call up the town drugstore and ask, "Do you have Sir Walter Raleigh in the can?" "Yes." "Well, let him out!" Click. "The can" being yet another term for the bathroom. Never heard of any fast-thinking drugstore clerk saying something like, "He's in there with Prince Albert and God knows what those two Englishmen are up to!" __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

11-14-2006, 12:15 AM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	When is it proper to refer to one's (business) superior as "Guv'nor?" This was often a form of address used in the book Black Beauty, and it confused me quite a bit, because none of the people so addressed were ever elected to public office ... I also saw it used on the TV show, Life on Mars, where the head of the detective division was called "Guv" a lot. The other thing, this is old usage ... why would initials followed by a line be used in novels, where obviously things were made up anyway, to refer to the Countess of S---- or the Baronet of Q----- ? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-13-2006, 04:09 PM	#4
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	I believe the naming of the Prince Albert piercing came from the use of a small pin that was used in men's pants in the old days to make them sit flat/neat.

11-13-2006, 08:15 PM	#6
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	or I could be bullshitting :p Nah, I did read that somewhere, I remember useless shit like that

11-14-2006, 01:24 AM	#9
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Possibly because there really was a Baroness of Q----, not to be mistaken with the one in the story, or possibly to make you think it was a real person being described....Not entirely sure though

11-14-2006, 07:58 AM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Guv or Guv'ner is still sometimes used, but mostly in a mocking way. I queried something in the recent office move and the furniture mover shrugged at me and said "Dunno love, ask the Guv'ner" I doubt he called his manager that to his face, but it underlined the fact that he wasn't prepared to make any decisions himself. I didn't watch Life on Mars, but has good reports from friends - did you like it? And thanks to all who cleared up the Prince Albert thing. I knew "can" was US for toilet, but didn't put the two together....! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-14-2006, 08:13 AM	#12
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Also, Guv is sometimes used in place of 'Boss' or 'sir' usually when there is no real assumption of higher rank. For instance, a delivery man might ask "Where d'ye want this Guv?"

11-14-2006, 01:44 PM	#13
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I "get" guv'ner, because I like to call people "captain" or "chief" . . . __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

11-14-2006, 06:29 PM	#15
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	'Guv' was also used extensivly in 'The Sweeny', which was contemperous with the setting for 'Life on Mars'. Which, incidently was a great series and well worth watching.... can't wait for the next series (season, to our cross-Atlantic chums....). I querstioned one of my mates ( an ex-chief inspector for Cheshire Constabulary) and he confirmed that 'gov' is still used by plain-clothes divisions, though frowned upon in uniformed branch. __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

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