Old local sayings

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Im_not_Robbie_Blake
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Im_not_Robbie_Blake » Wed May 13, 2020 11:03 am

'Tha's like t'arse end of a donkey' (ie you are an idiot)

Steve1956
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Steve1956 » Wed May 13, 2020 11:11 am

When it was time for bed when we were kids,Dad used to say get up them dancers (stairs) havnt a clue about that one,also remember asking if i could stay up an watch Match of the day,he used to say go to bed and ill wake you up when it comes on,i used to wake up at seven oclock next morning without the alarm call for Match of the day ever having come....how cruel he hated football.

Rubstuds
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Rubstuds » Wed May 13, 2020 11:13 am

My grandad used the phrase ''thi sure tha dunt work fer Wattsus''. It was a derogatory term for anyone who was of disheveled appearance.
Watt's was a cotton mill and apparently the workers would appear after a shift covered in cotton weft.

LeadBelly
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by LeadBelly » Wed May 13, 2020 11:21 am

I think this is maybe a general northern one (and probably still used) - when its very hot/sunny "sun's cracking t'flags".

Not local to Burnley but one expression I really liked when picked up living in Co Durham: "You'll get wrong off yer mam" = you'll get in trouble with your mother. (A variation on "yer dad'll give you a belt when he finds out").

Volvoclaret
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Volvoclaret » Wed May 13, 2020 11:47 am

colner wrote:
Wed May 13, 2020 10:26 am
If you were in a spot of bother you were in Dicky's meadow,who the hell was he and where was/is it?
Dickys meadow refers to King Richard 3rd who was killed at Bosworth Field. He was the last Plantaget King and this was the decisive battle of the war of the Roses where Lancs beat Yorks.

Funkydrummer
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Funkydrummer » Wed May 13, 2020 11:59 am

I'll gi yer a thick ear if you don't gi oer.

ShakyLee
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by ShakyLee » Wed May 13, 2020 1:06 pm

Well I'll go to t'foot of our stairs (expressing astonishment)
And my dad used to say as daft as a boat horse (I think this referred back to when horses led barges on canals)

Stayingup
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Stayingup » Wed May 13, 2020 1:07 pm

Face like a chewed muscle.

But there are many in old Lancashire dialect. I'll post some later.

welsbyswife
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by welsbyswife » Wed May 13, 2020 1:27 pm

My gran says "never cast a clout 'til March is out". I once asked her what it meant and she said it means don't put your winter clothes away until the end of March. Still no idea how those words could mean that but there you go.

ClaretTony
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by ClaretTony » Wed May 13, 2020 1:36 pm

Steve1956 wrote:
Wed May 13, 2020 11:11 am
When it was time for bed when we were kids,Dad used to say get up them dancers (stairs) havnt a clue about that one,also remember asking if i could stay up an watch Match of the day,he used to say go to bed and ill wake you up when it comes on,i used to wake up at seven oclock next morning without the alarm call for Match of the day ever having come....how cruel he hated football.
Strangely my dad used to tell us to get up them dancers. He was Burnley born and bred yet dancers is Cockney rhyming slang for stairs as in Fred Astairs.

burnmark
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by burnmark » Wed May 13, 2020 1:41 pm

My grandad used the phrase ‘same dog with more hair on!’

He’d use it if he bought Shredded wheat instead of weetabix or raspberry jam instead of strawberry.

MACCA
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by MACCA » Wed May 13, 2020 1:43 pm

He's/she's agate - when you are explaining what someone else said

are we/we are go-en for us dinner - when you and at least one other is off for lunch, or you're asking if its lunch time

Used to get some puzzled looks when using any of them phrases when working round the various building sites in the North

Also used to get some right funny looks at lunch in the butty shop or chippy, when I asked for a chip teacake or asked for a bacon butty on a teacake.
They call them rolls, cobbs, muffin, barms etc everywhere, only in Burnley will you ask for a chip teacake

Vino blanco
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Vino blanco » Wed May 13, 2020 2:06 pm

Welbyswife, your grandmother (or you) are a couple of months out. The correct phrase is "ne'er cast a clout til May is out". The first recorded,written version of this goes back to the 1760s. It basically means: never take your clothing off (clout is an early word for cloth or clothing) until the end of May. So basically, keep your warm clothes on til the end of May.

ShakyLee
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by ShakyLee » Wed May 13, 2020 2:25 pm

I was told that it referred to the May blossom being out rather than the month of May?

ElectroClaret
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by ElectroClaret » Wed May 13, 2020 2:34 pm

"Tha's as awkward as Dick's hatband. "...

....was quite a common one, certainly around
Clayton/Accy.

Claret Toni
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Claret Toni » Wed May 13, 2020 3:04 pm

A couple my of words my grandma used to me were laking or laiking ( I don't really know how to spell it) and spice, as in:

What you laking at - what are you playing at.

Would you like some spice - sweets (I loved her loads) :)

Vino blanco
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Vino blanco » Wed May 13, 2020 5:03 pm

Shakylee, the original meaning is in fact unclear as to whether it refers to the Month of May or the May flower. You pays your money, you takes your chance.

Corky
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Corky » Wed May 13, 2020 5:07 pm

One from my Mother; A face you could chop wood on, last heard when she was referring to Nicola Sturgeon and Arlene Foster. Self explanatory I feel.

Vino blanco
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Vino blanco » Wed May 13, 2020 5:11 pm

Toni, laking at comes from the old Norse word 'laik' meaning to play, hence the game Lego from Danish laik goedt or 'play well'.
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CBT
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by CBT » Wed May 13, 2020 5:33 pm

Ee ba gum?

Think it could be Yorkshire

joey13
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by joey13 » Wed May 13, 2020 5:38 pm

It’s geet a gate , meaning it’s caught fire
Also mum and dad talked about a place called bacagatties , anyone got any idea where this comes from ?

huw.Y.WattfromWare
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Wed May 13, 2020 5:58 pm

For anybody enjoying these this is still available on kindle. A memories book.
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0A866068-C822-4A6F-82DD-3F179C96A93F.jpeg (463.76 KiB) Viewed 4176 times

ClaretCliff
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by ClaretCliff » Wed May 13, 2020 7:04 pm

One I remember from childhood in Hassy was "I'm stood here like cheese at fourpence", said when someone had left you waiting. I believe it comes from cheese costing 2 or 3 pence per quarter but more expensive cheese cost 4 pence and was therefore left on the shelf.

I've started a campaign to bring it back into use in Manchester. Don't half get some funny looks :D

k90bfc
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by k90bfc » Wed May 13, 2020 9:02 pm

Do you want a knob o suck,toffee from the sweet shop !

Cirrus_Minor
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Cirrus_Minor » Wed May 13, 2020 9:22 pm

Come ayrt like a flock o' sparras

I have explosive diarrhea

beeholeclaret
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by beeholeclaret » Wed May 13, 2020 10:22 pm

Bullabill wrote:
Wed May 13, 2020 3:19 am
Try this ........
https://youtu.be/unea7034LuU
Ha ha brilliant link - Id never heard this one.

exilecanada
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by exilecanada » Wed May 13, 2020 11:03 pm

Here's a couple of old sayings:
Si thi? Loose translation 'you understand?'

And the all time classic 'put thi clogs on lad, thurs trubble darn't mill'

Bin Ont Turf
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Bin Ont Turf » Wed May 13, 2020 11:15 pm

exilecanada wrote:
Wed May 13, 2020 11:03 pm
Here's a couple of old sayings:
Si thi? Loose translation 'you understand?'

It's, see you.

As in... I'll si thi later.

Bin Ont Turf
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Bin Ont Turf » Wed May 13, 2020 11:23 pm

Lancashire dialect books/websites or whatever are always focused on central and west Lancashire.

East Lancashire is different, we have a Lancashire/Yorkshire mix if you will.

In fact if you listen closely you can/could tell the difference between Burnley and Nelson/Colne at one time.
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eastanglianclaret
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by eastanglianclaret » Thu May 14, 2020 7:47 am

As an exile of 30 years who still gets asked to explain what he just said, I've very much enjoyed this thread. 'Skriking (sic?) is one of my faves, as is 'agate'. One which always causes funny looks is the verb 'to join at' eg "Here's a bag of sweets to join at". Many people outside of the North don't understand that this means 'to share'. More please!!

evensteadiereddie
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by evensteadiereddie » Thu May 14, 2020 8:46 am

Absolutely right, BoT, there is a definite change in accent within a few miles. It can be seen between every town from Colne through to Blackburn.
It's inteesting, being down in the Midlands, that whenever a Lanky accent comes on TV you can, more often than not, narrow it down to the right town.
If you move out towards Tod or Halifax, of course, the same happens again.

9thMay1987
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by 9thMay1987 » Thu May 14, 2020 8:56 am

From Trawden, kaffle is give up, carn't finish, cat wesh- not wash properly, galiaces- braces, gawmless- stupid, mard- soft,lake about- play about, lig in bed- not get up , to cruddle- to collapse and many more.

kritichris
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by kritichris » Thu May 14, 2020 8:58 am

I was born in Bacup and went to secondary school in Burnley where classmates and teachers used to take the mickey about my accent. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

T'oreet? Are you allright?
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huw.Y.WattfromWare
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Thu May 14, 2020 9:29 am

evensteadiereddie wrote:
Thu May 14, 2020 8:46 am
Absolutely right, BoT, there is a definite change in accent within a few miles. It can be seen between every town from Colne through to Blackburn.
It's inteesting, being down in the Midlands, that whenever a Lanky accent comes on TV you can, more often than not, narrow it down to the right town.
If you move out towards Tod or Halifax, of course, the same happens again.
Not just accents. As a firefighter we could be detached to anywhere in E. Lancs and the sense of humour around the stations was noticeably different.
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Covclaret
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Covclaret » Thu May 14, 2020 9:32 am

My grandad used to say "Get up't park on a nail' as a term to express surprise or disbelief. Never knew what it meant. I've always used the term 'joining' when referring to sharing, no one ever understands :-)

welsbyswife
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by welsbyswife » Thu May 14, 2020 9:43 am

Vino blanco wrote:
Wed May 13, 2020 2:06 pm
Welbyswife, your grandmother (or you) are a couple of months out. The correct phrase is "ne'er cast a clout til May is out". The first recorded,written version of this goes back to the 1760s. It basically means: never take your clothing off (clout is an early word for cloth or clothing) until the end of May. So basically, keep your warm clothes on til the end of May.
Cheers Vino. It will be be who was wrong with the month. Probably right with May because it's gone a bit nippy these last few days! My gran didn't know the origins but said she picked it up from her dad. Great how phrases like that get past on. Is it a northern phrase or was it in general use?

Stayingup
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Stayingup » Thu May 14, 2020 10:02 am

One from the Grumbleweeds.

Has anybody sin me' teeth.

FactualFrank
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by FactualFrank » Thu May 14, 2020 10:13 am

As thick as a duck pluckers wick. Meaning 'spot the brain cell'. Someone who lacks intelligence.

Plenty of them about.

Vino blanco
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Vino blanco » Thu May 14, 2020 10:43 am

Welsbyswife, the origin of ne'er cast a clout etc is not in fact a Northern phrase. It was in use in similar forms in late Shakespearian times in plays etc. It may in fact have come from a Spanish phrase "hasta el quarenta de Mayo, no te quites el sayo" ie don't take your jacket off, until the fortieth of May, which was in use in in 17 th century Spain.
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welsbyswife
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by welsbyswife » Thu May 14, 2020 11:40 am

Another one from my grandad. "He's so tight he'd nip a currant in half".

jackmiggins
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by jackmiggins » Thu May 14, 2020 11:53 am

Top of my head from Yorkshire, but ‘Not so green as you’re cabbage looking’ - thick bugger and ‘Spinster’s **** water’ weak beer.

ClaretTony
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by ClaretTony » Thu May 14, 2020 11:57 am

Bin Ont Turf wrote:
Wed May 13, 2020 11:23 pm
Lancashire dialect books/websites or whatever are always focused on central and west Lancashire.

East Lancashire is different, we have a Lancashire/Yorkshire mix if you will.

In fact if you listen closely you can/could tell the difference between Burnley and Nelson/Colne at one time.
Totally agree. Whether we like it or not, we are probably more Yorkshire than Lancashire in the way we speak in Burnley.

LS7
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by LS7 » Thu May 14, 2020 11:59 am

Hebden Bridge and Tod used to have accents quite distinct from each other. Perhaps still do.

get stuck in tracy
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by get stuck in tracy » Thu May 14, 2020 12:02 pm

dougcollins wrote:
Tue May 12, 2020 9:49 pm
When my brother and I were acting above our station, my mother used to say 'D'you think you're on yer father's yacht?'
That was an expression that was used a lot in the Navy "What do you think this is Daddies Yacht" Any family connections?

durhamclaret
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by durhamclaret » Thu May 14, 2020 12:02 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Thu May 14, 2020 11:57 am
[quote="Bin Ont Turf" post_id=<a href="tel:1274486">1274486</a> time=<a href="tel:1589408596">1589408596</a> user_id=284]
Lancashire dialect books/websites or whatever are always focused on central and west Lancashire.

East Lancashire is different, we have a Lancashire/Yorkshire mix if you will.

In fact if you listen closely you can/could tell the difference between Burnley and Nelson/Colne at one time.
Totally agree. Whether we like it or not, we are probably more Yorkshire than Lancashire in the way we speak in Burnley.
[/quote]

Yes being an exiled Yorkshireman,I agree, proud to be a Yorkie but also proud to be a Claret, and there's plenty of us ee by gum

basil6345789
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by basil6345789 » Thu May 14, 2020 12:23 pm

As ta bin t' si 't monkeh?

basil6345789
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by basil6345789 » Thu May 14, 2020 12:23 pm

As ta bin t' si 't monkeh?

Herts Clarets
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by Herts Clarets » Thu May 14, 2020 12:38 pm

Bin Ont Turf wrote:
Wed May 13, 2020 11:23 pm
Lancashire dialect books/websites or whatever are always focused on central and west Lancashire.

East Lancashire is different, we have a Lancashire/Yorkshire mix if you will.

In fact if you listen closely you can/could tell the difference between Burnley and Nelson/Colne at one time.
I am originally from Nelson and until I worked in Burnley had never heard "I'm agait". I can usually pick a Burnley accent from a Nelson one and then from Colne, especially if from the Eastern parts of Colne - Laneshaw Bridge and the like. Definitely more of a Yorkshire twang going out that way....

LeadBelly
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by LeadBelly » Thu May 14, 2020 1:01 pm

kritichris wrote:
Thu May 14, 2020 8:58 am
I was born in Bacup and went to secondary school in Burnley where classmates and teachers used to take the mickey about my accent. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

T'oreet? Are you allright?
Aye. Between school & uni in 1968, I worked at Loughclough textile print works. There was a mix of Burnley and "o'er t'tops" folk there. Burnley folk (me included) used to refer to the Valley folk as "nobuts" because they tended to use nobut (nothing but) in stead of "only". There was generally quite a bit of (very friendly) banter about difference in accent/vocabulary; maybe still is.
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ClaretTony
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Re: Old local sayings

Post by ClaretTony » Thu May 14, 2020 1:15 pm

Not sure it’s been posted but when we were kids you could be oined to death

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