More from the bbc site...
A stronger British term for testicles, which rhymes with 'frollocks', is probably worth a guide entry of its own. To talk this word would mean to talk rubbish or to be misinformed, while to say something is 'the dog's...' (often gentrified as 'the mutt's nuts') would suggest it is the best there is. Legend has it that in the 1950s, construction kits like Meccano would be sold in boxes of various sizes. The list of contents which came with the standard size box would be headed 'Box, Standard' (which elided into 'bog standard' when spoken) and the larger box was the 'Box, Deluxe' which was spoonerised to create the phrase 'The Dog's B******s'. This is such a satisfying explanation for two common forms of British English usage that one really wants it to be true.
The word's probable derivation is so non-vulgar as to be quite amusing. Specifically, a bollock is a pulley-block at the head of a topmast, otherwise known as a bullock block. This was used to great effect to prevent the Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks from being censored. A refreshing example of the legal system grabbing hold of the wrong reason and using it to do the right thing.
A 'B******ing' on the other hand, is a severe dressing down or ticking off. The reason for this is mercifully unclear.
Brits will say 'b******-naked' while Americans will say 'butt-naked'. Why Brits verify nudity from the front and Americans verify it from the rear is anyone's guess.
Although the phrase 'cock-up' might appear to have come about in a similar way to 'balls-up', its origins are actually in beer making. If the batch went bad, they turned the cock (ie tap, or faucet) up to drain the barrel. However, the word 'cock', a Middle and Old English word, is one of the many vulgarities for the penis. In London, though, Cockneys appear to have both terms in mind when they say 'Wotcher cock', which comes from the term 'cock sparrow' (pronounced 'sparrah'). It is a general term for a man, although 'cock sparrow' was usually saved for small boys. It has been used for about 300 years.
A more childish term for penis is 'willy' or 'willie'. This British English word had audiences sniggering in the aisles of cinemas throughout the UK when the first trailers were shown for the film Free Willy. On the other hand it is tempting to wonder whether or not the celebrated actor and rapper Will Smith had taken advice on the way in which British audiences might interpret the title of his 1997 album Big Willie Style (though it's unlikely he would actually have objected to the misunderstanding). Willie is essentially an innocent playground word, and there was delighted laughter across the land when commentator Brian Johnson referred to two players during a cricket match, pointing out that 'The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey'.
Just had to share that load of Jackson Pollocks with you!
Piss?
This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:prcscct wrote:No one has yet come up with where the word "bollocks" comes from and what it's original meaning was.....as assigned by the founders?....Pete
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollocks
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Great stuff WL, my best laugh of the week. 
Dead true about Americans saying "butt naked" "bare ass naked", "buck naked" and even "buttocks naked" (maybe a cousin of bollocks?) May say some strange things about preferences, as does 'mooning'.
I do remember someone on here using the term "dog nuts" concerning an HH hotel and that did take some further explanation...LOL.
Anyway, it's Friday, I'm pissed and my partner is pissed for me being pissed, piss off girl, bollocks! Now all I have to do is translate that into Thai.
Pete
Dead true about Americans saying "butt naked" "bare ass naked", "buck naked" and even "buttocks naked" (maybe a cousin of bollocks?) May say some strange things about preferences, as does 'mooning'. I do remember someone on here using the term "dog nuts" concerning an HH hotel and that did take some further explanation...LOL.
Anyway, it's Friday, I'm pissed and my partner is pissed for me being pissed, piss off girl, bollocks! Now all I have to do is translate that into Thai.
Pete
What a load of bollocks this thread is. It's really pissing me off. Chas started it and he's pissing in the wind. I've just been out on the piss and now I'm well and truly pissed. As it's the weekend I'll probably have another piss up tomorrow. Now I'm going to piss off to bed. Bollocks to the lot of you!
Who can forget the famous chorus from the Specials song Pearl' Cafe, no excuse now you all sing along
Her temper changed, she looked so deranged, her perfume turned to gin
You looked at her and she began to sing
It's all a load of bollocks
It's all a load of bollocks
It's all a load of bollocks
And bollocks to it all
Her temper changed, she looked so deranged, her perfume turned to gin
You looked at her and she began to sing
It's all a load of bollocks
It's all a load of bollocks
It's all a load of bollocks
And bollocks to it all
Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"
Oz Uncle I seem to remember hearing this one a lot since I have been in Australia
The said saying was Piss in Someone's Pocket, I think it has a similar meaning to "Sucking up to Someone" or "Trying to get on someone's good side"
I may be wrong but is what I seem to remember
The said saying was Piss in Someone's Pocket, I think it has a similar meaning to "Sucking up to Someone" or "Trying to get on someone's good side"
I may be wrong but is what I seem to remember
Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"
Interesting thread - the "dogs bollocks" meaning good, has been explained elsewhere.
No-one has mentioned going to see a man about a dog - where did that come from? Or more accurately in my case, "I'm off to splash my boots".
Nice.
And no-one has mentioned "Jimmy Riddle" = piddle? Anyone know the origin of that?
No-one has mentioned going to see a man about a dog - where did that come from? Or more accurately in my case, "I'm off to splash my boots".
Nice.
And no-one has mentioned "Jimmy Riddle" = piddle? Anyone know the origin of that?
Talk is cheap
You can also tell someone to take a piss up a rope which is old nautical slang for doing something impossible, or piss in someones coffee which is pretty much self explanatory.
As for going to see a man about a dog, I always thought of that as an excuse to the wife for going down the pub; must be Irish I suppose.
Jimmy riddle is just ryhming slang for a gypsies kiss!
As for going to see a man about a dog, I always thought of that as an excuse to the wife for going down the pub; must be Irish I suppose.
Jimmy riddle is just ryhming slang for a gypsies kiss!