There's a lot of naval expressions in our language too. Maybe it is because England was once a maritime nation. One I can think of is, 'That took the wind out of his sails.' Of course, these expressions may not all derive from our maritime heritage, but I bet a lot of them do. Can anyone think of some more?

Well theres the Duke of Edinburghs famous comment many years ago about "getting your finger out"!!!!

By Jove! I do believe you're right!

Awfully nice of you to say so, old fellow! :)

Dear Chap, too kind of you, you fully deserved it. :)


In appreciation, here are four more I'm sure you're familiar with:

"Poacher relish", "cosh pocket", "Cornish pasties" and "nonce". ;)

The second one I can take a wild guess at Beets, the last two should be well known, but Beets has me beat on the first one!

Ahhh! Sorry, Old Boy, I shouldn't have assumed. My appologies Old Chum!

"Poacher relish is a kind of chutney that is specially made for using with game, especially if it's gone a trifle rich. Fortnum & Mason have been making various kinds of poacher (or game) relish for ages.

The "cosh pocket" is an inside left pocket on the jacket of a suit. It's a bit narrower and longer than the standard derivative you find in common suits. If you get a bespoke tailor to make you a suit, it'll have a cosh pocket along with the other, on the left side. It's called that because gentlemen in the old days used to carry a cosh with them for protection when they found themselves in the wrong neighbourhood. A cosh is a soft weapon made of a sock filled with metal pellets, ball bearings or marble. It can make quite a dent on a mugger's skull.

The safe meanings and are not slang!

Whatever do you mean? I speak English, not slang.

You'll have to enlighten us CA, in a general way, of course. What is the slang meaning of "poacher's relish", for example?

'Bob's yer uncle' - that's an old cockney expression and I think it means the same as 'told yer so' or 'what did I tell yer?'
Actually I don't know who 'Bob' refers to or why he's yer uncle if something crops up unexpectedly.
'Bob's yer uncle,' - I've just been modded.

You got modded???

'Bob's yer uncle' - that's an old cockney expression and I think it means the same as 'told yer so' or 'what did I tell yer?'
Actually I don't know who 'Bob' refers to or why he's yer uncle if something crops up unexpectedly.
'Bob's yer uncle,' - I've just been modded.

You got modded???

No, I was joking. Although I was actually modded when I first came onto the message boards - but that was a mistake which I can blame my hubby on.

Hubbys always get the Blame!

Hubbys always get the Blame!

Hubbys always get the Blame!

Not quite true, CA...

Hubbies always get the last word... normally, this is "SORRY"

*ducks and runs for cover from the PC Brigade*

Hubbys always get the Blame!

Not quite true, CA...

Hubbies always get the last word... normally, this is "SORRY"

*ducks and runs for cover from the PC Brigade*

Ahhh! Sorry, Old Boy, I shouldn't have assumed. My appologies Old Chum!

"Poacher relish" is a kind of chutney that is specially made for using with game, especially if it's gone a trifle rich. Fortnum & Mason have been making various kinds of poacher (or game) relish for ages.

The "cosh pocket" is an inside left pocket on the jacket of a suit. It's a bit narrower and longer than the standard derivative you find in common suits. If you get a bespoke tailor to make you a suit, it'll have a cosh pocket along with the other, on the left side. It's called that because gentlemen in the old days used to carry a cosh with them for protection when they found themselves in the wrong neighbourhood. A cosh is a soft weapon made of a sock filled with metal pellets, ball bearings or marbles. It can make quite a dent on a mugger's skull.

Hubbys always get the Blame!

Not quite true, CA...

Hubbies always get the last word... normally, this is "SORRY"

*ducks and runs for cover from the PC Brigade*

Not always exactly. The other half seems to get tired of the repetition. A couple of alternatives are: I appologize. Here are some (favorite token - roses or chocolate are typical).

Ahhh! Sorry, Old Boy, I shouldn't have assumed. My appologies Old Chum!

"Poacher relish" is a kind of chutney that is specially made for using with game, especially if it's gone a trifle rich. Fortnum & Mason have been making various kinds of poacher (or game) relish for ages.

The "cosh pocket" is an inside left pocket on the jacket of a suit. It's a bit narrower and longer than the standard derivative you find in common suits. If you get a bespoke tailor to make you a suit, it'll have a cosh pocket along with the other, on the left side. It's called that because gentlemen in the old days used to carry a cosh with them for protection when they found themselves in the wrong neighbourhood. A cosh is a soft weapon made of a sock filled with metal pellets, ball bearings or marbles. It can make quite a dent on a mugger's skull.

Well as a "working class" type, it's no wonder I hadn't heard of Poacher's relish... I haven't enough cash to ENTER Fortnum and Mason's, let alone actually buy some of their fare!

...

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

Hubbys always get the Blame!

Not quite true, CA...

Hubbies always get the last word... normally, this is "SORRY"

*ducks and runs for cover from the PC Brigade*

Not always exactly. The other half seems to get tired of the repetition. A couple of alternatives are: I appologize. Here are some (favorite token - roses or chocolate are typical).

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

I don't know. But I know that Aussies sometimes refer to Englshmen as 'Limeys.' This goes back to the days of Captain Cook. Apparently he ordered the ship should have a stock of Limes. These were brought on board for his men in order to cure their scurvy.

Some must have hated eating them, particularly if they had to eat quite a lot to get their vitamin C quota. But on the other hand, perhaps they didn't taste much worse than the alcohol sailors used to drink.

Some must have hated eating them, particularly if they had to eat quite a lot to get their vitamin C quota. But on the other hand, perhaps they didn't taste much worse than the alcohol sailors used to drink.

Gaol

The old English word for jail.