This just takes the biscuit

[Wij]

There is a war on ffs ! :/

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_762417.html?menu=news.quirkies

 

[Xtro]

Typifies the way of mankind.

 

[Lester]

Would someone care to explain the origin of the word "loggerheads"?

 

[Sar]

The tree people!

 

[stu]

It's hammer time

 

[Wij]

loggerhead - 1588, from dial. logger "heavy block of wood," originally "a thick-headed iron tool," also a type of cannon shot; the phrase at loggerheads "in disagreement" first recorded 1831

 

[Lester]

ta.

 

[xane]

Okay Wij, now try "toeing the line", where does that phrase come from ?

 

[Wij]

Toe the line or mark dates to 1813 and is a metaphorical reference to the start of a race, the runners conforming to the starter's orders.

 

[Lester]

I thought it referred to that bit at the end of the Jordan video :/

 

[Wij]

 

[ECA]

Originally posted by stu
It's hammer time

Actually made me lol.

 

[Lester]

Wij.....

"Takes the biscuit"?

 

[Wij]

cake walk, piece of cake/takes the cake - easy task/wins (the prize) - from the tradition of giving cakes as prizes in rural competitions. Brewer (1870) tells of the tradition in USA slavery states when slaves or free descendents would walk in a procession in pairs around a cake at a social gathering or party, the most graceful pair being awarded the cake as a prize. This also gave us the expression 'cake walk' and 'a piece of cake' both meaning a job or contest that's very easy to achieve or win, and the variation 'takes the biscuit', meaning to win (often ironically, to be the worst).

 

[xane]

Originally posted by Wij
Toe the line or mark dates to 1813 and is a metaphorical reference to the start of a race, the runners conforming to the starter's orders.

IIRC to phrase comes from the House of Commons where there are lines along the floor just in front of the benches on each side.

House rules state that no-one may cross this line whilst debate is in progress, interestingly the distance between them is around two regular sword lengths.

"Toeing the line" means staying on your side of the House, i.e. behind the white line on the floor, implying you are sticking with the policy in effect on that side (although this is obviously not quite the case as demonstrated by the recent backbench rebellions).

 

[xane]

How about "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" ?

 

[Xtro]

hmm good one xane.

Lets see if Wij can answer that and also how about "my throat's as dry as a nun's cnut". Hmm where'd that come from too? Pesky English language.

 

[Wij]

I'm best. Accept it.

 

[~YuckFou~]

Originally posted by xane
How about "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" ?

Cannon balls, held on an old battle ship on a brass base in a pyramid fashion. The brass contracted in cold weather, thus the balls would fall off.

 

[xane]

Yuck wins.

(This is better than those boring film quote threads)

 

[Lester]

 

[dysfunction]

Originally posted by xane
Yuck wins.

(This is better than those boring film quote threads)

Wots eee wun then?

A smack upside the 'ed?

 

[~YuckFou~]

Originally posted by dysfunction
Wots eee wun then?

A smack upside the 'ed?

Sweeties would be nicer.