Published on 12, July, 2020
I often use terms that no one around me understands that I have picked up from my parents and grandparents.
One set of grandparents came from the North East Midlands, my other grandmother was from South Wales, and my other grandfather and his ancestry was from the county of squires and spires, Northamptonshire.
So these areas have probably influenced greatly some of the terms I have learned.
So I will start off with some of my favourites (there are many more)
Bobby's buttons: burrs, the tiny little spheres that stick to you when on a country walk
Birmingham/Brummie/Brummagem Screwdriver: A hammer
The Dog Shelf: The floor
Jitty: An alley way
Over Bills Mothers: Where the rain comes from (as in 'Its looking dark over Bill's Mothers')
I will put some more on later, but don't want to put too many on as I want to see what others say (and perhaps where you think they are from)
Nothing X certificate please!
Trainspotter said:Over Bills Mothers: Where the rain comes from (as in 'Its looking dark over Bill's Mothers')
Do you know the origins of this? Its a Brummie phrase and it the Bill is William Shakespear. His mother's house would be Stratford on Avon which is south of Birmingham so the phrase literally meant there's a storm approaching Birmingham from the south.... or so my Mum who was Birmingham born and bred told me.I use Brummageum Screwdriver for hammer too as my grandad who was a Brummie motor mechanic used the phrase often.I have heard Jitty, but round here an alley is a gully.