Co-incidentally while we're discussing 'taking the mickey', the current
edtion of the 'Radio Times' (TV and radio listings magazine), is asking for
*printed or written evidence tied to s specific date* evidence (nothing from
the internet or other sources) for some words and phrases to help out the
'Oxford English Dictionary'.
They are looking for printed evidence of:
bog-standard before 1983
doing a mooney (a synonym for mooning 1963) before 1990
pick 'n' mix before 1959
minger before 1995 - someone who smells foul. (minging dates from 1970, but
the root noun 'ming' - human excrement or something smelling unpleasant -
dates form at least 1920 in Scotland)
nerd before 1951 and information on the word's origin (in 1950 'If I ran the
zoo' by Dr Seuss included a picture of a nerd)
phwoar before 1980 - first recorded use was in 'Viz' comic in 1980
mullet before 1994 - a hair style for men short t the front and long at the
back. Mulket head is a "stupid person" from American slang measnng "an
imaginary fish with no brains", but is there another origin?
bonk before 1975 (I assume it 's the having sex meaning)
pop one's clogs before 1977 (assumes pop means to pawn)
There's a six part series starting on BBC 2 on Monday at 9.00 pm called
"Balderdash and Piffle" about expressions. Tje first one is "The P words" -
pear-shaped, pig, polari and ploughman's lunch are what's listed, with the
warning that the programme contains strong language.
Jean in Poole, Dorset UK
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