Idioms and sayings

Eyes popping out like "chapel hat pegs" indicating surprise or shock. I picked that up from Leicestershire.

It's no good growing old unless you grow cunning. (One for all of us, perhaps?)

How about - 'It grow'd like Topsy' From Uncle Tom's Cabin, Topsy was asked about her parents etc she replied 'Spect I grow'd, don't think nobody ever made me'

Well, a pullet is a smallish chicken, so "pull it" is a play on words.

So many of these ring bells!

One of my mother's sayings, very useful for times when you'd rather be doing something - anything - else is "I haven't had so much fun since the last time I cleaned the oven".

My Gran used to say "He's a bigger liar than Tom Pepper" Aparantly (?) Tom Pepper was such a liar that the devil kicked him out of hell.

When my Grandad went for his afternoon nap he said he was "having a hour with the King"

My mumused to say that bread and pull it! Never really understood it, but guess that was what she meant pull round table!

When I asked what was for dinner/supper/tea, 'Bread and pull it round the table' was the reply

Oooer Bella thought they were 'peanuts'

My dad used the 'chapel hat peg' expression, not for nipples though.Eyes yes. He was from the Fens, is it an East Anglian expression.

Have I mentions eons ago Piffy up a Stick! Pardon if I have

Gagagran

Well my Dad was a Methodist so he def. didn't mean that Bella (At least I think not - hmmmmm?)

I remember the 'chapel hat pegs' saying as well, but it didn't refer to eyes! It was used to describe nipples sticking out, usually in the cold weather!

"His eyes were stuck out like chapel hat-pegs" was another of my Dad's . Not one Mum used being Cof E and therefore considered herself "a cut above"

Funny how you only understand sayings decades later. My granny called sprouts Dolly Cabbages. It only occurred to me quite recently that she meant they were cabbages for dollies. I suppose I just thought they were called that.

"not fair...blackman's hair" was what my mum used to retort to us. Not very PC these days probably.

"burning the candle at both ends" if we were up late and getting up early next day. I think my dad made that up, along with "late nights bring sad mornings". He used to pontificate a bit. He never smacked the 4 of us, but talked us into repentance! My mum would give us "a good paddling" !!

Hot water was expensive so you had to wash 'the bits that show and the bits that smell'.

Most of these bought back many happy memories. My mum said many of these little idioms. If she didn't believe a story she'd say "it's as far fetched as a bucket of sh-t from china. When she heard us say "it's not fair" she'd reply "nor is a pigs arse" this always baffled me. I only 'got' it a few years ago when it dawn on me that a pigs arse is pig skin not fur! How slow am I. She also said a lot worse she was not politically correct but she never used really bad swear words.

Gruesome ones like 'bleeding like a stuck pig' and 'skin a rabbit' when pulling a child's jumper off.

I had an uncle who when involved in a discussion about anyone who thought they were better than anyone else would close it by saying ''He/she goes to the toilet''.
My mother would always say about anyone who was crafty or cunning-''As cute as Old Nick'', Old Nick was the devil.
My grandfather, when describing anyone with poor personal hygiene would say that the last time he/she had a bath was when the midwife last washed him/her.

Thank you Gagagran I believe you grew up in the same part of the country as I did so you will be familiar with the humour.

I did reply to your pm but sent it to the wrong person,

Yes I remember the Dockers - Sir Bernard and Lady Docker. Thought a lot of themselves though they weren't real aristocracy - a bit after the style of Fanny Craddock and Johnny. They went in for conspicuous splashing out in the 1950s and it was common to refer to uppity people as sook's Mum did.

It is 'fur coat and no knickers' where I come from AllieOxon.

Has anyone heard of the mysterious 'Lady Docker' my Mum always referred to when she thought someone she knew was getting a bit above themselves (usually my sister)

Thought it was 'fur coat and no knickers'.

Nonu I've heard "red shoes, no knickers". Problem is that I quite often wear red shoes but don't go commando these days

Il pleut a decorner les boeufs: it's raining fit to wash the horns off the cattle. Can't do accents on my smartphone.