Help - anyone know where the saying.....

[Steve_Perry]

Hats off to anybody who knows how the word "Berk" is dervied, used these days to mean someone foolish.

When originally used it meant something quite different, you'd be shocked Amazing how language evolves even over a short period of time.

Answers on a postcard to...

S.

 

[lotusmark2]

Hats off to anybody who knows how the word "Berk" is dervied, used these days to mean someone foolish.

When originally used it meant something quite different, you'd be shocked Amazing how language evolves even over a short period of time.

Answers on a postcard to...

S.

Is it something to do with the Berkshire Hunt????
Seem to remeber it in the dim parts of my brain.

 

[Steve_Perry]

Is it something to do with the Berkshire Hunt????
Seem to remeber it in the dim parts of my brain.

**Doff's hat**

Yup it's cockney rhyming slang for the C word. First used in the 19th century I think. I thought it was Berkley Hunt but it maybe Berkshire. Anyway it was used because the leader of the hunt was a real *ahem* git apparently

I think if people today knew that Berk was a replacement for the C word it wouldn't be used quite so much.

S.

 

[pammy]

**Doff's hat**
I think if people today knew that Berk was a replacement for the C word it wouldn't be used quite so much.

S.

I had no idea - as it happens it's not a word I use. Just as well

 

[andy_k]

"early doors" has been around a lot longer than Ron Atkinson, as Jukie says it was always referred to as opening time back in the days (certainly in Nottingham) when the pubs were closed during the afternoon. The licencing laws allowed them to open at 5.30 but many left it until 6.00, hence the term "early doors" referring to those that opened at 5.30. It's probably been in common use longer but I can certainly remember my Grandfather and Father using the phrase when I was a kid.

Andy

 

[Shude]

"early doors" has been around a lot longer than Ron Atkinson, as Jukie says it was always referred to as opening time back in the days (certainly in Nottingham) when the pubs were closed during the afternoon.

I only know this because on his retirement show they said he invented it, it's entirely possible however that they were wrong.

Here is an article about Ron on the BBC website, it also says he invented the phrase... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/1871095.stm

I didn't know anything about Ron Atkinson, not being a football fan, but it looks like he might have come out with more rubbish in his career than Murray Walker, and that's saying something!