For me, the one that I’m still not convinced about is ‘bog standard’ and have always considered that a northern derivative of what it should be but which seems to be the accepted phrase yet I’ve always thought that this surely should be ‘box standard’ as in that's the version that comes out of the box.
Isn’t it just a brand of bog, like armitage shanks?
The word apple has at various times been written as nappill, nappylle, napple and naple. These come from the Late Middle English (mid 1400s) or are regional variations. These variations may be linked to Celtic, Baltic, and Slavonic versions of the word which have the 'n' prefix. However the earliest recorded versions of the word in English are without the 'n': æppla (undated), æpples (585), eppel (1225). These are all closer to the original germanic word.
The 'n' preceding adder seems a little different. It appears from historic documents that 'nadder' with an n would have been original: Nædran and nædre (c.1000), neddr (c.1200), naddren (c.1225). Netherfield in Sussex was in 1086 known as Nedrefelle meaning field of adders. The first recorded version of the modern 'adder' is circa 1500.
The word apple has at various times been written as nappill, nappylle, napple and naple. These come from the Late Middle English (mid 1400s) or are regional variations. These variations may be linked to Celtic, Baltic, and Slavonic versions of the word which have the 'n' prefix. However the earliest recorded versions of the word in English are without the 'n': æppla (undated), æpples (585), eppel (1225). These are all closer to the original germanic word.
The 'n' preceding adder seems a little different. It appears from historic documents that 'nadder' with an n would have been original: Nædran and nædre (c.1000), neddr (c.1200), naddren (c.1225). Netherfield in Sussex was in 1086 known as Nedrefelle meaning field of adders. The first recorded version of the modern 'adder' is circa 1500.
I'm sure all this applies to noranges and napricots too
Not really an expression just annoying. Used to work with a guy who said it multiple times a day, how do people not realise they are saying the same thing over and over?!
For me, the one that I’m still not convinced about is ‘bog standard’ and have always considered that a northern derivative of what it should be but which seems to be the accepted phrase yet I’ve always thought that this surely should be ‘box standard’ as in that's the version that comes out of the box.
They talked about this on QI a few years ago. Apparently it was when Hornby (I think) were selling ordinary train sets to poor families and special super-duper versions to rich ones. They, naturally, came in boxes and were thus named, respectively, ‘Box Standard’ and ‘Box Deluxe’. Stephen Fry confidently asserted that these phrases became commonly used to mean ‘ordinary’ and ‘superior’, but they evolved over time into ‘Bog Standard’ and ‘Dog’s Bollocks’. Great story if true, particularly the dog’s bollocks bit, but not sure if it’s an urban myth.
For me, the one that I’m still not convinced about is ‘bog standard’ and have always considered that a northern derivative of what it should be but which seems to be the accepted phrase yet I’ve always thought that this surely should be ‘box standard’ as in that's the version that comes out of the box.
They talked about this on QI a few years ago. Apparently it was when Hornby (I think) were selling ordinary train sets to poor families and special super-duper versions to rich ones. They, naturally, came in boxes and were thus named, respectively, ‘Box Standard’ and ‘Box Deluxe’. Stephen Fry confidently asserted that these phrases became commonly used to mean ‘ordinary’ and ‘superior’, but they evolved over time into ‘Bog Standard’ and ‘Dog’s Bollocks’. Great story if true, particularly the dog’s bollocks bit, but not sure if it’s an urban myth.
In a similar way people who can't understand the difference between i.e. and e.g. I see this all too often on business documents such as procedures and requirements specifications where it really should be correct.
Comments
Don't they, who says so?
Good old expression, use it all the time.
Piece of mind
For all intensive purposes
Always pisses me off when people get that wrong.
But as with most of these things if you know what the person means it is no big deal.
Language changes, few, if any, people use tenter hooks now so hear it as tender hooks.
I don't know if this is true but I was told an "apple" was once called a "napple" but "a napple" changed to "an apple" because that is how it sounded.
And where would Charlton fans be without pronunciation driving spelling?
Up the Haddocks?
I don't get how this derivation of the saying has come about......because it doesn’t make any sense.
The word apple has at various times been written as nappill, nappylle, napple and naple. These come from the Late Middle English (mid 1400s) or are regional variations. These variations may be linked to Celtic, Baltic, and Slavonic versions of the word which have the 'n' prefix. However the earliest recorded versions of the word in English are without the 'n': æppla (undated), æpples (585), eppel (1225). These are all closer to the original germanic word.
The 'n' preceding adder seems a little different. It appears from historic documents that 'nadder' with an n would have been original: Nædran and nædre (c.1000), neddr (c.1200), naddren (c.1225). Netherfield in Sussex was in 1086 known as Nedrefelle meaning field of adders. The first recorded version of the modern 'adder' is circa 1500.
Not really an expression just annoying. Used to work with a guy who said it multiple times a day, how do people not realise they are saying the same thing over and over?!
I had a boss that was a master of the mixed cliche. There were so many that the staff actually kept a note of them after a while.
A few that spring to mind:
Up a gum tree without a canoe!
I wasn't born yesterday for nothing!
That's what gave the oyster the stomach-ache!
Wandering about like a Dalek that's lost a leg!
And many, many more
And yes, that includes you Mr Jagger
Bought and brought also frustrate me - ffs, you don't bruy things in the shops.
Stephen Fry confidently asserted that these phrases became commonly used to mean ‘ordinary’ and ‘superior’, but they evolved over time into ‘Bog Standard’ and ‘Dog’s Bollocks’.
Great story if true, particularly the dog’s bollocks bit, but not sure if it’s an urban myth.