Old local expressions

[b rawlinson]

I know it isnt politically correct to use expressions like the following these days but how did the expression-he(or she) skens like a bucket of welks originate?

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by b rawlinson

I know it isnt politically correct to use expressions like the following these days but how did the expression-he(or she) skens like a bucket of welks originate?

I alus thowt id wur "skens like a basket o whelks".
Retlaw.

[garinda]

'Look how crammed he is.'

'The mard arse'.

They wouldn't have the foggiest what you meant by that, if that was said outside of the north.

[garinda]

Sken has two meanings.

As well as cross-eyed, it also just means look.

'Who you skennin' at?'

[Margaret Pilkington]

ah'll skutch thi dinner up(knock seven bells out of you)

her as a face like a ruptured custard(she is ugly)/melted welly/joss arsed baboon.

ah'll tek a bit o' thee hooam in mi pocket(fighting talk)

dusta want some clog toe pie? (more fighting talk)

a'hm ony walkin' abeawt to save buryin' money. ah carnt afford to dee(I'm proper poorly)

a'hm wakkerin' laik a tripe doll(trembling, shivering)

I'm sure I can think of some more...just give me time.

[Bob Dobson]

There's a book written by Dave Dutton - I think it is called' Lanky Talk', which has pagefuls of these sayings in.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

ah'll skutch thi dinner up(knock seven bells out of you)

her as a face like a ruptured custard(she is ugly)/melted welly/joss arsed baboon.

ah'll tek a bit o' thee hooam in mi pocket(fighting talk)

dusta want some clog toe pie? (more fighting talk)

a'hm ony walkin' abeawt to save buryin' money. ah carnt afford to dee(I'm proper poorly)

a'hm wakkerin' laik a tripe doll(trembling, shivering)

I'm sure I can think of some more...just give me time.

Oose a face like 5 mile a bad ruad.

Thal ged a naeve intut gasish.

Al thicken thi lugs fur thi.

Im as feughts an stands is ground, ul ged his is bluddy clock knocked reaund.

Retlaw.

[b rawlinson]

I always remember as a small boy in the 50s when i lived in Church looking into the buckets of whelks outside morphets greengrocers on Victoria st.and wondering do they really sken?

[Bob Dobson]

The book is probably 'Lanky Spoken Here' He followed that with 'Completely Lanky'

Garinda's getten a face like a slapped arse.

Hoo's not fowest woman Ah've ever sin, but hoo certainly favvers 'er.

[jelly baby]

I think the expresion is, in fact, 'skens like a basket o' whelps' ie new pups that can't yet see straight. The saying has been changed over the years as no-one seems to call pups whelps nowadays. As far as I know, whelks don't have eyes.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by jelly baby

I think the expresion is, in fact, 'skens like a basket o' whelps' ie new pups that can't yet see straight. The saying has been changed over the years as no-one seems to call pups whelps nowadays. As far as I know, whelks don't have eyes.

That makes more sense.

[walkinman221]

Yon mons about as much use as a back pocket in a vest.
Yons gittin a face like like a dropped pie.
Wur not all daft that slaver.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Th'art as much good as a tripe shovel.

[walkinman221]

Sky is as black as devils nutting bag, one of me grans this one never heard anyone else say it,

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes......that is one I use a lot....and another one is 'looks very black over Bob's mothers'....I have no idea where this came from, except my gran used it a lot.