Comments on: That Stout Yeoman of the Bar Nonsense

By: Beerprole

Beerprole — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:44:09 +0000

I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept a person who uses the word “methinks” on a regular basis as a member.

By: Lord Egbert Nobacon

Lord Egbert Nobacon — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:52:46 +0000

I thought of this post while watching some old Keith Floyd series on Dave last night.
” I say, old chap ” this and ” if you would be so kind ” that.
I must say it made me come over all rather foppish and Terry Thomas-like.
There’s a lot to be said for it.

By: T_i_B

T_i_B — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:35:45 +0000

I think it’s a bit like using overly florid language as sexual euphemisms. Sounds prettier and more amusing then the “proper” terms.

By: Bailey

Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:59:48 +0000

Richard Boston in 1976 quotes T.E.B. Clarke from c.1939 on the subject of ‘the Major’ — a pub type who may or may not have been in the Army and, if so, may or may not have held the rank of Major. He’s a sprightly old gent with a white moustache, ‘erect bearing’ and ‘military habits’, apparently.(Think Fawlty Towers…?)

By: Bailey

Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:57:15 +0000

Which makes me wonder if its a habit people picked up during the war or National Service.

Having said that, it was very common amongst the rugby playing types when we were at university — “I say! A fine, foaming pint of St Ella of the Artois. Good chess, sir, very good chess indeed. Your good health!”

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:56:20 +0000

Presumably that was only a common phrase or saying in situations where you were curious as to whether somebody with the rank of Major had in fact been in. Or was it a metaphor?

By: ATJ

ATJ — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:50:52 +0000

I always thought it was golf club language as well, while another phrase that was in use according to some book I’ve got from the 1950s was ‘the major been in?’, giving the speaker possibly the aura of a military man.

By: Bailey

Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:34:57 +0000

Nothing, really. Just (like any old joke) has the potential to be a bit irritating.

EDIT: and we quite like talking nonsense!

By: Eddie

Eddie — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:02:20 +0000

Yeh, but…. what’s *wrong* with it?

By: John H

John H — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:01:25 +0000

Coogan nailed this too: Natural Born Quizzers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsHCmKc1iBw

It’s a thin line between erudite eloquence and…being a twat.