Kintyre Expressions

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Related to the vernacular thread, there have been some great sayings in Campbeltown over the years, while not exactly slang, I've never heard them anywhere else.

Examples:

That's cat - i.e. it's not very good.

Couple of personal favourites from the 80's

Eeeezy Snapper! - i.e. steady on, young foolish person
This is the hat - i.e. this is great, or pretty good.

Can no longer remember whether it was good to be one of the "Kingsmen" or bad

There was also a period of "Eeeezy, soft hands" another "steady on, young foolish person"

I'm sure more will make an appearance

[EMDEE]

I think the "Kings Men" expression came from a TV advert involving Humpty Dumpty. Because the King's Men and the King's Horses couldn't put Humpty together again, they were classed as useless.

I can remember the line from the advert. "They're the King's men, they're useless" but can't remember the product that was being advertised at this particular moment. Maybe it'll come back.

I think this goes back to the late 80s or early 90s.

[petewick]

I think the "Kings Men" expression came from a TV advert involving Humpty Dumpty. Because the King's Men and the King's Horses couldn't put Humpty together again, they were classed as useless.

I can remember the line from the advert. "They're the King's men, they're useless" but can't remember the product that was being advertised at this particular moment. Maybe it'll come back.

I think this goes back to the late 80s or early 90s.

Was'nt it for some brand of beer?

I always laugh when I hear someone refered to as a "switcher", what does that mean and where did it come from?
Also the term "oolet", you don't hear that much in use these days.

[EMDEE]

No idea where "switcher" came from.

"Oolet"-an owl. I use that word to describe somebody who sits up all night. How it came to be an uncomplimentary description of somebody is a mystery. An owl is supposed to be wise.