0bvious things you’ve only just realised (2019 edition)

[hedgehog90]

She has mashed up her motorbike with her homeplace, Wigan

Not quite.

Buell hooligan. Buelligan.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Buelligan

'That curb-hopping, wheelie riding Buelligan is at it, causing trouble, once again!'

[Replies From View]

The pronunciation (which shiftwork supplied me with at a previous meet) is weird to me since the spelling isn't "Beulligan".

BEEOO

[garnish]

'nip in the bud' is attested in 1607, with slightly earlier instances of 'nip in the bloom' and 'nip in the blade' (with the same meaning, 'stop something at an early stage'). The other explanation sounds like a folk-etymology to me.

No, this is wrong

[a duncandisorderly]

No, this is wrong

the origin is horticultural. move along.

[garnish]

the origin is horticultural. move along.

The origin is from 5,000 BC when match stick sellers would attach warnings to their packaging following too many house fires caused by out of control match fires.

[Bennett Brauer]

I'm an etymologist with an honours degree in English and Classics from Magdalen, Oxford, and - believe it or not - garnish is right in saying it derives from "nip it in the buth", buth being the lightable end of a match. http://www.oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&w=buth&&searchBtn=Search

EDIT Weird, can't get link to work properly

[Replies From View]

Nip it in the arse, it means.

[a duncandisorderly]

I'm an etymologist with an honours degree in English and Classics from Magdalen, Oxford, and - believe it or not - garnish is right in saying it derives from "nip it in the buth", buth being the lightable end of a match. http://www.oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&w=buth&&searchBtn=Search

EDIT Weird, can't get link to work properly

bollocks the lot of y's.

[gib]

believe it or not

not

[idunnosomename]

1590   T. Lodge Rosalynde: Euphues Golden Legacie f. 24   Nature hath prodigally inricht thee with her fauours..and now..to haue all these good partes nipped in the blade, and blemisht by the inconstancie of Fortune.
1595   H. Chettle Piers Plainnes Prentiship sig. E3v   Extinguish these fond loues with minds labour, and nip thy affections in the bloome, that they may neuer bee of power to budde.

[Bennett Brauer]

Don't give up on the truth, garnish. Some people laughed at Columbus, even though Keith Allen was in it.

[idunnosomename]

I've just realised vintage primarily refers to wine. You know, because it has "vin" in it. Any other use is secondary.

[St_Eddie]

I've just realised vintage primarily refers to wine. You know, because it has "vin" in it. Any other use is secondary.

So, if 'vin' is 'vineyard' and 'age' is... well, 'age'.  Then what's the 't' all about?

[mothman]

It's, how long did it take the vin t'age, isn't it? Duh.

[idunnosomename]

So, if 'vin' is 'vineyard' and 'age' is... well, 'age'.  Then what's the 't' all about?

Anglo-Norman corruption of vendage which comes from Latin vindēmia.

[Bennett Brauer]

Micky Flanagan is apparently unable to say the 'th' in "thing", but has no problem with "another".

[Replies From View]

Micky Flanagan is apparently unable to say the 'th' in "thing", but has no problem with "another".

A very shit man will do very shit things.  It is nature's way.

[gib]

Micky Flanagan is apparently unable to say the 'th' in "thing", but has no problem with "another".

Well of course one 'th' is a voiced dental fricative and other a voiceless dental fricative.

[St_Eddie]

Anglo-Norman corruption of vendage which comes from Latin vindēmia.

No, that doesn't sound credible at all.

It's, how long did it take the vin t'age, isn't it? Duh.

Ah, yes.  Of course!

[Bennett Brauer]

Well of course one 'th' is a voiced dental fricative and other a voiceless dental fricative.

Don't gimme vat teef malarkey.

[seepage]

when people say 'vintage wine' they seem to mean wine from an exceptional year's harvest. But how rare is that now for table? They probably only skip some years for Port or Barca Velha now. I know vintage Champagne is from a single year's harvest, but they never seem to skip a year - they even made some in 2001! 

[St_Eddie]

when people say 'vintage wine' they seem to mean wine from an exceptional year's harvest. But how rare is that now for table? They probably only skip some years for Port or Barca Velha now. I know vintage Champagne is from a single year's harvest, but they never seem to skip a year - they even made some in 2001!

No matter the vintage, leave an opened bottle for too long and you'll wind up with vinegar, or worse yet, Lambrini.

[idunnosomename]

Leave an unopened bottle for too long? Never happens to me

I'm an alcoholic, you see

[mothman]

Well of course one 'th' is a voiced dental fricative and other a voiceless dental fricative.

"Fricative" just makes me think of "fricassee."

[studpuppet]

"Fricative" just makes me think of "Viv".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pil_OYHxLjQ

[garnish]

1590   T. Lodge Rosalynde: Euphues Golden Legacie f. 24   Nature hath prodigally inricht thee with her fauours..and now..to haue all these good partes nipped in the blade, and blemisht by the inconstancie of Fortune.
1595   H. Chettle Piers Plainnes Prentiship sig. E3v   Extinguish these fond loues with minds labour, and nip thy affections in the bloome, that they may neuer bee of power to budde.

None of those records are from 5,000 BC when the word 'buth' was first used, I appreciate the effort you are going to to prove yourself deadly wrong.

[garnish]

I'm an etymologist with an honours degree in English and Classics from Magdalen, Oxford, and - believe it or not - garnish is right in saying it derives from "nip it in the buth", buth being the lightable end of a match. http://www.oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&w=buth&&searchBtn=Search

EDIT Weird, can't get link to work properly

I'm a classical librarian and we say 'buth' all the time.

[idunnosomename]

None of those records are from 5,000 BC when the word 'buth' was first used, I appreciate the effort you are going to to prove yourself deadly wrong.

what about the idiom "nip it in the bud"

Do realise, being an alcoholic, I'm pissed, you see.

[touchingcloth]

Micky Flanagan is apparently unable to say the 'th' in "thing", but has no problem with "another".

Has he been lined up for a cancelling yet?

[Delete Delete Delete]

That Bilko in The Phil Silvers Show's name is a play on the word Bilk which means to 1.
a. To defraud, cheat, or swindle: made millions bilking wealthy clients on art sales.
b. To evade payment of: bilk one's debts.