[Dixonary] [OT] Derivation of "Take the mickey"

[Dodi Schultz]

>> Re Michael Quinion: I really do question such derivation.

Other sites, though, seem to agree with him, John. See, e.g.:

Expressions & Sayings: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/

Phrase Finder: http://www.phrases.org.uk/

Dictionary of Slang: http://www.dictionaryofslang.co.uk/

--Dodi

[Dave Cunningham]

Quinion is not always correct -- he still does not accept that the
Queen is "Duke" of Lancaster and Normandy ... even after being emailed
the citations for that usage.

Dave

On Jul 24, 1:42 am, Dodi Schultz <SCHU... (AT) compuserve (DOT) com> wrote:
> >> Re Michael Quinion: I really do question such derivation.
>

[Tim Lodge]

While we're on the (off-)topic of expressions which mean nothing on
the opposite side of the pond, perhaps you can clarify another for me.

I watched the film "Wimbledon" on TV recently. (I know, but there
wasn't much else on!) At one point, Kirsten Dunst says to Paul
Bettany something like "Where do you stand on the whole fooling around
on the night before the match issue?" I eventually worked out from
the context that "fooling around" must mean sex. Is this something
real Americans say, or is it a Hollywood-invented euphemism?

-- Tim L

[Dodi Schultz]

Tim L asks:

>> At one point, Kirsten Dunst says to Paul Bettany something like
>> "Where do you stand on the whole fooling around on the night before
>> the match issue?" I eventually worked out from the context that
>> "fooling around" must mean sex. Is this something real Americans
>> say, or is it a Hollywood-invented euphemism?

It's a euphemism that real Americans use. Really. Mostly coy or youngish
Americans, but real nonetheless.

--Dodi

[Christopher Carson]

Tim,

You worked it out correctly. In US English, "fooling around" is indeed one
of the many euphemisms for sex.

Chris

[waynescottmd@earthlink.net]

Dodi, I think that when I was young (a long, long time ago) this was more
commonly used by elderly women who used euphemisms for everything. I can
hear my mother-in-law calling legs "limbs." Of course, she didn't use
fooling around because she couldn't admit that sexual intercourse existed.
I often wonder how on earth she ever had Marion.

Prudish in Poland

If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they
went.
--Will Rogers


> [Original Message]
> From: Dodi Schultz <SCHULTZ (AT) compuserve (DOT) com>
> To: <Dixonary (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com>
> Date: 7/25/2007 9:03:08 AM
> Subject: [Dixonary] [OT] Derivation of "Take the mickey"
>
>
> Tim L asks:
>
> >> At one point, Kirsten Dunst says to Paul Bettany something like
> >> "Where do you stand on the whole fooling around on the night before
> >> the match issue?" I eventually worked out from the context that
> >> "fooling around" must mean sex. Is this something real Americans
> >> say, or is it a Hollywood-invented euphemism?
>
> It's a euphemism that real Americans use. Really. Mostly coy or youngish
> Americans, but real nonetheless.
>
> --Dodi

[Dodi Schultz]

>> I often wonder how on earth she ever had Marion.

If you truly, truly believe, Wayne, the stork will eventually arrive.

--Dodi

[waynescottmd@earthlink.net]

A silly family joke when we had our fourth child, was to the effect that I
believed that the only time Marion would get pregnant was after we had a
moonlight swim in the surf at Waikiki.
It turns out that the stuff I learned in medical school was more accurate.

If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they
went.
--Will Rogers


> [Original Message]
> From: Dodi Schultz <SCHULTZ (AT) compuserve (DOT) com>
> To: <Dixonary (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com>
> Date: 7/25/2007 3:42:11 PM
> Subject: [Dixonary] [OT] Derivation of "Take the mickey"
>
>
>
>
> >> I often wonder how on earth she ever had Marion.
>
> If you truly, truly believe, Wayne, the stork will eventually arrive.
>
> --Dodi

[Tim Lodge]

Thanks Dodi and Chris

Perhaps we're not coy enough in the UK!

I'm surprised they left "fooling around" in the UK version of the film
- usually they overdub with a phrase that means more to the local
audience.
-- Tim L

On Jul 25, 5:01 pm, Dodi Schultz <SCHU... (AT) compuserve (DOT) com> wrote:
> Tim L asks:
>
> >> At one point, Kirsten Dunst says to Paul Bettany something like
> >> "Where do you stand on the whole fooling around on the night before
> >> the match issue?" I eventually worked out from the context that
> >> "fooling around" must mean sex. Is this something real Americans
> >> say, or is it a Hollywood-invented euphemism?
>
> It's a euphemism that real Americans use. Really. Mostly coy or youngish
> Americans, but real nonetheless.
>
> --Dodi

[Dodi Schultz]

>> I'm surprised they left "fooling around" in the UK version of the
>> film - usually they overdub with a phrase that means more to the
>> local audience.
>> -- Tim L

"They" obviously figure the rest of your compatriots are as swift as you
are. ;-)

--Dodi