Mad as a Hatter
Buy Your BritSlang.com Dictionary Design
Mad as a Hatter – This wonderful British saying means completely crazy and is rather macabre in its origin. Hat makers (hatters) would commonly use mercury in the making of hats. The prolonged excessive exposure to this toxic chemical damaged the nervous system and caused them to shake uncontrollably. Thus making them appear to be completely insane or bonkers as we Brits would say.
Posted by
Hyacinth B Date:
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Categories:
M
Tags:
British Sayings, mad as a hatter
British Sayings – British Slang – British Words
- Bovvered - Catherine Tate - Am I Bovvered:
A question made famous by UK comedienne Catherine Tate. Americans might say, “I could care less”, but literally it means, “Am I Bothered?” and is posed as a rhetorical question.
The word “bovvered” enjoyed such resurgence in the UK, that it was voted Word of the year in 2006 – in part due to its popularity on the aforementioned show.
Growing up in the UK, it was phrase that us kids used in irreverent defiance to our teachers and Head Masters – but usually behind their backs. To do so o...
- Gobsmacked:
Gobsmacked - At A Loss For Words. Just Absolutely Amazed
- Sweet Fanny Adams:
Sweet Fanny Adams - Absolutely Nowt - Nothing! This is an Unusual British Saying that Has an Intriguing and Macabre Origin. In 1867 an Young Lady was Killed and Her Corpse Butchered by a Man Named Frederick Baker. A Couple of Years Later, British Seamen Were Given Tinned Mutton as Rations. They Decided that it Tasted so Bad it Must be the Remains of Fanny Adams. From that Point on, "Fanny Adams" became Slang for Mutton or Stew and Later on Anything Worthless.
- You're the Bees Knees!:
You're the Bees Knees - You're Fantastic. You're Fabulous. You're the Bee's Knees. Let the Special People in Your Life Know Exactly What You Think, With This Say It Out Loud UK Slogan. This Design on T-Shirts, apparel t-shirts, Mugs and Stickers.
- L.O.M.B.A.R.D.:
L.O.M.B.A.R.D. - A Cockney Acronym for a Bloke with Loads of Money But a Right D_ _ k Head! Not Much Upstairs...Get me?
