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Re: Help w/naughty slang

To: Scotty <scotty@dove.net.au>
Subject: Re: Help w/naughty slang
From: Geoff Love <engconn@pottsville.infi.net>
Date: Sun, 01 Dec 1996 10:52:02 -0500
Scotty wrote:
> 
> On Fri, 29 Nov 1996 13:09:38 -0600 (CST) Andy wrote-
> >   In the interests of not offending anyone, I should recommend
> >that anyone who may not take kindly to "adult" language not read this
> >post.  I wasn't intending to write anything that the average American would
> >take offense to, but I'm not sure what might be inappropriate to some
> >of our non-American scions.
> >   In a conversation with a friend the other day, a certain British slang
> >phrase came up.  I was asked to define the phrase, but I couldn't.  I know
> >what it means in a technical sense, but I couldn't produce a definition
> >that captured all of the color and character the term generally includes.
> >   Is there anyone out there eloquent enough to give a proper description
> >of what "buggering off" entails?  If anyone haas comments not fit for
> >general circulation, please E-mail me directly.
> >
> *******************end of original**************************************
> 
> Hi Andy,
>         * sensitive types ought to 'bugger off' and read no further* Heh-Heh!
> 
>         The Concise, Macquarie Dictionary.[for use in Australian English,]
> defines the term,
> 
> "bugger off"-to remove oneself; depart -'interjection'-a strong exclamation
> of annoyannce, disgust etc.
> 
> "go to buggery"-go away; leave me alone.
> 
> "like buggery"-considerably.
> 
> "off to buggery"- 'a' considerably off course
>                   'b' in error
>                   'c' astray
>                   'd' a long way away
> 
> "bugger all"-nothing
> 
> "play silly buggers"-to engage in time-wasting activities and frivilous
>                      behaviour.
> 
> If you read this far, I just know you arn't offended. ;-)
> 
> Regards to all.
> 
> John[Scotty]Scott.
> Adelaide.Australia.

As an ex-pat Brit here in Pa.one of whose delights is the richness of
the English language, it's nice to know that Aussies are helping Aussies
with definitions.  The word bugger has several meanings, one of which is
derived from the Yorkshire miner's use of the word to describe a
small(usually hand propelled) cart or wagon which was used to carry coal
along narrow underground rail lines in the pit workings. This method of
transportation, was, apparantly, not reliable, and involved the personel
concerned in much hard work, i.e. pushing under difficult conditions,
usually resulting in them giving vent to their frustrations in the form
of swearing at the thing.  From this, it will be apparant why the use of
the word "bugger" is so suited to all things MG and Lucas. I have been
known to refer to my car on many occassions as "it's a bugger".  Another
example might well be, "I'm buggered if I understand these Lucas
electrics", etc., etc.. The more common useage refers to an activity
indulged in by males of a certain inclinition usually, (but not always)
in the privacy of their bedrooms. 
 In the American adaptation of the English language, the word "bugger"
can often be  replaced by another 3 letter word, S*D.  The bedroom
meanings are the same, and they can be used by frustrated MG drivers
interchangeably in most instances.  There is yet another word, one which
I have seen used in this mailing list occassionally, "F**K".  Here
again, this may be substituted under similar conditions of high stress,
such as "Where the F**K did I put that spanner?" (Wrench).  But is
important to realise the difference between the first two examples being
nouns, sometimes converted to verb usage, and the last example being
used almost entirely as a verb.
For further uses please see the Oxford Dictionary of the English
Language.  You will need the 27 volume edition, not the concise one.
Here endeth the first lesson.

Geoff Love, The English Connection.

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