Rabrrrrrr
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:16 PM
Original message |
British slang question in relation to Austin Powers |
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This has long bothered me.
In the first movie, he says "Shall we shag now, or shall we shag later? How do you like to do it? Do you like to wash up first? You know, top and tails... whore's bath? Personally before I'm on the job, I like to give my undercarriage a bit of a how's your father!"
I just don't get how "how's your father" works in this situation, and it's bothered me ever since I saw the movie the first time.
is he being completely gross here, or misusing the phrase?
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XemaSab
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:19 PM
Response to Original message |
1. Might be rhyming slang |
July
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Thu Sep-22-05 06:28 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
14. The rhyme being "bother," perhaps? |
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IIRC, that's how Cockney rhyming slang works -- the longer, obscure phrase is the link to the actual word, e.g., "trouble and strife" = "wife," or "apples and pears" = "stairs."
Someone here must know more about this.
Brits, where are you? We need your help.
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XemaSab
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Thu Sep-22-05 06:31 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
15. I've got a friend who says |
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"Butcher's" meaning "have a look," the rhyme being "butcher's hook."
Wierd stuff.
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July
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Thu Sep-22-05 07:08 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
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If you ever see "Ground Force" on BBC, Tommy Walsh, the guy who does the paving and building, uses Cockney rhyming slang a lot.
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nickgutierrez
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:20 PM
Response to Original message |
2. Disclaimer: I have no clue about British slang |
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But it seems like he's equating cleaning with polite conversation here. "How's your father" sounds like something that might be said in polite conversation, and given the general clean=polite idea, I could see where such a far-fetched saying could eventually take root.
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Rabrrrrrr
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:24 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
4. "How's your father" means to have sex, to shag, to bonk, to roger |
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that's why I can't figure out how it fits in this context.
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nickgutierrez
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:26 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
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He probably just misused the phrase, then.
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billyskank
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Thu Sep-22-05 02:06 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
8. That's my understanding too |
Rabrrrrrr
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Thu Sep-22-05 02:09 PM
Response to Reply #8 |
9. I'm glad I'm not the only one confused! |
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And seems so odd that Mike Meyers would have made a mistake on that, since he's so good with the British slang, and seemed very dedicated to making it real.
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stlsaxman
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Thu Sep-22-05 06:32 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
16. Doesn't he say: "Before I'm on the job-" |
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as in before he takes on a case?
makes sense to me in that context.
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Rabrrrrrr
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Thu Sep-22-05 06:33 PM
Response to Reply #16 |
17. I have the whole quote in the OP |
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Given the context, I think it's fair to say that "job" does not his work, but the "job" of having sex.
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stlsaxman
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Thu Sep-22-05 06:49 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
20. But who is he talking to? He's trying to "shag a bird", right? |
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Is the woman he's talking to hiring him for a job? I don't remember the scene exactly but if he's talking to a woman who is asking him to take on a case, ih makes perfect sense.
I have to watch it again.
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Rabrrrrrr
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Thu Sep-22-05 09:04 PM
Response to Reply #20 |
22. No, he's saying it to his partner as they are unpacking in Las Vegas |
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His partner being a woman, of course. They have just arrived in the hotel room, where they are to pretend they are a husband and wife on honeymoon.
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trof
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:21 PM
Response to Original message |
3. shake hands with your johnson? |
DS1
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:28 PM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Thu Sep-22-05 01:31 PM by DS1
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Tafiti
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Thu Sep-22-05 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
7. That is fucking hilarious! n/t |
Rabrrrrrr
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Thu Sep-22-05 02:10 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
10. That explains "how's your father", but doesn't explain the way that |
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Austin Powers used it in this context.
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DS1
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Thu Sep-22-05 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
12. I think it's just a screwup |
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in the sense of dropping accuracy in order to maximize the cockney ;-)
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CanuckAmok
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Thu Sep-22-05 02:16 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
11. that's funny, but, alas, not true. |
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Close, but not precise.
"How's your father" originates from the same idea, but the father never actually hid under the skirts. It could be used convesationally, to determine a father's schedule, and an opportunity to "get some".
Example: A gentleman caller could ask a lady being chaperoned by a peer, brother, or another relative "how's your father?", and if the lady replied that he was going to be away on business, or whatever, a discreet date could be arranged to coincide with the father's absence.
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hickman1937
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Thu Sep-22-05 06:34 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
18. Rut like stoats. I love that. n/t |
ForrestGump
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Thu Sep-22-05 05:49 PM
Response to Original message |
13. "How's your father" is used as a sort of generic "whatever" |
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Or "whoosiewhatsit."
Like the Hawaiian "da kine," it can have a variety of meanings, depending on context.
Bob's your uncle...
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Joe Chi Minh
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Sun Sep-25-05 05:10 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
23. Thingummybob, gizmeter. |
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I don't know if the French bloke who was so interested in the derivation of the phrase, would have understood "machin" or "truc" in the context, but they're French versions of "how's your father" in that vague, general sense. They're probably more direct about it.
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swag
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Thu Sep-22-05 06:35 PM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Thu Sep-22-05 07:12 PM by swag
I hope Guy Fawkes checks in soon.
"Buyin' a woz if yer wantin' an apple," indeed.
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no name no slogan
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Sun Sep-25-05 05:12 PM
Response to Reply #19 |
24. That's also very Strine |
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As is rhyming slang, for that matter.
Which makes perfect sense if you consider that the two biggest groups of white folk to colonize Australia were cockneys and the Irish-- who are both known for their love of language and word play.
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auntAgonist
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Sun Sep-25-05 05:15 PM
Response to Original message |
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how's your father Noun. Sexual intercourse. E.g."They are in the front room having a bit of how's your father." http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/h.htm??
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ghostsofgiants
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Sun Sep-25-05 05:17 PM
Response to Original message |
26. I always thought it meant to "shake hands" with his "undercarriage"... |
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