'Here's the skinny'

[Fab Foodie]

Twice this evening I've read 'here's the skinny' from dellzeqq and theclaud. Obviously then it's from louche left-wing metro cafe-culture but I for one haven't come accross this phrase before.

What's the story? Do Spire and Bad Co, use the phrase? I need to know if I should be using it (to increase my hipness quotient)?

 

[Noodley]

Sounds like city-talk to me

 

[Danny]

I've not heard the phrase before either, but I suspect the "louche left-wing metro cafe-culture" is a bit of a figment of your imagination - or else it hasn't reached the provinces.

 

[TheDoctor]

Did you try Googling it?



http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/53/messages/58.html
A United States Marine Corps term for information.

During world war two until the late 1960's, military orders in the
Marine Corps were copied on paper that resembled the skin of an
onion. It was extremly thin and fragile, and translucent in
appearance.

 

[Over The Hill]

Yes I have heard it recently - just seemed to pop in from nowhere.

I took it as being a short version of a story- without the fat.




Oh no I sound like my Dad talking about "youngsters"!

 

[Keith Oates]

Did you try Googling it?



http://www.phrases.o...essages/58.html
A United States Marine Corps term for information.

During world war two until the late 1960's, military orders in the
Marine Corps were copied on paper that resembled the skin of an
onion. It was extremly thin and fragile, and translucent in
appearance.

There is no end to the extent of the education we can receive on CC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TVC]

To me, from my youth, a skinny was a tightly rolled 'herbal' cigarette that would appear when the tobacco was runnig low. Perhaps the two of them are having a private party.

 

[dellzeqq]

if memory serves, Damon Runyan. My old friend Sean Hughes who has served as the curator of prizes on The Price is Right these last thirty five years uses it.

I've got an entire arsenal of Hughesism, such as 'peachy-keen' and 'fine and dandy', along with a bundle of phrases I inherited from my dad like 'blimey ol' Riley' and 'crikey Moses'.

 

[Fnaar]

I know that I will never ever order a "skinny latte".....

 

[dellzeqq]

I've not heard the phrase before either, but I suspect the "louche left-wing metro cafe-culture" is a bit of a figment of your imagination - or else it hasn't reached the provinces.

we'll let you know........

 

[yello]

I've known of it for ages and knew it to be of American military orders origin but never knew exactly why... so I've learnt something today!

I also thought the expression was 'blimey O'Riley' rather than ol' Riley, but then I've also heard 'blimey Charlie O'Riley'.

I must remember to test the forum with some NZ expressions sometime. Problem is, I find them difficult to bring to mind and only know I've used one when my wife looks at me blankly and asks what it means! I used one a couple of days back when I referred to a neighbours dog having 'sicked' his other dog. It just means attacked or beat up.

 

[661-Pete]

If I see a metaphor I don't understand, I immediately think 'rhyming slang' in the first instance, because people are always making up new ones - rhyming slang is a very open-ended and rapidly changing form of our language! So I just assumed something like "Skinny dip" --> "tip". But maybe I'm Pete Tong here...?

 

[Globalti]

I'm more familiar with "What's the bobby?"

I think it may be rhyming slag: Bobby Moore = score.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

It's amazing the things you are brought up with (phrases/words) that you take for granted and only find out that they are native to where you were brought up (or that you just have weird parents) when you say them and someone just stares blankly at you.

Only yesterday at my Daughter's Nursery I uttered the phrase "Blimey, were you born in a barn?" to an open door that someone had just left via and left open (it was a tad chilly) and the young lass in the reception area just looked at me quizzically... the Nursery owner who was also there just laughed and said she hadn't heard that phrase for ages and had to explain it to the youngster (well, mid to late 20's!!).

My Wife has now gotten used to my words for things which differ from hers:

Jitty (an alleyway which leads from one road to another) -> Ginnal/Ginnle - no idea how to spell it!
Chip Buttie -> Chip Barm
Neche (feels the cold very quickly/easily) -> no idea what the Manc equivalent is
Scrating (crying - i.e. the kid's scrating) -> ??

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I'm more familiar with "What's the bobby?"

I think it may be rhyming slag: Bobby Moore = score.

Not a phrase you like?