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Another thing that I  enjoy are some of the idioms and expressions that we use. A lot of them are donkey’s years old and are passed down through the generations. I know my Nan, and even my Mum loved using them.

Here are some of my favourites: (It’s funny that most of them seem to be derogatory in some way)!

All fur coat and no knickers. This one I think is all about putting on a show, pretending that you are doing well when in reality you haven’t got a pot to pi**  in.  Similarly, we use champagne tastes on beer money which kind of speak for itself.

Short arms and deep pockets. This expression always makes me laugh, for some reason and refers to someone who is rather tight with their money, always last to buy a round, or conveniently leaves their wallet at home.

All mouth and no trousers.  Someone who ‘talks the talk’ and makes all sorts of grand gestures but doesn’t actually follow through with any action. Remind you of anyone?

Kick the bucket. We seem to be rather reluctant to talk about people dying directly so use expressions like this or popped his clogs is another one.

Running around like a blue-arsed fly. This one is actually still very popular, and people often use it when they have been extremely busy.

A pig in a poke. A bit of an odd expression this one (aren’t they all)? It means don’t buy anything until you have looked it over carefully!

Flogging a dead horse. This one is pretty  self-explanatory, in as much as there is no point in carrying on with whatever you were doing as it will make no difference. Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted is also popular.

A lick and a promise. This is a half-hearted attempt at something, which apparently derives from when children asked to wash would just lick their hands or a cloth and wipe themselves off! Did anyone else’s Mum spit on a tissue or a cloth to clean your face when you were a child or was it just mine?

Up and down like a whore’s drawers or a bride’s nightie. Take your pick they both mean the same and need no explanation.

About as much use as a fart in a colander another favourite of mine or a more polite version would be a chocolate teapot

You look like you have been dragged through a hedge backwards. No need to tell you what this means, similarly if someone were to look like death warmed up you would get the drift!

What’s your favourite idiom or expression? Perhaps I have missed it off the list in which case I would love to hear it. Please let me know in the comments.