Popular expressions that we use which have a dark past

[Cell]

Hi,
I'm in the middle of reading a book "Bloody Britain" history snippets of murder, mayhem and massacre through out the centuries, which I'm finding totally fascinating.

Anyway, I was very surprised to find out that the expression that many people still use today ( one of my mum's favourite sayings!) "Sweet fanny Adams" actually was a little girl who was brutally murdered in 1867 .
For people who like me ( I'm sure some of you may know the story) didn't know it's origins here is the true story of Sweet fanny Adams  http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/curtis-museum/alton-history/fanny-adams.htm

I looked her up in the 61 census after reading about her. She is there with her parents and siblings in Alton. ..So sad.  I don't think I'll ever use the saying again.


Kind regards

[mcaussie]

Very interesting and sad story. It seems that back then is no different than today. I hope the poor girl died quickly. That book sounds very interesting.
 

[Viktoria]

I never would have guessed that such a flippant saying could have such a dreadful origin

The case brings to mind at least two comparitively recent murders of children.


Yes, let`s hope little Fanny was dead from the initial blow to her head before he other injuries were inflicted.

Brrrrh--- I feel really  sad and horrified. Viktoria.

[mosher]

Gosh.  I always thought it was just a nicer way of saying "Sweet f*&k all"!

Mosher (with a potty mouth)

[Emjaybee]

How about bog standard and the dogs b****cks to describe the best and worst.

This is said to come from the first Meccano Sets that had "Box Standard" and "Box de Luxe"

[mama2six]

aww poor little fanny adams .... I am an adams and have heard this saying soo many times over the years .... very interesting info on the term.

[Nick29]

Quite a few popular words and sayings come from quite nasty origins.   Take the word NAFF, for example (a favourite of Princess Anne).  Its origins come from homosexual 'code-talk', meaning 'Not Available For F***ing' (i.e. a straight person).

[Ruskie]

Gosh.  I always thought it was just a nicer way of saying "Sweet f*&k all"!

Mosher (with a potty mouth)

Yes Sweet FA is a short form of that Mosher, but it's just a variations of the original - "Sweet Fanny Adams". Some clever clogs probably worked out that the initials FA also stood for F*** All.

Wouldn't the word Naff have had earlier origins than what you suggest Nick? I stand to be corrected, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a similar scenario to Sweet FA, where someone worked out a clever phrase to fit with the letters NAFF.

I know many of our swear words have quite ancient origins.

[old rowley]

The word naff, as we use it to day, can mean "of low quality" or "of poor standards" it can also be used to replace the F word as in "naff off". However if you go back to the 1840's it was being used in a different contex. Spelt with only one F, "naf" derives itself from back slang and comes from the word used, in the UK,  to descibe the female sexual organ.

OR.