old sayings

[joboy]

London the largest city in England, and the dirtiest, and the bubonic plague lasted within that city alone from late fall of 1348 until early summer of 1349. About thirty thousand of London's seventy thousand inhabitants suffered and died from plague.
My cockney grandad used to see us every Sunday and he would pull my shirt up and say 'How's yer belly orf for spots' which was a saying used by Londoners that goes back to the plague.

[a-l]

What wonderful sayings everyone! I am laughing so much. I have never heard "Charlie" before or "ride bareback to York" which reduced me to tears of laughter. Must admit I still don't know what shim shams or wedlars were!

[a-l]

Thanks Joboy I have heard that saying but had no idea as to its origin. Very interesting.

[Treetotal]

I read somewhere that "Charlie's Dead" refers to Bonny Prince Charlie who was known to wear much white lace and that's the origin of the saying.
Carol

[a-l]

Really Carol? How fascinating!  Sayings intrigue me also their origins and not forgetting the amusement factor of course.                                                           Would be a terrible shame to lose them.     sue

[everlea]

Yes, thanks joboy - reminds me of my father's Cockney roots. Think I heard it from my gran, an

East Ender b 1869.Used to scare me with her Ripper stories!

                                                                                                     Everlea.

[a-l]

Oh Everlea that must have been terrifying .                 

[everlea]

A bit scary, but children enjoy a little of that, don't they? She never went into details, just described

the atmosphere. Did sometimes wish for more than oil lamps on the way to bed later, though!

                                                                                                               Everlea.

[a-l]

ha! ha! I bet you did.