Offend-O-Metering: U.K. vs. States

[Guest]

English pears

The Earl was explaining to what "going all pear shaped" means in England, i.e., that something's gone horribly wrong.

I told him I only knew it as a derogatory comment about a woman's figure, i.e., that she's small on top with a large ass (like a pear's shape).

I wondered if there was any connection, or just how the term came to have its meaning in England. Anyone know?

Pear-dita (but NOT pear-shaped)

 

[snooper]

English female rugby players are, as a rule, very scary...

Too true. I refereed rugby for 30 seasons and the worst violence I ever saw was in women's games. In 800 MM games I never once had to penalise for hair-pulling or for face-scratching. As for grabbing an opponent by one tit and twisting, hard ...

... And for God's sake, why didn't they rename it? Why does it never seem to occur to Americans that football is a dumb name for the game they play? Soccer seems more apropriate for the US game, as you kind of sock people out of the way.

That would be inappropriate, since the etymology of "soccer" is as a contraction of the word Association.

 

[sirhugs]

Re: English pears

The Earl was explaining to what "going all pear shaped" means in England, i.e., that something's gone horribly wrong.

I told him I only knew it as a derogatory comment about a woman's figure, i.e., that she's small on top with a large ass (like a pear's shape).

I wondered if there was any connection, or just how the term came to have its meaning in England. Anyone know?

Pear-dita (but NOT pear-shaped)

I always thought a pear shaped woman, or pear shaped ass meant that she had a nice firm shapely rounded bottom...extremely ripe and edible...not derogatory at alll

 

[patrick1]

The etymology of 'pear-shaped' is obscure. Some suggest it's the shape of mathematical diagrams of probability. Some say it's based on aircraft manoeuvres.

Isn't it interesting how a phrase cuts loose like this from its obscure origins and yet seems sensible to those who use it? 'It's all gone pear-shaped,' seems like one of those phrases I might say without thinking...even though when I think about it, it sounds weird.

patrick

 

[Rainbow Skin]

Re: Rugby gals

Here everyone thinks female rugby players are dykes. I actually have dyke friends who play but wonder if the same thing goes on over 'there'.

A friend of mine is the only straight member in her team.

 

[Madame Manga]

The etymology of 'pear-shaped' is obscure.

Must be! I've heard the expression in the British sense a few times, but for me 'pear-shaped' calls up 'pear-shaped syllables' or 'pear-shaped tones'. Meaning something on the order of 'dulcet' or 'consciously sweet and well-rounded', as in singing or reciting.

MM

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Rugby gals

A friend of mine is the only straight member in her team.

And after losing a match they go off together to lick their wounds.
MG

 

[oggbashan]

The etymology of 'pear-shaped' is obscure.

The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (O.U.P 1999) says:

"go PEAR-SHAPED. go wrong (informal)
Originally Royal Air Force slang as a humourously exaggerated allusion to the shape of an aircraft that has crashed nose first."

 

[Rainbow Skin]

The almost omniscient Michael Quinion observes that Oxford dictionaries give it as RAF slang, but they can't explain exactly why.

 

[Guest]

pear perplexity

Thank you Ogg and Rainbow. I wonder, Ogg, if you recall your own notice of the expression since sources say it only began to be used in the 1960's.

My only thought was that it's basically an odd natural shape (vs. a circle, square, oval, etc.)

Perdita

 

[oggbashan]

Pear-shaped would fit as RAF slang if it referred to the First World War or shortly afterwards.

The engines of their biplanes were heavy compared with the rest of the plane. If the plane crashed head first the wings would snap and fold back, still held by the rigging wires.

Even a bad landing could tip an early RAF plane onto its nose.

Og.

 

[patrick1]

The Web favourite explanation of the derivatin from RAF slang seems to be that 'pear-shaped' is a description of the shape of a trainee pilot's attempts at loops.

But I've only ever flown a glider, for a few minutes, with a terrified instructor yelling instructions behind me as I indeed almost looped, so what would I know?

patrick

 

[Guest]

Ogg:

back to my question re. your notice of the word's use.

To be precise, do you recall its use *before the 60's*? (And I do mean in England, not the Balkans). P

 

[Guest]

I need to brag to the Brits*--

I receive the OED's online newsletter which often lists new entries, asks for examples of usage, etc. Sometime in the past year it listed a new entry, "homey" and explained its origins and use among African-Americans. It made no mention of Mexican-Americans or other so-called Hispanic peoples.

I wrote to the editors saying I had never heard the expression used by A-A's and only knew it as Mex-Am slang. I explained there are even Homey collectible dolls based on East L.A. gang member stereotypes w/appropriate names to go with the clothing and characters. Also suggested someone simply do a Google search to verify my claim.

FYI, since the 70's I've been familiar with the term which is derived from homeboy or homegirl (your chum or mate) meaning someone from your 'hood (neighborhood).

So, my point is that I like to tell people I corrected the OED.

Perdita

*and Earl the Englishman

 

[oggbashan]

Re: Ogg:

back to my question re. your notice of the word's use.

To be precise, do you recall its use *before the 60's*? (And I do mean in England, not the Balkans). P

Yes. I remember it in the 1950s. But then there was a lot of RAF slang in use which is now obsolete. My "best" friend in 1954 was the Air Officer Commanding's son. I enjoyed riding in the official limousine with the flag flying in front. What boy wouldn't?

Og

 

[MathGirl]

Re: I need to brag to the Brits*--

Originally posted by perdita So, my point is that I like to tell people I corrected the OED.

Thank God for people like you, Perdita. Otherwise, those OED people would throw in whatever popped into their pointy heads.
MG

Ps. Terry Pratchett uses "going all wahoonie shaped" to indicate a complete f*** up.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: I need to brag to the Brits*--

Thank God for people like you, Perdita. Otherwise, those OED people would throw in whatever popped into their pointy heads.

Ps. Terry Pratchett uses "going all wahoonie shaped" to indicate a complete f*** up.

Don't be too hard on them hon, I think it was tough on em setting up the editions w/the tiny type. But they certainly don't give as much of a flying f**k about American English.

I have got to get me some Pratchett, hear that name a lot lately. I will use 'wahoonie' at the first possible opportunity. P

 

[redrider4u]

LOL...Ge

Away for a day.....and so much.

Thanks to Purr......................I understand.

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Re: I need to brag to the Brits*--

I will use 'wahoonie' at the first possible opportunity. P

Dear Perdita,
If you use the word, everyone will assume you're deranged. The wahoonie is a mythical root vegetable that grows up to twenty feet long and has a disgusting taste. It grows on a world that is disk shaped and exists only in the minds of Terry Pratchett and his readers.
MG

 

[Guest]

Hi Red

What is it I helped you understand? Not too much I hope; I hate being taken seriously. Purr

 

[Guest]

wahoonie

Thanks, MG, you're a pal. Guess I'd better read TP so I don't embarrass myself, esp. on Lit.

Perditahh (feeling rather posh after hanging out w/these Brits)

 

[redrider4u]

Re: Hi Red

What is it I helped you understand? Not too much I hope; I hate being taken seriously. Purr

Well, I understand that being pear shaped is a good thing for a missile. Also, that I will never look at a pear again, without thinking........"Alas, poor lady, what you might have been, but for the cruel harvesters............" then taking a slurpy bite.

Only the best on the city by the bay...........

 

[Guest]

riding Red

... Only the best on the city by the bay...........

Red, you could do worse than taking a slurpy bite in SF. My favorite erotically tinged fruit is a Mexican mango. Do you get those in the old country? Purr

 

[sirhugs]

Re: riding Red

Red, you could do worse than taking a slurpy bite in SF. My favorite erotically tinged fruit is a Mexican mango. Do you get those in the old country? Purr

would rather just take a slurpy bite of perdita

 

[Guest]

Naughty Knaughty

would rather just take a slurpy bite of perdita

Thank you, Sir (I'm being polite, NOT submissive btw).

in ripeness,
Perdita