Where does done up like a kipper come from?

In Britain, between the wars, seamstresses were in demand and frequently moved to new employers. It was unusual for them to move without their friend, so seamstresses usually came in pairs and were referred to as kippers. Seamstresses stitch. ‘Stitched like a kipper’ is a whimsical development of ‘stitched up’.

What does done me up like a kipper mean?

Adjective. done up like a kipper (not comparable) (simile, Britain, slang) cheated or exploited; treated unfairly.

What’s a kipper slang?

noun. a fish, esp a herring, that has been cleaned, salted, and smoked. a male salmon during the spawning season. Australian archaic, derogatory, slang an Englishman.

Where does stitched up come from?

The phrase “to stitch up,” first appearing in the late 16th century, initially meant “to put together by sewing,” with the implication that the work is done in a hurry.

Where does the expression done up like a dog’s dinner come from?

It is largely used in the UK, where it originated in the early 20th century. This is an adaptation of the earlier related phrase ‘a dog’s breakfast’. The dog’s dinner version refers to someone whose dress is flashy and containing many colours and accessories.

What does stitch you up mean?

to incriminate (someone) on a false charge by manufacturing evidence. to betray, cheat, or defraud.

What is the meaning of tucked up?

Definition of tuck up chiefly British. : to make (someone, such as a child) secure in bed by tucking the edges of sheets, blankets, etc.

What does dithering mean in British?

/ˈdɪð.ɚ/ uk. /ˈdɪð.ər/ to be unable to make a decision about doing something: Stop dithering and choose which one you want!

What’s ta stand for?

teaching assistant
TA. abbreviation. Definition of TA (Entry 3 of 4) 1 teaching assistant.

What does sewn up mean?

1 : to mend completely by sewing. 2 : to get exclusive use or control of. 3 : to make certain of : be assured of the team sewed up the division title.

What does classic stitch up mean?

Definition of ‘stitch up’ To stitch someone up means to trick them so that they are put in a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one where they are blamed for something they have not done. [British, informal]

What does Duff mean in up the duff?

‘Up the duff’ is a euphemism for pregnant.

What does it mean to be done up like a kipper?

“Done up like a kipper dates back at least to the early 1980s. The general meaning is defeated, put at a total disadvantage, plus a specific sense of ‘caught red-handed’. Given the process of kippering herrings, it seems to be a play on gutted, i.e. deeply disappointed, sick and tired, fed up, utterly depressed, very upset.

When did the word ‘kipper’ become a verb?

Eric Partridge suggested that the plain verb, kipper, had been used from the 1920s in the sense of having one’s chances ruined. But a longer version done up like a kipper starts to appear in the record in 1981, in a script of the BBC television comedy show Only Fools and Horses.

What does ‘kippering herrings’ mean?

Given the process of kippering herrings, it seems to be a play on gutted, i.e. deeply disappointed, sick and tired, fed up, utterly depressed, very upset. The slang use of kipper seems never to be positive, e.g. the post 1940s Australian definition of an English immigrant as a kipper: ‘they’re two-faced and got no guts’.”

What does it mean to be stitched up as a kipper?

Stitched up means framed, put in the bag and stitched up so tight so you can’t get out of the bag or the frame. It’s not just that someone framed you, but it’s a tight frame and you’re trapped with no way out. Kippers are usually opened up, not just gutted like most fish.