Questions for our British friends - Page 490

**Sir Honkers** · September 30th, 2018, 11:34 PM

The good lady and I are off to York next month, who wants to pop up and stand me a round or six? Surely the well paid moderators in the interest of VEF camaraderie.
Also, why is it still 11:34pm yesterday?

**deepsepia** · October 1st, 2018, 11:17 PM

Question: Do you use the expression "wouldn't be dead for quids"?

I've heard it in Australia . . .

**haroldeye** · October 2nd, 2018, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loosegoose

The good lady and I are off to York next month, who wants to pop up and stand me a round or six? Surely the well paid moderators in the interest of VEF camaraderie.
Also, why is it still 11:34pm yesterday?

Is it your first visit?

**mysterybadger** · October 2nd, 2018, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanteeFats

So what would happen in England if a royal very close in succession to the crown got a sex change operation??
I am not joking here either.

The law was recently changed so that men and women have equal rights of sucession.

**Sir Honkers** · October 2nd, 2018, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldeye

Is it your first visit?

Nah, we've got good friends who live there. The four of us do a catch up every couple of years. I'm hoping that he will have finished his BBQ, built, he claims, from stones he nicked out of the city walls after midnight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysterybadger

The law was recently changed so that men and women have equal rights of sucession.

What does the law say if you're both?

**Davemetalhead** · October 2nd, 2018, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Question: Do you use the expression "wouldn't be dead for quids"?

I've heard it in Australia . . .

Not one that I've ever heard I'm afraid, no.

**Sir Honkers** · October 2nd, 2018, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Question: Do you use the expression "wouldn't be dead for quids"?

I've heard it in Australia . . .

Yeah, my dad use to say that after some particularly happy occurrence. "A man wouldn't be dead for quids!' Meaning you wouldn't want to miss out on whatever it was.
Haven't heard it since his generation though.

**Dr Pepper** · October 2nd, 2018, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Question: Do you use the expression "wouldn't be dead for quids"?

I've heard it in Australia . . .

Not familiar with that exact expression in NZ-but the expression "you'll (you'd) be quids in" in regard to participation in some near future opportunity, sporting or social event of a pleasant nature is one I recall from my youth-as with Loosegoose's post-an expression I recall used more by an older generation than mine-and of course falling into disuse after we adopted decimal currency (in 1967)

I assume deepsepia that you are aware that 'quid' is British and Commonwealth slang for a 'pound' (as in currency)......

I'm speculating now-but the expression may have some historic connection with betting and the racetrack-(horse or dog racing) in the sense of a 'guaranteed winner' or something along those lines

**deepsepia** · October 3rd, 2018, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

I assume deepsepia that you are aware that 'quid' is British and Commonwealth slang for a 'pound' (as in currency)......

I'm speculating now-but the expression may have some historic connection with betting and the racetrack-(horse or dog racing) in the sense of a 'guaranteed winner' or something along those lines

Yeah, I've never heard an Aussie say "quid" for money . . . that's why I assumed its a Britishism . . . you hear it every so often in Oz, best known example is a series of novels about a Sydney bouncer/all around Ozzie larrikin character, the first book was titled "You wouldn't be dead for quids"

The sense I get is its like "I wouldn't miss this moment for anything" . . . as loosegoose had it, it seems to be something people remember someone saying once, but don't actually say anymore.

It did show up recently in the Australian movie, "Breath" -- but that movie is set in the early 1970s.

**Dr Pepper** · October 3rd, 2018, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Yeah, I've never heard an Aussie say "quid" for money . . . that's why I assumed its a Britishism . . . you hear it every so often in Oz, best known example is a series of novels about a Sydney bouncer/all around Ozzie larrikin character, the first book was titled "You wouldn't be dead for quids"

The sense I get is its like "I wouldn't miss this moment for anything" . . . as loosegoose had it, it seems to be something people remember someone saying once, but don't actually say anymore.

It did show up recently in the Australian movie, "Breath" -- but that movie is set in the early 1970s.

I think you have the gist of it-as regards the meaning of your original query

'Quid' was specific slang for 'a pound' not money per se-just as 'a bob' was slang for 'a shilling' -so it would only have meaning in the 'pounds shilling and pence era for OZ and NZ-pre 1966 and 1967 respectively (we both went decimal before the old coun try!) I said Commonwealth in my earlier post-but it would be more accurate to say 'the UK, Australia and NZ' in the context of this expression-I doubt you would find it used in Canada, South Africa or India-except by Brit ex-Pats 'of a certain age and background'...

September 30th, 2018, 11:34 PM	#4891
Sir Honkers Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Land Of Glorious Leader Posts: 30,418 Thanks: 287,352 Thanked 386,922 Times in 30,374 Posts	The good lady and I are off to York next month, who wants to pop up and stand me a round or six? Surely the well paid moderators in the interest of VEF camaraderie. Also, why is it still 11:34pm yesterday?

October 1st, 2018, 11:17 PM	#4892
deepsepia Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Upper left corner Posts: 7,212 Thanks: 48,023 Thanked 83,519 Times in 7,206 Posts	Question: Do you use the expression "wouldn't be dead for quids"? I've heard it in Australia . . .