Just thought of another one that's had its sting removed over time: bugger, which originally and technically derives from buggery (anal sex). Also quite versatile, as in a general exclamation of exasperation (“oh bugger it“), observation of failure (“well that's well and truly buggered“) or lack of progress (“there's bugger all happening“), term of endearment (“you stupid bugger“), or indication of motion (“bugger off“). When I was very young, my (now late) maternal Grandad used to call me, affectionately, a “bugger“, “bugger-up“ or “bugger-up-the-back“, a term I've never come across since. I don't reckon he was proposing anal sex with me or even that he remotely guessed the connection.
There's another low-key term, best described anecdotally. The Beatles once made an appearance on (I think) the Michael Parkinson chat show. The subject got onto rock and roll names and Parky asked if they could think of a more “earthy“ name for him. After suggestions like “Rock“ and “Cliff“, Lennon said “How about 'Sod'?“
There's another low-key term, best described anecdotally. The Beatles once made an appearance on (I think) the Michael Parkinson chat show. The subject got onto rock and roll names and Parky asked if they could think of a more “earthy“ name for him. After suggestions like “Rock“ and “Cliff“, Lennon said “How about 'Sod'?“
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
