Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
#20245 02/27/01 02:46 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 52
D
des Offline OP
journeyman
OP Offline
journeyman
D
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 52
In England is the word "crackers" used to describe a person(or cat in the instance I am referring to) who is thought to be a little "off center"??? I knew a cat named Crackers, who had an unusual personality, to say the least!


#20246 02/27/01 03:18 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
crazy; mad; infatuated [from cracked]


#20247 02/27/01 08:19 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
In this context I wonder if any of you use the expression "a cracker" for a lie?


#20248 02/27/01 08:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
Don't know about 'a cracker' used to mean a lie. If an extraordinarily strange or funny anecdote is related, one might say "That was a cracker!"
The cat being called crackers definitely means it's barmy.
I've heard 'crack' used by the Irish to mean a good time, or a good laugh, I think. The only other word I know which closely fits this meaning is an Austrian term 'Gaudi'. Or could one say 'merriment' perhaps?
'Crack' also means a blow, or wallop, which, I guess is why one says 'Give it a crack mate'.



#20249 02/27/01 09:21 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
J
jmh Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
J
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
>I've heard 'crack' used by the Irish to mean a good time, or a good laugh, I think.

It is pronounced "crack" but spelt "craic". People in Ireland always seem to be in search of it! Enter "craic" into Google and you may find it!


#20250 02/27/01 01:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Also for natives of Georgia and Florida, mildly pejorative, but less so that "redneck"


#20251 02/27/01 02:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 52
D
des Offline OP
journeyman
OP Offline
journeyman
D
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 52
Bill, you are bringing back things I should have thought of, of course I have heard of "Georgia Crackers" but since my mind has turned into sieve I guess that info sifted right on thru! The cat's family could have been from Georgia! I prefer to think they recognized the cat as a bit "barmy"! Not familiar with the "redneck" connotation.
And I live around a lot of them. Good ole boys!


#20252 02/27/01 02:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
natives of Georgia

The Atlanta minor league baseball team (before the Braves moved in) was known as the Crackers. The Negro Leagues team was the Black Crackers.


#20253 02/27/01 04:46 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
B
veteran
Offline
veteran
B
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
crack / good time
There is the common U.S. usage of "a cracking good time", but don't know if this is related to the Irish expression.

Incidentally, I believe that the use of the term "cracker" to denote a redneck, or uncouth person in general, is considerably more than mildly pejorative. In some circles, at least, it is as bad as the infamous "n....." word commonly used by crackers.


#20254 02/27/01 04:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Would one of our Brit-speak friends explain about the "crackers" mentioned in English books and TV shows as a holiday accoutrement?
wow


Page 1 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5