The term 'bubble' is often used of boom times about to 'burst' it is true, but I suspect that the phrase "on the bubble" is synonymous with "on the boil" and refers to being active and moving like a pot of boiling water or stew or something - bubbling with red hot activity. Similar in meaning to the phrases "hot to trot" or "cooking with gas" etc.

"bubble, bubble toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble..."

Last edited by The Pook; 04/25/08 01:23 AM.