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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Word origin question #80080 09/09/2002 1:39 PM Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1 pugrant stranger pugrant stranger Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1 Does any one know the origin of the expression, "Piss Elegant"? thanks Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin question #80081 09/09/2002 2:01 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 I'd never heard the expression before. I found dozens of sites using it, but no clue as to date of origin. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin question #80082 09/09/2002 2:52 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York And, equally as helpful, I've heard it (not in a long time) but don't know its origin. Is it a Brit expression? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin question #80083 09/09/2002 3:15 PM Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 1,346 Sussex, England FishonaBike veteran FishonaBike veteran Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 1,346 Sussex, England >>piss elegant Is it a Brit expression? May be, Auntie Entity (recently revisited Mad Max 3 ), but it's not a frequently-used term in my experience. More well-used amongst Australasians, I believe -- but they can speak for themselves. It means OTT (over the top) or taking-the-piss elegant. Going out for a pizza in evening dress, perhaps. Trying to look stylish, but ending up looking twee, possibly even pathetic. Of course you could have piss elegant objects as well -- or rather objets. P.S. Greetings, pugrant! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin question #80084 09/09/2002 8:12 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,819 Spam Factory Alex Williams Pooh-Bah Alex Williams Pooh-Bah Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,819 Spam Factory Welcome pugrant. Can anyone explain the origin of "twee" as in "to look twee"? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin question #80085 09/09/2002 8:54 PM Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 742 Akina sjm old hand sjm old hand Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 742 Akina Main Entry:twee Pronunciation: twë Function: adjective Etymology:baby-talk alteration of sweet Date:1905 chiefly British : affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint <such a theme might sound twee or corny — Times Literary Supplement> Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin question #80086 09/11/2002 6:05 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 618 Australia doc_comfort addict doc_comfort addict Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 618 Australia I've never used this particular variant of the piss prefix, but *we use it in place of very, usually in association with a negative description of something. As in, "The sentence I just wrote was piss poor.", or "That was a piss weak definition". Things can also be piss easy, which often means too easy. Things can also be easy as piss. This doesn't mean easy as very but. I had never thought of the 'taking-the-piss' origin, but it makes a lot of sense. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Word origin question #80087 09/12/2002 4:32 PM Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 322 Toronto, Canada boronia enthusiast boronia enthusiast Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 322 Toronto, Canada The other day, my Australian roommate looked out the window and declared, "It's pissing pissing" (emphasis on the first pissing); to which I replied, "... as opposed to just pissing". Now I can't wait for the next massive downpour, so I can use this phrase. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Pissing down #80088 09/13/2002 8:36 AM Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 1,346 Sussex, England FishonaBike veteran FishonaBike veteran Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 1,346 Sussex, England "It's pissing pissing" Harrumph! (copyright from Auntie required) Doesn't seem that long ago when saying "it's pissing down" was an intensifier, on a par with "it's absolutely chucking it down". It also expressed being pissed-off with the fact that it was raining. Somehow or other the word's been watered down and now pissing just means raining, that's the problem here. Well, it's a problem to the extent that, like me, you prefer the Absolute Gravity of your expletives kept good n' high. Actually this is a regional thing, 'cos if you looked out of the window and said "it's pissing" in Britland (even omitting the "down") I reckon most people would assume you meant it was raining heavily. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Piss elegant #80089 09/13/2002 12:01 PM Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA wow Carpal Tunnel wow Carpal Tunnel Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA Haven't heard that in awhile! However it was quite popular in my youth (and a bit daring for a lady to use!) Meant someone who dressed "over the top" for any occasion. Around here, "pissing down rain" means it's a steady drizzle, not a downpour. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. 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