Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#23838 03/20/01 01:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
I read an article in which the Queen was said to like each of these. Can a punter here suggest why flutter started to be used for a (small) bet? Has it to do with the flutter of cash, or a fan perhaps?


edit-in:
I meant to make this have a 'question' icon but I must have slipped! Scheiß drop-down menus!

#23839 03/20/01 09:44 PM
A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A
i wonder if perhaps it can simply be a reference to a fleeting, trifling or fluttering 'flirtation' with gambling. Isn't it most commonly applied to a bet (usually on a horse race) by a casual wagerer?


#23840 03/20/01 09:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
I've never seen these words in reference to betting only in reference drinking hard liquor.

I looked it up in MW and they have one definition that refers to drinking and one that describes a person that works at a tipple - a device that tilts or overturns a freight car to dump its contents.

Are you sure the Queen wasn’t saying she liked to take a small drink every once in a while.

Flutter has only an assortment of “waving, flapping” definitions.



#23841 03/20/01 10:03 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
a flutter is indeed UK slang for a small bet, usually one made by someone unaccustumed to wagering, and it sets his heart aflutter.


#23842 03/20/01 10:18 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
So do you think she was saying a drink and a bet


#23843 03/20/01 10:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
So do you think she was saying a drink and a bet

Exactly! When I read the post, I wondered if it were in connection with the wrong Queen Elizabeth, as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is famous for being very fond of having a tipple (G&T, I believe), and a flutter.


#23844 03/20/01 11:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Never heard "flutter" in connection with a bet until I went to the horse races in Ireland. Immediately knew it was a small bet ... context I guess.
I think US became acquainted with the term when all the BBC stuff crossed the pond .
There was a PBS (Public Broadcasting System) program about Britain's Royal Family which had a bit showing Her Majesty at the races and she was heard to make a 10-pound bet. Guess that's a "flutter" to her!
A flutter in US would be a $2 bet! Or $6 if you were betting "across the board" which would pay out if your horse won, placed (2nd) or showed (3rd).

"Tipple" would give you away as British in most US bars


#23845 03/21/01 08:22 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
>.. it sets his heart aflutter

This seems a fair connection. I guess those unaccustomed to betting might find risking a couple of quid quite exciting.
It got me thinking about how arbitrary the 'a' suffix seems; compare aflutter, affront and awash.



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,319
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (A C Bowden), 443 guests, and 0 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 10,535
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