a rum do
a strange event
TRANSLATION
a rum do = ein merkwürdiges oder kurioses Ereignis --- GOOGLE INDEX rum do: approximately 100,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
The Saltire Society Scottish book of the year awards last week were a RUM DO.
(The Guardian)
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The Queen's Birthday Honours have been announced – but according to the Daily Mail, it is a "pretty RUM DO."
(BBC News)
(The Guardian)
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The Queen's Birthday Honours have been announced – but according to the Daily Mail, it is a "pretty RUM DO."
(BBC News)
Did you
know?
rum do
noun phrase
- a strange occasion
(Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
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The British love using harmless-sounding phrases when they actually want to express a strong sentiment. This is the world famous "British understatement." The expression "rum do" is a classic example.
The origin of the phrase is fascinating and has nothing to do with the alcoholic beverage that was once so loved by sailors. In the 16th century, rum was an adjective that meant "good or excellent." Some experts believe this adjective stemmed from the Romany word "rom," which meant male or husband. Others suggest that it relates to Rome, from the city of glory and grandeur.
A rum buffer was a good dog, a rum chant was a nice song and rum clouts were very fine handkerchiefs. There were even rum doxies – or pretty prostitutes. For some odd reason however, other "rum" phrases" started to appear around two centuries later, but in a negative sense. A rum customer was someone you could not trust. A rum phiz was an ugly face. A rum touch was a strange fellow.
There were even rum phrases that applied to criminals and disreputable activities. A rum fun was a clever swindle. A rum bubber was someone skilled at stealing silver tankards from pubs. A rum diver was an excellent pickpocket. Nearly all of these rum phrases have become obsolete however.
Why the use of rum evolved in this way is unclear, but as we already know, language and etymology can often be a "rum thing."
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"The party at the conclusion of the trade fair was a rum do."
noun phrase
- a strange occasion
(Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
---
The British love using harmless-sounding phrases when they actually want to express a strong sentiment. This is the world famous "British understatement." The expression "rum do" is a classic example.
The origin of the phrase is fascinating and has nothing to do with the alcoholic beverage that was once so loved by sailors. In the 16th century, rum was an adjective that meant "good or excellent." Some experts believe this adjective stemmed from the Romany word "rom," which meant male or husband. Others suggest that it relates to Rome, from the city of glory and grandeur.
A rum buffer was a good dog, a rum chant was a nice song and rum clouts were very fine handkerchiefs. There were even rum doxies – or pretty prostitutes. For some odd reason however, other "rum" phrases" started to appear around two centuries later, but in a negative sense. A rum customer was someone you could not trust. A rum phiz was an ugly face. A rum touch was a strange fellow.
There were even rum phrases that applied to criminals and disreputable activities. A rum fun was a clever swindle. A rum bubber was someone skilled at stealing silver tankards from pubs. A rum diver was an excellent pickpocket. Nearly all of these rum phrases have become obsolete however.
Why the use of rum evolved in this way is unclear, but as we already know, language and etymology can often be a "rum thing."
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"The party at the conclusion of the trade fair was a rum do."
