cuddlemebuff

a strong drink

TRANSLATION

cuddlemebuff = alkoholisches Getränk

STATISTICS

IN THE PRESS

“Of the hundreds of synonyms for alcohol, CUDDLEMEBUFF must be one of the most charming.”

The Annals of Tisha Plum

—
“Oceans to drink being called for,
Hot CUDDLE-ME-BUFF was the liquor.”

Derbyshire Ballad

Did you
know?

cuddlemebuff
colloquial noun

- intoxicating drink
- an old term for beer

The English Dialect Dictionary

—
ORIGIN

18th century Derbyshire-Yorkshire dialect

—
TALKING POINT

For many people the idea of a beer flood might sound rather attractive, but in 1814 for inhabitants in the poor part of London known as the St Giles Rookery* it was a disaster.

At Meux & Co.’s Horse Shoe Brewery, a 6.7 metre wooden vat of fermenting port suddenly burst open, dramatically releasing a million litres of alcohol and destroying both the building itself and many of the dwellings at the rookery.

—
Before London built proper sanitation, beer and ale were considered far safer to drink than water. Even children would drink watered-down alcohol, known as ‘small beer’.

Adapted from “Word Perfect” by Susie Dent

* rookery = Elendsviertel, überfülltes Mietshaus; Krähenkolonie

—
SYNONYMS for beer

ale, amber brew, brewski, barley pop, brew, brown bottle, hops, hop juice, lager, malt, malt liquor, stout, suds, wallops

—
Practice OWAD in an English conversation, say something like:

“I would much prefer to use the old term CUDDLEMEBUFF, rather than boring 'beer', although after a few pints pronunciation might pose a bit of a problem.”

—
VIELEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

More Word Quizzes: