Billy Elliot the Forum

accessmenj wrote:If you are taking family or close friends, why not suggest seeing the show again. I think we have proven that the second time can be even better. After all, it's only money/bankruptcy.

accessmenj wrote: raise whippets

accessmenj wrote:Revised for suggestions.

finally found a little time to start on The Glossary. Please submit any additional words or phrases that would help with the understanding of BETM. Short definitions would be appreciated.

WORDS THAT MIGHT NOT BE UNDERSTOOD

cush/cushty = Something that is nice or good
bairn = child
bullocks? (probably bollocks) = balls/testicles or an expression of disbelief "don't talk bollocks"
poof/puff = gay/homosexual
dee????
kawnt???? = cant????
ee-ya ??????
co-op = short for co-operative. A community food store where profits are given back to the members (yes, it's a socialist food shop but it actually has stuff to sell)

gents = short for gentlemen = toilet = bathroom/restroom for men
pillock = an idiot/fool/stupid person or somebody who does something stupid
tosser = see w**ker
w**ker = general term of abuse aimed at men. Disparaging, literally an onanist
us = can replace the word 'me' in northern England
pasty = a type of savoury pie containing meat and potatoes where the filling is totally encased in pastry
nowt = nothing
mank = something horrible or disgusting
esquire = archaic form of address for a gentleman, used instead of 'Mr' when addressing a letter
like-like = means nothing. The second 'like' is just a learned speech pattern similar to people who add 'you know' unnecessarily at the end of sentences.
howay = various meanings such as 'come on' or 'hurry up' depending on context of use
iz = ???
owld/ard = ???
wi/wor = means 'our'

PHRASES

airing cupboard - cupboard, often housing a hot water tank, used to store laundry
race whippets and grow leeks = activities enjoyed by people in north of England (whippets being dogs)
piss his wages up the wall = generally waste money, normally by drinking at the pub
mashed potato = no idea where this comes in the play, assume it refers to the dance rather than the food
funky chicken = horrible naff dance beloved by drunken female relatives at a wedding
bent-as-a-Nine-Bob-note = Gay. A bob is a term for pre-decimal British money, specifically a shilling which equals 12 old pence or 5 new pence. There were 20 shillings to the pound and there was a 10 bob note in issue (i.e. the equivalent of 50 new pence = 50p). So, there was a 10 bob note but no such thing as a 9 bob note so if you got a nine bob note it was a fake/dodgy/not right/'bent' hence its use to mean gay (bent being derogatory slang for gay).



HISTORICAL

wayne sleep = gay British ballet dancer
sindy(doll) = British version of Barbie but not as cool
camberwick green = 70's childrens t.v.show, very sedate
maggie thatcher = Conservative prime minister of UK. Loved and hated in equal measure depending on your politics. Determined to destroy unions and destroyed much of the industry which employed people in the north of England
michael heseltine = conservative minister in Thatcher government; Thatcher's main henchman in the miners strike
arthur scargill = president of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) who led strike against pit closures