Yorkshire Words Of The Week

Jim Norton last week quotes his father saying, “It’s as straight as a dog’s hind leg”. This saying is not unique to Barnsley.

I have heard it many times when I was growing up in the Washburn Valley, and often said it myself. I would not claim this saying is restricted to Yorkshire.

There is also a phrase that I have heard (and used) when describing that a picture or shelf that is not perfectly aligned – “A can tell bi rack o’ eye”. I am sure other readers will be familiar with this.

From: Janet Smith, Alder Drive, Pudsey, Leeds.

I ENJOY reading Yorkshire Words of the Week. Many of the words and phrases are familiar to me, having been passed down to me by my parents and grandparents and I hope they will continue to form part of the vocabulary of all Yorkshire men and women.

I am fascinated by the origins of some of these expressions.

My mother (aged 84) was born in Methley, near Rothwell, when it was a mining village. She often uses the expression “It’ll fit Sam Sykes” for an item of clothing that is on the large size.

I always assumed the origins of this saying were lost in the mists of time.

You can imagine my surprise one day when my elderly aunt told me that she knew Sam Sykes – and he lived in Methley!

When a knife is blunt, my mother will say: “You could ride bare-backed to York on this knife.”

I presume this could be an obscure reference to Dick Turpin’s famous ride?

My favourite quotation, concerns my mother’s father, who was a miner in Methley pit.

Apparently miners would come from all over England looking for work.

My grandfather was not impressed with the standard of work of one particular group.

He described them as “onny fit for kneeling on in’t wet.” 

From: Angela Gowland, Beverley High Road, Hull.

IN reply to Jose Barnes of Hessle (Country Week, August 28), yes, there was a “John Willy Dagentoff” in our family in the 1940s and 1950s.

My father used this expression meaning something like “silly billy”. I think he had probably acquired the expression from his elder sister’s husband who had lots of quirky local sayings and he lived all his life in and around Seaton near Hornsea. I had completely forgotton this one and it came as a “blast from the past” when I read the name out loud. I’ve never seen it written down and not heard it for 60 years.