occasionalposter
Wed 30-Nov-11 16:45:23
Only arms can be akimbo. It means with the hands on hips and elbows bent outwards. It is 14/15th century from the term kenebow.
You cannot have 'legs akimbo' it would be physically impossible. Hence the 'League of Gentlemen' using it as a name for a theatre troup - because it is so silly!!!
Right, rant over, as you were.
nickelbabe
Wed 30-Nov-11 16:46:57
I always wondered about that.
monkeymushroom
Fri 02-Dec-11 01:01:18
You made me wonder too! It can be used for both according to the OED.
I think LoG used it as it sounds wildly inappropriate and kind of silly!
Isn't it also playing on the fact that MANY people think it means 'legs wide open', so a theatre group run for schools by a bunch of sleazy middle aged men is wildly inappropriate.
<lives in US & never finds a fellow LoG lover. sighs with happiness at this thread>
nickelbabe
Fri 02-Dec-11 13:37:17
I'd like to know hoe old the legs reference is on the OED - i bet it's fewer than 10 years old.
I'm sure I remember from my childhood (clearly many years ago!) that there was a character in some circus story in a comic (Beezer? Topper?) who was called Legs Akimbo - she was an acrobat.
SomethingSuitablyWitty
Thu 08-Dec-11 11:00:57
But you spelt "thereof" wrong, in your thread title, in Pedants' Corner! So how can we believe a word of your OP? <Heaps opprobrium on OP 's head>
