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The MN meaning of Liff

344 replies

AuntieBulgaria · 12/05/2011 14:39

Douglas Adams and John Lloyd wrote a book called The Meaning of Liff that used existing place names to give names to commonly recognised feelings, experiences and objects that didn't already have a word for them.

For example:

Cotterstock - a piece of wood used to stir paint and thereafter stored uselessly in a shed in perpetuity.

I was thinking last night, as I stood behind my 3.5 year old daughter sort of herding/hooshing her upstairs to the bath avoiding a variety of potential distractions, there ought to be a word for this.

And then I thought, there are probably loads of commonly recognised parenting phemonema that could be 'Liffed'.

I browsed google maps this morning and came up with the following place name/ definition combos but would love to know yours too...

Kirtling - benign kettling required to keep small child going in the direction you need them to.

Poxwell - act of knowingly covering up of active chicken pox spots in order to make a quick dash into shop for milk or make an international plane flight home.

Ousden - constant flow of greeny/silver snot from small boys, the trail said snot leaves on the shoulders of all of your clothes; 'ooh, hang on, you've got a bit of ousden on that shirt'.

I am sure there must be good definitions for:

Two Mile Bottom
Throop
Weeley
Little Clacton and Great Clacton

And good place names for:

The poo that takes out an entire outfit.

The child-related objects (spare pants, raisins, playmobile duchesses) that fall out of your handbag in important business situations.

The face that teenagers pull when you suggest a healthy walk after lunch.

OP posts:
Fimbo · 12/05/2011 17:50

Lochearnhead. Surely when you are at loggerheads with someone.

Fimbo · 12/05/2011 17:49

Liff is where the deranged used to go in my home town.

AuntieBulgaria · 12/05/2011 17:47

Euphemia - I have a depressing familiarity with Clackmannan. Grin

OP posts:
LucretiaInShadows · 12/05/2011 17:46

Raunds - unfortunate digestive complaint

Ringstead - itchy, unsightly skin disorder

Itsjustafleshwound · 12/05/2011 17:29

Honeydragon - Love it!!

AuntieBulgaria · 12/05/2011 17:22

Abinger Hammer - a piece of duplo used in anger

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 12/05/2011 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Honeydragon · 12/05/2011 16:12

Shilbottle The cheap own brand of Calpol / Squash / Own brand sauce / supermarket biscuits that you bought to save money, and they refuse to put in their mouths at all. Yet it continues to sit in the cupboard taking up space as you can't bring yourself to bin it or use it yourself.

Every home has a Shilbottle somewhere.

Wallace · 12/05/2011 16:09

Great idea for a thread Grin

AuntieBulgaria · 12/05/2011 16:07

Oh some lovely ones there. Grin at Shitterton and Gartly.

I'd like to add Chatteris - the unrelenting stream of consciousness talking coming from the back seat of the car which, though seemingly harmless, eventually causes you to drive into the back of other cars at traffic lights.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 12/05/2011 15:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LizaTarbucksAuntie · 12/05/2011 15:18

Weeley The behaviour adopted by littlemad when he knows he's in trouble, he knows I know what he did and he's killing time while he waits for sword of damocles to fall in the hope that loving behaviour will somehow lessen the blow.

GentleOtter · 12/05/2011 15:07

Achnashellach - the effort required to shift stubborn phlem after a nasty cold.

piginmuck · 12/05/2011 15:02

Undy in Monmouthshire for spare pants!

GentleOtter · 12/05/2011 14:51

scrabster x-post. Grin

GentleOtter · 12/05/2011 14:51

Scrabster is the owner of the football which has been kicked into your dahlias.

LindyHemming · 12/05/2011 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyMonkeyNeedsMe · 12/05/2011 14:42

Surely the poo explosion will be Shitterton? :o

CookieMonster2 · 12/05/2011 14:42

Great Clacton is the noise my DS makes when he is hungry but I tell him its nearly tea time so he should wait.

I love this thread.