Piffy on a rock bun

[Ineedanewjobsoon]

Does anyone else use this idiom regularly, or just me?

usually shortened to ‘Like Piffy’ as in. “ I’m stood here like Piffy whilst you lot faff around”
I baffled a few colleagues at work the first time I used it and my DH had never heard it either.

DH uses the phrase ‘Like Wanna Lockharte’ in a similar context. (No idea if any of that is spelt correctly)
We were both born in Lancashire for context.

I feel all left out - I’m from south Manchester but never remember anyone saying that. But I can imagine it in a manc accent.
I’d say “I was sat there like a lemon” which makes no more sense really.

Think it means “standing here like a lemon”, but I’m from Doncaster and we don’t go in for all of this Piffy rubbish on this side of the Pennines.

yes! Piffy on a rock cake for us. Stockport…

Never heard of Soft Joe...he could be related to Soft Mick but I actually can't remember what the phrase is with the latter! It's one of my Dad's though (Stockport). Maybe something to do with Soft Mick being really dopey/gormless?

Yes! also use "You make a better door than a window"
and
"Not so green as he's (or she's) cabbage-looking"

Soft Mick... has a lot of something. Eg.

Look at all these (things). We've got more (whatever they are) than Soft Mick!

North East Lancashire.

How about "Don't just stand there like a tit in a trance" (to someone looking a bit vague or daydreaming) - anyone else know that?

Yes! My Nana (Durham) used to say it. That's brought back memories 🥰

Manchester? Bolton. Frequently heard "standing here like Piffy" but not the on a rock bun bit.

Also "Soft mick" got a frequent mention. Soft as a boiled turnip, for anyone complaining of not feeling well!

Yes I think this was the context my Dad used it in - as in, "He's got more suits than Soft Mick, that lad".

His Mum also used to say "He's got muscles like knots on cotton" and "He looks like a matchstick with the wood scraped off".

See also "D'you want a slap across the belly with a wet fish?" (which didn't really mean anything AFAIK) and "Well you know what Thought did?? Followed a muckcart and thought it was a wedding! Thought once when he should have thought twice!"

Piffy on a muffin

12 gen Manc here

@HillyHoney waves to neighbour I am from hulme moss side .
Piffy on a Rick bun is definitely a Manchester saying though like every one else I have no idea what or who Piffy is.

I have also heard and used
Like a candle in a hurricane ( unless)

Standing around like a lemon ( stood doing nothing / waiting for something or someone)

Taking black pudding to Bury ( the same as taking coal to Newcastle)

There are loads more but I can't think if them right now

A matchstick with the wood scraped off 😂🤣

In and out like a fart in a colander. I love that one. 😂

Yes, often used in the Jewish East End where my family originate from. Meant socially excluded.

Scotch Mist was a bit different to that, meant something that doesn’t exist - ‘What do you think that is, Scotch Mist?’

Ahh yes, I might be misremembering!

Actually having said that, I think it was used more in my family when you couldn't find something - as in, you complained you couldn't find your brolly and your dad picked it up from behind the sofa and said "What's this then, Scotch mist??" and rolled his eyes dramatically, obvs 😁

My nan used to use "Sat round like tins of milk" when waiting for something. But no-one else, even locally (Barnsley) had ever heard the phrase, so I think it was just a family thing!

I still use like Piffy on a rock bun!
Grew up in Lancs now in the South West.

Piffy on a rockbun, my DH says that. He's from Manchester. He's tried to explain it me, but I still have no clue what means.

I got curious and tried to find out who Piffy was and no-one knows but Soft Mick was apparently a pedlar who worked around Accrington and had plenty of everything.

It means left hanging around and ignored but looking very conspicuous.

Never heard of it, I’m in the SE, don’t know what a rock bun is either 😂 but I love the phrase and its sentiment!

Hanging around, looking useless, loitering

As in "get out the kitchen/make yourself useful and stop standing there like piffy on a rock bun"

Mum from Manchester used to say “Miffy on a bun “ but she also called Safeways “Strangeways” and paid her “Polo Tax” so I wouldn’t take her word as gospel.