AIBU to be slightly miffed that "throwing a paddy" refers to Irish people ?

[scuzy]

If having a paddy meant being drunk, i'd understand. but to associate it with having a tantrum when of recent years at footballs games, riots etc its the english that are the ones more deserving of this title.

not sure what it would be called then.

any suggestions? having a ....????

[scuzy]

i dont think its racist. we can agree then that we dont exactly know where it comes from but there are many that seem to think it originates from angry irish people.

and yes I agree its not fair to tar all english as hooligans either. I apologise.

[MrsKittyFane]

Wiki says it's a 'Brummie' West midlands saying:

Throw a paddy: To become sulky or have a tantrum (paddy being a stereotyped 'stroppy' Irishman; presumably relating to the Irish resistance to British rule)

[Megatron]

I thought it came from paddy waggon too. never crossed ny mind that it was anything else.

[Aboutlastnight]

I think it's rather self defeating to complain about a 'racist' phrase and in the same sentence make a racist comment yourself

[Birdsgottafly]

Just done a quick google,all sites are saying that it had nothing to do with the Irish and that the saying came from America.

[MrsKittyFane]

Here in 'Dialect/ expressions'

[scuzy]

i guess it comes down to what you think is racist. I dont find it racist nor saying that "drunken irish" is racist. its a sterotype. i dont think its racist.

[PeelingmyselfofftheCeiling]

Isn't there some suggestion it's to do with the word Paddywhack - a bit of animal skull?

[WorraLiberty]

Re the Paddy field theory

[scuzy]

skulls? jaysus this is getting more interesting.

[BaronessBomburst]

I have never associated 'throwing a paddy' with the Irish. I'm married into an Irish family, and my DH uses the expression, although it's possible he learned it from me. I'll ask MIL when I next speak to her.

Apology accepted. It's just that I live in Holland and get constantly barraged with English stereotyping, mainly because Dutch TV like to buy up and broadcast all the really dreadful ITV docu-soaps like Wife-Swap, or anything involving knives, alcohol, and pregnant teenagers. :(

[Birdsgottafly]

Taken from another web site
"The word paddy wagon is of American origin. The precise origin of the term is uncertain and disputed, though its use dates back to at least the beginning of the 1900s.[1] There are at least two theories as how the phrase originated.[2]
The most prevalent theory is based on the term "Paddy" (a common Irish shortening of Patrick), which was used (sometimes as derogatory slang) to refer to Irish people.[3] Irishmen made up a large percentage of the officers of early police forces in many American cities. Thus, this theory suggests that the concentration of Irish in the police forces led to the term "paddy wagon" being used to describe the vehicles driven by police."

If it bothered you that much OP you could have easily found this out.

[squoosh]

Drunken Irish is a racist stereotype

[scarletforya]

Ah, scuzy come on 'drunken Irish' is racist. It's a negative stereotype. The same was as using the 'British football hooligan' is a negative stereotype of the English. It's tarring everyone with the same brush, which is wrong.

[scuzy]

Baroness if I could edit the title I would. Bad taste on my part. and I didnt realise the anniversary was coming up.

but am really curious now where it comes from.

and again, eveyone's definition of racism is different.

[scuzy]

Birdsgottafly I only googled it here now and cant believe how much there is on it.

I read it here, asked her, was told it was only one thing .. in reference to an aggressive Irish person so I threw it out there for debate.

will remember the next time someone posts a question ... i'll reply just google it!

[MrsKittyFane]

birds: If it bothered you that much OP you could have easily found this out.
OP didn't ask for origins of Paddy-wagon', she asked for origins/ definition of 'throwing a Paddy'.

[Moominsarescary]

When my baby pinches or grabs my family say he's being feeny (sp) no idea where it comes from, does anyone else know?

[scuzy]

if a drunken irish is racist ... why is it ok to say "having a paddy" if those that say it believe it is in reference to Irish people, and not the other things we have found out here.

[Agincourt]

I am suprised people still use the phrase tbh. It has been considered offensive for an age

[scuzy]

Moominsarescary never heard it that one. google seems to be stumped too.

[scuzy]

I cant believe how much there is on google about this ... I genuinely has never heard of it before until last few days on here.

ever day's a school day!

[squoosh]

I wouldn't use the phrase 'having a paddy' although I believe that most people who do use it are unware of the race connotations.

Saying Irish people are a drunken people is pretty blatant without any room for ambiguity.

That's the difference.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

I thought that "paddy wagon" was from the words/ letters on the side of the horse drawn box

P.D. Wagon

[Moominsarescary]

Only thing I found about feeny when googling was

www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Phrases-and-Sayings/Word-Origins/Question359016.html

Not that helpful, I bet there's all sorts of saying where the origins are unclear