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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"All fur coat no knickers" - where in UK or further afield?

252 replies

redwinetalking · 20/09/2023 23:37

I have to admit I love this phrase and can think of several towns, areas and localities where "IMHO" it may have applied.

Obviously not travelled everywhere but what are you "FCNK" places?

OP posts:
MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 21/09/2023 00:12

I thought style and no substance referred to red shoes no knickers.

thinkfast · 21/09/2023 00:14

It's a derogatory term used to describe a person not a place OP. And us southerners are well aware of the phrase and how unpleasant / classist / misogynist it it. It's a pretty old fashioned way for women to punch upwards.

TrishTrix · 21/09/2023 00:15

@fairfatandfrumpy it means that the person has spent money on nets (net curtains) but hasn't got any money to buy food.

@redwinetalking I always understood the phrase to be scottish

"Aw fur coat and nae knickers". Oft used about Edinburgh (and Edinburghers) by Glaswegians.

WellPlaced · 21/09/2023 00:15

I know what the phrase means and although I don’t fall into that category, I frequently wear a fake fur coat and rarely wear knickers.

Original poster
redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:15

@Gillstuck - God no - I love Paris!

Places that come to mind are (in no particular order):

Cheltenham
Chiswick
Lytham St Annes
Tynemouth
Formby
Scarborough
Southport

Maybe just anywhere with a golf course?!

OP posts:
comedownwithme · 21/09/2023 00:16

Time40 · 20/09/2023 23:59

@comedownwithme It can't refer to a place, places don't wear coats, or knickers There is this interesting thing called metaphor ...

Oh. Sorry.

Mountaineer0009 · 21/09/2023 00:18

?

Original poster
redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:21

thinkfast · 21/09/2023 00:14

It's a derogatory term used to describe a person not a place OP. And us southerners are well aware of the phrase and how unpleasant / classist / misogynist it it. It's a pretty old fashioned way for women to punch upwards.

Oh get over yourself!

OP posts:
Theforeverhome · 21/09/2023 00:22

When I was growing up in the 70’s/80’s, it was Dalgety Bay in Fife where they built a huge number of “executive” homes that were expensive for the, local to me area - so the people who bought them might have had the house but didn’t have the money to fund the lifestyle to go with it. The alternative name was Spam Valley (because that’s all they could afford to eat), and we could also talk about Champagne tastes and Lemonade income.

Pantah630 · 21/09/2023 00:23

DF use to say that, we're in Dorset

CheshireCat1 · 21/09/2023 00:26

I thought it was faux fur and no knickers

RedLollyYellowLorry · 21/09/2023 00:26

WillowCraft · 20/09/2023 23:42

It means a person who looks rich but is actually poor. How can it apply to a place?

Not in my view

It means something (or someone) that is flash but with no substance
All about outward experience- in today context your instagram poster of a perfect lifestyle whilst certainly not living one

Original poster
redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:33

TrishTrix · 21/09/2023 00:15

@fairfatandfrumpy it means that the person has spent money on nets (net curtains) but hasn't got any money to buy food.

@redwinetalking I always understood the phrase to be scottish

"Aw fur coat and nae knickers". Oft used about Edinburgh (and Edinburghers) by Glaswegians.

@TrishTrix I think you are right - all of the best phrases originate from Scotland (or Ireland!)

OP posts:
thinkfast · 21/09/2023 00:33

@redwinetalking I've nothing to get over! It's an unpleasant, sexist, misogynistic phrase. It's used to describe a woman who you're basically saying looks classy or rich or beautiful but has no real substance. It's not a phrase used to describe a man. I think insulating other women for their appearance is anti- feminist.

I think if you want to insult someone for being all style no substance then just say that, as that's not a sexist expression.

Original poster
redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:39

thinkfast · 21/09/2023 00:33

@redwinetalking I've nothing to get over! It's an unpleasant, sexist, misogynistic phrase. It's used to describe a woman who you're basically saying looks classy or rich or beautiful but has no real substance. It's not a phrase used to describe a man. I think insulating other women for their appearance is anti- feminist.

I think if you want to insult someone for being all style no substance then just say that, as that's not a sexist expression.

It is a metaphor - the fact that you think a centuries old phrase refers to a woman says more about you than me.

I imagine at one point it was sexist, misogynistic (and can still be construed that way if you take it literally) but find me a common phrase/saying in the English language that does not have a similar etymology.

This was a light-hearted thread - if you want to debate feminism let's go over to another talk topic/thread and do it there.

OP posts:
jcyclops · 21/09/2023 00:40

The whole of Italy (except South Tyrol)
Florida
Fylde

BabyFireflyx · 21/09/2023 00:45

Liverpool. I was described as such by exp's DM because I took my shoes off when I entered their house. And I’m from outside the area.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/09/2023 00:46

thinkfast · 21/09/2023 00:33

@redwinetalking I've nothing to get over! It's an unpleasant, sexist, misogynistic phrase. It's used to describe a woman who you're basically saying looks classy or rich or beautiful but has no real substance. It's not a phrase used to describe a man. I think insulating other women for their appearance is anti- feminist.

I think if you want to insult someone for being all style no substance then just say that, as that's not a sexist expression.

It may describe female clothes but I can say that in my house growing up it was mostly used to describe men.

prisencolinensinnainciusol · 21/09/2023 00:47

@thinkfast FGS it's really not that deep. Nor is it only levelled to women.

A PP used LA as an example, which I thought was spot on.

thinkfast · 21/09/2023 00:48

@redwinetalking there are plenty of people on this thread who say they know of the expression as one that describes a person, not a place OP.

You started a thread in AIBU, not me. Start a thread in chat or pedants corner if you can't handle people having different opinions.

You mentioned earlier that it's a phrase used "oop North". Perhaps it has different meanings in different localities. Where I'm from, it's use is pretty unpleasant IMO.

Beenaboutabit · 21/09/2023 00:53

I’ve heard it used to describe Edinburgh.

I fully concur with that appraisal.

Aberteifi · 21/09/2023 00:53

I agree with @thinkfast where I come from it’s quite a nasty thing to say about a woman

ClairDeLaLune · 21/09/2023 00:54

It is a misogynist term. It basically implies a woman is dressing up to look classy but has low sexual standards. If you wanted to start a light-hearted thread OP, perhaps avoid the misogyny and stop having a go at anyone who (rightly) points it out.

Original poster
redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:56

thinkfast · 21/09/2023 00:48

@redwinetalking there are plenty of people on this thread who say they know of the expression as one that describes a person, not a place OP.

You started a thread in AIBU, not me. Start a thread in chat or pedants corner if you can't handle people having different opinions.

You mentioned earlier that it's a phrase used "oop North". Perhaps it has different meanings in different localities. Where I'm from, it's use is pretty unpleasant IMO.

I appreciate there may be (unforeseen) nuances to by AIBU but the context was fairly lighthearted as is evidenced by most responses.

Yes I started a thread in AIBU (as do hundreds of people a day). I doubt that many who read the AIBU saw it beyond what it was.

I totally accept you have a different opinion or perspective to me.

I would love to know where you are from that such a phrase is that "unpleasant" that it is triggering your reaction to a fairly harmless AIBU.

However unless you are on here to answer the specific AIBU and name a place rather than argue semantics with me then you are the pedant not me.

At the ned of the day it is is my thread - if you don't like it - jog on

OP posts: