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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:
FeigningConcern · 21/09/2023 02:14

KandieKaine · 21/09/2023 00:03

Net in the window - nowt on the table

Love this!

FeigningConcern · 21/09/2023 02:19

redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:03

To add I do think it's a northern phrase that may lose meaning to anyone who is not from "oop" here

It's not a northern phrase, and am definitely a southerner (London born and bred) and it's something we would have said when I was growing up.

FeigningConcern · 21/09/2023 02:21

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.

Don't include me in your ignorance. I'm a southerner, understand exactly what it means, and think it's a brilliant turn of phrase. It's not at all misogynistic, you just don't understand what it means.

CapEBarra · 21/09/2023 02:23

Venice is all fur coat no knickers. And actually, before all the allegations surfaced, I’d have said Russell Brand was a good example of FCNK. Las Vegas.

FeigningConcern · 21/09/2023 02:28

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.

Umm no it isn't. Again, you've misunderstood. It can be used to describe anything or anyone or anything as evidenced by this post. In fact the last time I used it was about a man. And it sounds waaaaay better than style over substance. My DH has hysterics when I used it as he hadn't heard it before. And I like bringing my DH joy. Who made you the joy police? Not everything is a fucking ism. Bog off.

lobeydosser · 21/09/2023 02:47

prisencolinensinnainciusol · 21/09/2023 00:17

Another Glaswegian here who always associates the phrase with Scotland's capital!

Someoneonlyyouknow · 21/09/2023 03:04

CapEBarra · 21/09/2023 02:23

Venice is all fur coat no knickers. And actually, before all the allegations surfaced, I’d have said Russell Brand was a good example of FCNK. Las Vegas.

I don't want to give RB more air time but he's definitely "all mouth and trousers"

Mothership4two · 21/09/2023 03:05

I have only ever heard it used in relation to women and in not a very nice way. All show and maybe a bit blowsy.

Definitely still in use in the North East of England. On the London Royal Docks website it is used as an example of their colourful bygone phrases.

Nat6999 · 21/09/2023 03:12

Ds said Paris was like this, he was really looking forward to seeing it but there was a national strike for virtually everything, it was also dirty, the 4 star hotel was a dump. It was so bad they got on Eurostar & came home 4 days early.

Yalta · 21/09/2023 03:29

*thinkfast

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*

Yes it’s a derogatory term however the

classist and misogynist description and the old fashioned way for women to punch upwards is way off the mark

It isn’t just directed at women. Men can have it used to describe them as well
And as for old fashioned. I think if anything there are many many people who you could describe as this today

It can describe those people who drive around in top of the range cars, wearing designer outfits but live in a rented flat

It describes people who present themselves as wealthy but the reality is the complete opposite

Shrinkray · 21/09/2023 03:31

redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:03

To add I do think it's a northern phrase that may lose meaning to anyone who is not from "oop" here

It's not at all. It's very common in many areas (excuse the pun).

Shrinkray · 21/09/2023 03:34

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

Do men generally wear fur coats or knickers? Of course it is sexist. Confused

Shrinkray · 21/09/2023 03:38

Thought it was all hat, no cattle. And yes, I was coming in to suggest this as the male equivalent.

Why is that "equivalent" though? Men should be judged by their property and women by their clothes? Not misogynistic at all then. 🤔

dessyh · 21/09/2023 03:42

It was originally a way of insulting a woman by saying she got her money from sex. A way to brand a woman displaying signs of wealth a 'high class' prostitute, as per the Scotsman article posted above.

This is back when fur coats were a real symbol of wealth. But it could be applied to women wearing ostentatious clothes, loud jewellery, driving fancy cars etc. No knickers for 'easy access'. A relatively new insult stemming from the fashion and societal changes happening around the 1960s. Definite roots in misogyny.

As attitudes to women have changed and expensive fur coats have fallen out of favour, the insult has become less popular and its original meaning has eroded somewhat.

givemeasunnyday · 21/09/2023 03:53

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, here we go..........

Do you actually get any enjoyment out of life with your superiority complex?

TeenMum87 · 21/09/2023 03:54

I’ve updated this phrase to “false lashes and private reg”.

augustusglupe · 21/09/2023 03:58

Time40 · 20/09/2023 23:51

It means a person who looks rich but is actually poor

I've never understood the phrase that way. I think it means someone or something that has a dressy surface, but nothing underneath - so it could actually refer to a place.

Not poor, but classless. All show
I imagine Ena Sharples sat in the snug saying it about Elsie Tanner 😄

usernother · 21/09/2023 04:25

I know what you mean OP. I think of places like Wilmslow or Alderley Edge. Lots of flashy people who like to show off their wealth

PumpkinBum3 · 21/09/2023 04:35

PyongyangKipperbang · 21/09/2023 01:43

I agree with a PP about Paris.

If Paris was a person she would be swanning around in her elegant fur coat, drinking champagne on a tab she never pays and then going back to a shit hole flat that is the latest in a long list of places she has been kicked out of for not paying the rent!

Oh would be shagging tourists in exchange for a pack of Galoise!

Edited

Amazing 😂

Paris is beyond overrated.

FelicityFlops · 21/09/2023 04:46

Exeter

BarrelOfOtters · 21/09/2023 04:55

lobeydosser · 21/09/2023 02:47

Another Glaswegian here who always associates the phrase with Scotland's capital!

Show quote history

Yes, this, I’ve Glaswegian parents and the phrase was used about Glasgow.

not really seen it as a derogatory anti woman phrase and I’m usually pretty quick to jump on those. I mean it is of taken literally….but it’s a metaphor.

Braveheart35 · 21/09/2023 04:56

Abetterplaice · 20/09/2023 23:53

I've always taken it to mean all show and no substance so it could equally be applied to people and places.

Exactly my understanding

Goldencup · 21/09/2023 05:14

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.

The Southern term is champange tastes, beer pockets.

Fur coat, no knickers is slightly different I think. The only place I have heard reffered to that way is Liverpool, but as a Southerner may I offer the whole of Essex ? Baffled by suggestions of Cheltenham and Chiswick !

Mercurial123 · 21/09/2023 05:25

*Amazing 😂

Paris is beyond overrated.*

It really isn't. MN obsession with the adoration of the mythical Parisian woman is insane. The city itself is amazing.

Denimdreams · 21/09/2023 05:50

redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:33

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

Show quote history

Except this originated in the East end of London in the 60s when people started moving out and up ( socially) of the WC slums to Essex.

To describe those they perceived having nicer housing but being no better than them.
"All furcoat and no knickers"