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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:
Openup · 21/09/2023 09:38

Always said about people from Troon when I was wee.

JudgeJ · 21/09/2023 09:42

Barnowlsandbluebells · 21/09/2023 06:42

In that area, I would think of Knutsford instead - very much the poor relation but full of people desperately trying to appear wealthy and wasting money on stupid perceived indicators of status.

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My first thought was that area of Cheshire, very footballers' territory.

Katiesaidthat · 21/09/2023 09:44

My gran used this phrase. She was from Sussex. It had nothing to do with being loose sexually as someone wrote up thread, she meant it about some man or woman spending on outward symbols of status when they had to skimp on basics. I have never heard it about a place, just people.

SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 21/09/2023 09:47

sobercuriouskind · 21/09/2023 00:04

I know what you mean OP.

Cheltenham.

Don't go dissing The Nam!

😁

RedToothBrush · 21/09/2023 09:50

Barnowlsandbluebells · 21/09/2023 06:42

In that area, I would think of Knutsford instead - very much the poor relation but full of people desperately trying to appear wealthy and wasting money on stupid perceived indicators of status.

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Difference between Knutsford and Wilmslow - nice people though do like to show off and flash the cash.

Wilmslow, people are just arrogant and think they own the world. Can't stand the place. Even driving there is horrendous.

In Alderley Edge, they at least do actually own about half the world.

Barnowlsandbluebells · 21/09/2023 09:59

@RedToothBrush I completely agree with you re. Alderley Edge and Wilmslow. To me, Knutsford is a polluted, congested, overcrowded boil on the backside of Manchester.

RedToothBrush · 21/09/2023 10:02

Barnowlsandbluebells · 21/09/2023 09:59

@RedToothBrush I completely agree with you re. Alderley Edge and Wilmslow. To me, Knutsford is a polluted, congested, overcrowded boil on the backside of Manchester.

It's got a population of 12000!

Lost & Found is one of the circles of hell though.

bombastix · 21/09/2023 10:06

It's version of all mouth and no trousers: someone who presents themselves as being well to do but is not.

Usually applied to women where it can have a sexual meaning.

Barnowlsandbluebells · 21/09/2023 10:07

@RedToothBrush It's packed full of low-quality chain establishments. Just awful.

piscofrisco · 21/09/2023 10:20

All of Oxford st.

piscofrisco · 21/09/2023 10:22

And for heavens sake-do we have to discuss everything in terms of feminism and misogyny? . It's a commonly used phrase where I'm from, Derbyshire. And I call men's pants knickers anyway so feasibly it could be a unisex phrase in our house. It's just not that deep.
I knew exactly what you meant op.

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 21/09/2023 10:42

Ponteland (if you know, you know)

Abetterplaice · 21/09/2023 10:44

I can think of several restaurants and hotels that fit the description. They promise so much with their glossy brochures and websites but are pretty basic when you get there.

mrandmrsrobinson · 21/09/2023 11:24

Or.......

Champagne lifestyle, lemonade money

bombastix · 21/09/2023 11:26

Champagne taste, beer budget

JodyMitchell · 21/09/2023 11:29

It means a person who looks rich but is actually poor

I disagree with this. It don’t think it’s anything to do with money. It just means someone putting on a fancy appearance but is rough underneath (manners, class, education etc)

sadaboutmycat · 21/09/2023 11:32

redwinetalking · 21/09/2023 00:00

As far as I'm aware it can describe a place or person (or anything in between). I think the poster who says places can't wear knickers is maybe being a bit too literal.

Definition is: "Having a superficially positive appearance that is belied by the reality, e.g., superficially elegant and beautiful but actually common."

And no I am not Miranda's mum - was just casting a question out there!

Still cannot apply to a place. As a place is made up of a myriad of people.

The phrase in Nottingham for what you mean is "Bread and lard island" - as in to afford to live in a seemingly 'posh' place you can only afford to eat bread and lard.

usernother · 21/09/2023 11:34

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 21/09/2023 10:42

Ponteland (if you know, you know)

I love your name. I also love Dame Katy Denise Grin

swimsong · 21/09/2023 12:20

RedLollyYellowLorry · 21/09/2023 01:16

Thongs surely?

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Nah - although we do have a fair amount of visitors from Newcastle.

StopStartStop · 21/09/2023 12:20

RedLollyYellowLorry · 21/09/2023 07:47

Red anything did mean a prostitute- red light and in some areas they wore red hats

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That would account for the lack of knickers...

swimsong · 21/09/2023 12:30

lavender2023 · 21/09/2023 07:30

Really? I have just holidayed in Scarborough and my impression is that it was extremely beautiful, quaint, relatively uncommercialized, trapped in time but also deprived like many seaside towns. Not that it was outwardly wealthy.

Edited
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Yes, I love the place. It's not ostentatious or trendy - unlike little Whitby up the road. It's Britain's (and quite possibly the world's) oldest seaside resort - and it shows.

Which is why I reversed the phrase.

itsallnewnow · 21/09/2023 12:47

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.

Maybe there's a regional variation of use! I've never heard it used to describe an individual nastily, I've heard it said about a local health club (flash decor and cafe area, half the machines and lockers broken) and a place, as mentioned upthread Scarborough (known for beaches and pretty tourist spots but rife with poverty crime and drugs)

BarrelOfOtters · 21/09/2023 12:51

Yes, I've never heard it used to describe a person.

BeagleMum1 · 21/09/2023 12:55

WillowCraft · 20/09/2023 23:42

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

Tunbridge wells

BodegaSushi · 21/09/2023 13:06

AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside · 21/09/2023 08:19

Margate.

Hyped to fuck by the media but there's actually fuck all there.

I feel the opposite about Margate 🥲 everyone j speak to who’s been hates it but I found it quite charming. If you delete the beach.