Dick King Smiths 'Sophie' books - can you answer this question for me?

[Astrophe]

We have an audio CD of one of them, and I have NO idea what Sophie is trying to say when she says "Mowdy, stupid and asiv". Can anyone with the printed version shed any light on this for me? TIA!

The printed version says 'mowldy, stupid and assive'. The first two are obvious, I guess, but I never could work out what 'assive' was either. Like an ass, perhaps?

I don't think you're meant to be able to pin it down, except to realise that it's the kind of misheard, jumbled or made-up insult four and five year olds are good at. Mine were never quite that creative though .

My friend's dd used to say "You're a dum-dum mubby pants" Always reminded me of Sophie.

Fabulous stories, by the way!

Aaah! Glad nobody else knows either! I also wondered whether they were misspelt british insults that I don't know!

So what is 'mowldy' then singersgirl?

I guess just 'mouldy' ie going off, so meaning 'rubbish' or 'rotten'.

See in the audio cd version he pronounces it "Mao (as in chairman)-dee". But if we go with "moll-dee" that makes sense so thats what I'll tell DD, who has a very literal mind and doesn't cope well with this confusion!

Thyanks all

I know what you mean - they always expect you to know exactly what everything means in a story... and its not always as simple as you think!!
xC

She's trying to say mouldy, stupid and acid!

I don't think assive actually means anything but I always thought she was comparing them to an ass/donkey. So stubborn and stupid.

Sophie is a legend in our house - I wish I was as honest and blunt in my dealings with people!