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The MN meaning of Liff

344 replies

AuntieBulgaria · 12/05/2011 14:39

Douglas Adams and John Lloyd wrote a book called The Meaning of Liff that used existing place names to give names to commonly recognised feelings, experiences and objects that didn't already have a word for them.

For example:

Cotterstock - a piece of wood used to stir paint and thereafter stored uselessly in a shed in perpetuity.

I was thinking last night, as I stood behind my 3.5 year old daughter sort of herding/hooshing her upstairs to the bath avoiding a variety of potential distractions, there ought to be a word for this.

And then I thought, there are probably loads of commonly recognised parenting phemonema that could be 'Liffed'.

I browsed google maps this morning and came up with the following place name/ definition combos but would love to know yours too...

Kirtling - benign kettling required to keep small child going in the direction you need them to.

Poxwell - act of knowingly covering up of active chicken pox spots in order to make a quick dash into shop for milk or make an international plane flight home.

Ousden - constant flow of greeny/silver snot from small boys, the trail said snot leaves on the shoulders of all of your clothes; 'ooh, hang on, you've got a bit of ousden on that shirt'.

I am sure there must be good definitions for:

Two Mile Bottom
Throop
Weeley
Little Clacton and Great Clacton

And good place names for:

The poo that takes out an entire outfit.

The child-related objects (spare pants, raisins, playmobile duchesses) that fall out of your handbag in important business situations.

The face that teenagers pull when you suggest a healthy walk after lunch.

OP posts:
WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper · 13/05/2011 08:26

Moonfleet - what happens when a group of toddlers decide to run around naked

Badgers Mount - the awkward moment at the zoo where your child asks what those animals are doing...

GentleOtter · 13/05/2011 08:26

Perranporth - the way a disasterous gravy acts between gravy boat and plate.

Moreton -in- Marsh - the feeling when you put on a wet welly with bare feet.

CaveMum · 13/05/2011 08:37

I adore Douglas Adams and am living this thread!

OP you must be in my part of the world judging by s

CaveMum · 13/05/2011 08:39

Gah stupid phone!

"loving" the thread obviously and I meant to finish with "judging by some of the places you have used"

MmeLindt · 13/05/2011 09:08

Oh, you lot are clever. Cracking thread.

Friockheim (pr Freekum) - the art of freaking out German visitors by pronouncing place names completely differently to how they are spelled.

Auchtermuchty - (adj) soiled with dirt - eg. "Who let the dog roll in the cowpat? You can wash her, I am not touching her, she is auchtermuchty"

We have measures of wine defined by places. A Geneva is a thimbleful of wine, a Balbeggie is a bucket.

Are there posh houses in Liff now? Is the hospital still there?

DirtyMartini · 13/05/2011 09:12

I know someone who lives in one of those Liff houses. Tis nice. Would be too big for me I think, couldn't keep it clean.

Lossiemouth: the feeling you get when you've half-eaten a Penguin biscuit whilst doing five other tasks at the same time and you put it down somewhere whilst wiping a nose or washing a dummy, and then somehow it vanishes when you were still anticipating the last bit :(

stealthsquiggle · 13/05/2011 09:36

Chatteris and Mumbles are definitely entering my vocabulary, as is Kirtling, although I feel my version may not be quite as benign as the OP's.

Does the orginal have a definition for the feeling that you have an unfinished cup of coffee somewhere, if only you could remember where you left it?

GentleOtter · 13/05/2011 09:42

Strelitz - either another one for freaking out German visitors Grin or the sore cut from paper.

Wolfhill - where tantrumming children are left to be gobbled up by the inhabitants.

WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper · 13/05/2011 09:52

Does the orginal have a definition for the feeling that you have an unfinished cup of coffee somewhere, if only you could remember where you left it?

Sidcup?

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 09:55

Mangotsfield - a spot chosen for a picnic which turns out to be infested with insects

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 09:59

wookey hole a space between the stripped floorboards where the DC have been inserting valuable objects

Inertia · 13/05/2011 10:03

Rhiwbina- a hippie-style fruit growing co-operative.

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 10:03

Pishill Unused elevated area at the side of the school field where younger potty training siblings go to relieve themselves.

Inertia · 13/05/2011 10:04

Leebotwood- small child whose nose permanently needs wiping.

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 10:06

vange - lady parts after an episiotomy

Inertia · 13/05/2011 10:06

Clun - the punchline to a Jenny Eclair joke.

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 10:07

Blandford Forum An alternative name for Netmums

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 10:08

We're on a roll Inertia!

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 10:09

Gussage St Michael The feeling you get when your M&S tights go a little saggy.

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 10:11

Martyr Worthy The mum on the PTA who gets landed with all the shit jobs.

Inertia · 13/05/2011 10:12

Shoreham - the act of convincing your wife of facts that you haven't actually checked.

MardyBra- I am going to have to go and do some cleaning now sadly, but I take my hat to Gussage St Michael!

NorfolkNChance · 13/05/2011 10:13

Six Mile Bottom the use of six times the usual amount of toilet paper for a particularly large, sticky and possibly foul smelling evacuation.

Inertia · 13/05/2011 10:14

Hat off, clearly.

WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper · 13/05/2011 10:15

Exeter - the art of leaving quickly when your child suddenly announces they need a wee NOW!

GentleOtter · 13/05/2011 10:15

Clabby - when you fall asleep with your hand up and numbs then falls on your face.