Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
poor old basket
English answer:
euphemism for \"bastard\"
Added to glossary by
literary
Mar 3, 2008 16:46
16 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
poor old basket
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Said about a lord who is obese, and has lots of problems. English interior. What's the meaning of this "basket"?
Responses
| 4 +11 | euphemism for "bastard" |
Jack Doughty
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| 3 | short for basket case |
Mark Berelekhis
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Responses
+11
2 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
80
Selected
euphemism for "bastard"
But poor old basket, or poor old bastard, is kindly meant, denoting sympathy for the lord's problems.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
PoveyTrans (X)
: Yes - with Joanthan too
1 min
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Noni Gilbert Riley
: Yes, it's a reasonably standard euphemism. Not necessarily an insult at all, nor meant to be taken literally.
9 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Jonathan MacKerron
: probably just "poor old guy"
11 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
kmtext
24 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Irene Schlotter, Dipl.-Übers.
: Indead, Jack. That's how understand it - it's just like saying 'darn' instead of ***.
35 mins
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Thank you. Yes, exactly.
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| agree |
Tony M
1 hr
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Phong Le
8 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Jeanette Phillips
15 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Vicky Nash
18 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
21 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
V_Nedkov
3 days 22 hrs
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Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Jack. "
4 mins
Mark Berelekhis
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
Exemplary quality, truly bilingual
Native in: Russian 
, English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
short for basket case
Should be what they mean. Here's a good explanation of 'basket case': http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/56500.html
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: No, really unlikely to apply here; 'basket' is rarely if ever used alone to replace 'basket case', and the fact that it is associated with 'poor old...' certainly supports JD's interpretation / very common in UK, at least
1 hr
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To be honest, I've never heard either. But I'm inclined to go along with so many of my colleagues' opinions.
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Discussion