Hi Rammel
Thank you

Kelly

Adding as a sub to #771 --- See # 771 - Similar
So scary it'll curl your hair

Hi Rammel
Shipshape and Bristol Fashion

Not sure if this one is a British one, it means in first class order

A bit of a long explanation for the saying!

Bristol has been an important English seaport for more than a thousand years. The city is actually several miles from the sea and stands on the estuary of the River Avon. Bristol's harbour has one of the most variable tidal flows anywhere in the world and the water level can vary by more than 30 feet between tides.

Ships that were moored there were beached at each low tide. Consequently they had to be of sturdy construction and the goods in their holds needed to be securely stowed. The problem was resolved in 1803 with the construction of the Floating Harbour. There's no absolute proof that the term 'Bristol fashion' originates with that geography but the circumstantial evidence seems very strongly in favour of it.

Kelly

I've heard "shipshape" all my life for extremely neat but I've never heard "Bristol Fashion

Hi Jane
It is as I said perhaps a UK phrase or saying.

I have heard it many times used on the Isle of Man.

Kelly

643 - Ship shape and Bristol fashion

Around here it stops at "Shipshape"

Been very busy this week. Not much time for fun and games.

Adding -
902 - Batten down the hatches

Hi Rammel
Thank you

The saying about Shipshape and Bristol Fashion is not used solely in Bristol, but all over the UK and the Isle of Man.

Kelly

Quote from: Kelly on May 12, 2016, 04:30:55 AM
Hi Rammel
Thank you

The saying about Shipshape and Bristol Fashion is not used solely in Bristol, but all over the UK and the Isle of Man.

Kelly

Thank God we're all different - in many ways. Can you imaging how it would be if we were all cookie cutter models.

903 - Get a leg up on .....
904 - Tuck that in your bonnet (hat)

Pecking order

285 and 733 the squeaky wheel gets the grease are the same.  I am deleting 733

Bring to heel

Hi Rammel
Go For Broke

Taking a chance but with risk involved

Kelly

Blow a raspberry

And I have often been broke 

Kelly

Or a strawberry

Hi Rammel
Ham Actor

An actor who over acts.

Kelly

I know of ham radio only

I've heard it said that he/she/ or they are hamming or did ham it up.

I just found this:
If you are clumsy or incompetent at something you are also said to be "ham-handed" or "ham-fisted" which gives the impression that your hands are like large unwieldy pieces of meat, unsuited for delicate work.

Bubble, that is interesting but doesn't say much for ham radio operators?

A ham actor is a well known phrase in the UK and especially the English theatre

Kelly

Yes, I know, but why are they called that, (ham radio operators); when it couldn't be from the description Bubble posted?

What does HAM stand for in HAM radio?

Nobody is really sure, not even the authorities and old-timers in the hobby  itself. The formal designation for that service is "Amateur Radio". One theory  is that H.A.M. is an acronym paying homage to three great radio pioneers: Heinrich Hertz (demonstrated existence of electromagnetic waves), Edwin  Armstrong (invented modern FM radio), and Guglielmo Marconi (developed wireless  telegraphy).Another theory is when the first amateur radio operators where using  CW (Morse Code), that they tended to have a "heavy" (hard) hand, and was called being "ham fisted". This tends to be the most common theory.

Bubble, I would probably agree with that last, heavy handed. Thanks for answering my query.

Hi angel
As it has nothing to do with large or heavy hands.

Kelly

Hi Everyone
I looked up 'ham acting or actor', it says

The word Ham to mean an "overacting inferior performer," apparently dates from about 1882 and orignates from American English. Originally the word was hamfatter, meaning "actor of low grade," and has been linked to an old minstrel show song, "The Ham-fat Man" which dates from about 1863.

And for as long as I can recall the use of the phrase of Ham acting or Ham amor has been used in the UK whether theatre or television.

kelly

Quote from: so_P_bubble on May 12, 2016, 12:29:42 PM
285 and 733 the squeaky wheel gets the grease are the same.  I am deleting 733

Ditto

Ham - ? ? ? --- with green eggs?

I'm entering "He's a ham" meaning a poor actor (not necessarily a professional actor), but poor at what or whatever he is doing.