British people - language question!

[Syt]

My Scottish manager frequently substitutes "fricking hell" or "fucking heck" etc. with "flippin' egg".

I thought it was an eccentricity, but recently I've heard a YouTuber from Norwich using the same expression; they're the only two people I'm aware of using that term.

Google seems rather sparse on this, so I come to seek the wisdom of the British Languishites: is "flippin' egg" a thing? What's going on with that?

[celedhring]

I'm not British but that's clearly an euphemism.

So I believe that instead of a matter of being Scottish, your boss is probably just a prude.

[Syt]

He is many things, but not a prude.

[Gups]

He's saying "flipping (h)eck" for the last one - that's a long-established alternative for "fucking hell". It's old-fashioned but still in use.

Nobody woudl ever say "fucking heck" - why euphamise "hell" when you've already said "fucking".

"Fricking" is an American euphimism which has become a little common over here. Certain Scots (with Irish connections) might say "fecking"

[Norgy]

Scottish people scare the beejeebus out of me. They seem Francis Begbie-esque even when they have breasts.

[Syt]

Thanks Gups; he has Irish forebears, but he doesn't use "feck" at all.

We talk a lot to Canadians at work, so he might have picked up a thing or two there.


Norgs: he has quite a few amusing/frightening tales from growing up and living in Glasgow in the 70s through 90s.

[Norgy]

Thanks Gups; he has Irish forebears, but he doesn't use "feck" at all.

We talk a lot to Canadians at work, so he might have picked up a thing or two there.


Norgs: he has quite a few amusing/frightening tales from growing up and living in Glasgow in the 70s through 90s.

What strikes me about Glasgow is that it's a huge city in a country with roughly the same population as Norway or thereabouts, and it has sectarian violence, drug problems and whatnot that you wouldn't expect to find in a country like Scotland. You're an avid reader, and some of Irvine Welsh' novels are well worth the effort. They paint a fairly bleak picture of existence in Scotland in particular and being human in general.

[Brazen]

"Fricking" is an American euphimism which has become a little common over here. Certain Scots (with Irish connections) might say "fecking"

It's more likely to be frigging.

[Syt]

Thanks, Norgs, I'll check that!

[Brazen]

To be fair, Glasgow is very pleasant to visit, it just has a history of ghettoising its more undesirable elements, and the great majority of Scots are charming company, friendly to a degree that terrifies southerners. I dare say there are estates in London I wouldn't dare set foot.

[Syt]

the great majority of Scots are charming company, friendly to a degree that terrifies southerners

Relevant video ahead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQKfWqX-rqE

[Syt]

Also, one of my favorite Briticisms recently is the word "tat".

[derspiess]

"Fricking" is an American euphimism which has become a little common over here. Certain Scots (with Irish connections) might say "fecking"

It's more likely to be frigging.

And we also use "flippin'".

[Josquius]

I wouldn't say fecking is an  exclusively Irish thing. Post-Father Ted it has made big inroads into the UK.

[The Brain]

To be fair, Glasgow is very pleasant to visit, it just has a history of ghettoising its more undesirable elements, and the great majority of Scots are charming company, friendly to a degree that terrifies southerners. I dare say there are estates in London I wouldn't dare set foot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM-DtAXBUpI