kalanamak Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Over the years BBC has taught me many things. Going down to Moss Bros means a man getting married, etc. However, I can't suss out the difference between a dog's dinner and a pig's breakfast. "It was a real dog's dinner" or "He made a pig's breakfast of it". Are they synonyms? I thank you for your help on this crushingly important matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I haven't heard of 'pig's breakfast'. I would find 'dog's dinner' and 'pig's ear' to be synonyms. The latter is a reworking of the phrase 'to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear'. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorna Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I haven't heard of 'pig's breakfast'. I would find 'dog's dinner' and 'pig's ear' to be synonyms. The latter is a reworking of the phrase 'to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear'. Laura :iagree: I have heard 'dog's dinner' but I don't recall ever hearing 'pig's breakfast' although I can imagine it would mean the same. 'A dog's dinner' is for when you do a bad job of something. Jonathan Swift said 'You can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear' and I have heard it used by my seventy-something mother-in-law frequently but not at all by my nephews or nieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Here is a link to a use of Pig's Breakfast. I heard it yesterday on Yes, Prime Minister. http://212.58.226.17:8080/1/hi/health/327062.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I've only heard "a dog's breakfast," but it sounds to me as if "pig's breakfast" and "dog's breakfast/dinner" are the same: something poorly done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorna Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I talked about it with dh this morning at breakfast :D. We decided that it was a kind of 'mixed metaphor' and perhaps was used as a joke in itself. If it was used in 'Yes, Prime Minister' it could certainly enter everyday BBC media speak. They love to invent new phrases. I love mysteries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritAnnia Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I've not ever heard of 'pigs breakfast' before either. I recently started watching Yes, Prime Minister on netflix-online. I don't recall watching it years ago so it's like new to me now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 I've not ever heard of 'pigs breakfast' before either. I recently started watching Yes, Prime Minister on netflix-online. I don't recall watching it years ago so it's like new to me now. It is in the episode where Humphrey is having a nice dinner with a deadpan banker about the "scandal in the city". ("they broke the first rule" "what, insider trading?" "no, everyone does that. The rule that if you are stupid, you have to be honest, and if you aren't honest, you have to be clever") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 It is in the episode where Humphrey is having a nice dinner with a deadpan banker about the "scandal in the city". ("they broke the first rule" "what, insider trading?" "no, everyone does that. The rule that if you are stupid, you have to be honest, and if you aren't honest, you have to be clever") :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 No answer, but on another message board, a woman from Great Britain said "Brit" was a derogatory term and she wished we Americans wouldn't use it. I thought it had positive connotations... like "Sis" or some close relationship. Anyone out there from GB that could comment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorna Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I don't know about 'Brit' really. I think it is okay. People might prefer Englishwoman/man or Scot/ Scottish man or woman. But please don't call me 'Scotch' eew! That's a drink not a person! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnetteB Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 They are the same thing...a mess, swill...depends on if you are a farmer and have pigs to feed or a dog I guess. My daughter's British friend doesn't mind the term "Brit" but apparently some do mind. Maybe it is too familiar to use casually? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 No answer, but on another message board, a woman from Great Britain said "Brit" was a derogatory term and she wished we Americans wouldn't use it. It apparently became popular in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, as a derogatory term for the 'occupiers'. I don't have a problem with the term myself, nor do most younger people, I think. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritAnnia Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Obviously I don't find it offensive... note my screen name. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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