Comments on: Cock-a-Hoop

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 17 May 2011 06:32:34 +0000

Spigot is not in common use in British English, although I think most people this side of the pond know what is meant. Where we use “cock” to mean “spigot” or “tap”(UK) is for the “stop-cock” which shuts off the mains water supply to a building for maintenance etc. Maybe somebody with experience of cooperage will know the correct terminology for a barrel end, (“head” as in drum head?). If it is “hoop”, then your first explanation would be likely. However, “hoop” is used for the iron bands that keep the barrel staves together.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:24:16 +0000

A corruption of cock of the coop?

By: Bryant Bonacci

Bryant Bonacci — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:05:21 +0000

Happy Christmas. Let all of your wishes could come real for you as well as your household and lets expect the next year possibly be successful for everyone all of us. Merry Christmas

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:21:12 +0000

I am an Australian an used this expression in a missive to an American friend who wondered what it meant. I replied, ‘over the moon’or ‘jumping for joy’. I was going to say ‘happy as a pig in shit’ but figure there was no need to go to extremes. Found your site and have made it a favourite. As some one who was raised with a lot of what my mum calls ‘a lot of lingo’, I tend to use that lingo in my daily language and writings, with no thought to the true meaning, just an understanding of what it expresses.
Thank you

By: ben

ben — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:53:48 +0000

you win the internet

By: Shawnta

Shawnta — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:12:29 +0000

just came across. Nice blog