Comments on: Pip

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:26:11 +0000

My mother (born in 1914), if she heard someone hicup particularly loud, high pitched and abruptly, would say, ” you sound like a chicken with the pip.”

By: Togi

Togi — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:59:15 +0000

My mother used “the pip” to refer to her monthly period. Apparently, it was an expression in the South for menstruation, like “a visitor from Charleston” or “time of the month.”

By: JamesBryson Culp

JamesBryson Culp — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:56:10 +0000

I have heard, oft in Publican places in AngleLand, male persons being greeted or addressed as “Ol’ Pip” As in a phrase such as “Aye, Ol’ Pip, have a Pint with me.” Or to a boy child, “Pip, willst you have a plougman & chips wi’ me ?”

This and such as this I heard much in pubs, as dogs great and small walked amongst patrons, fourty five years ago (about 1965 when England Scots land and Wales were inhabited principally by the native cultures)

Be of good heart.

Dancing on clouds,

Keep it up !

JimmyBryson Culp
an American of Scot Presbyterian & nordic heritage

By: tom

tom — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:30:43 +0000

I have heard the expression “Squeeze them till their pips squeak” meaning “hold their feet to the fire”.
A pip is a plumbers term for the valve that releases steam from a radiator to relieve pressure. They make a “squealing” sound when releasing a small amount of steam under great pressure.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:09:38 +0000

Thanks! I have my students reading “Peppermints in the Parlor” and Kipper says peppermints give him “the pip.” I was at a loss to explain… it now makes sense!