Comments on: Pip

By: Ragg Tagg

Ragg Tagg — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 16:48:50 +0000

Seems to be one of those words that, when used as slang, can mean various things depending on the circumstance and inflection. I like the affectionate meaning. “You’re a pip, dear.” Meaning something like “you’re a sweetheart.”
Of course, if you say it with a lot of sarcasm or out of the side of your mouth it could mean “you are a pain in the as*.”

By: Brian Roper

Brian Roper — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:28:09 +0000

I can’t quite remember whether it was in the short stories of Saki, V. S. Pritchett or William Trevor I first came across “the pip”.

The thing that most gives me the pip is the replacement of “the pip” by “the pips” (utterly abominable).

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:15:11 +0000

My grandmother was born in 1998 and lived to be 106 years. She would call me a pip as a young boy.

I was her favorite, which she made no qualms about with the other grandchildren. They knew I was the first and held a special place. They also knew this position as one of being undeserved.

She was Irish with parents that immigrated to the States. She would use the term when I was having some of my more “rambunctious creative boy” moments. I am now 61 and at family gatherings there always seems to be a story featuring me to the amusement of my children.

I have prayed that my children do not behave as I have in the past and they have not, praise God. No pips.

By: George

George — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:31:30 +0000

It’s “You sir, are a pip. I would follow you into the jaws of Cerberus…”

By: kiel

kiel — Sat, 05 May 2012 23:07:24 +0000

i was recently watching the movie ‘WILD WILD WEST’ with will smith and one caracter says to an other ….’YOU SIR ARE A ‘pip’ id fallow you into the deapths of hell” or something along those lines and i was wondering what that use of “pip” was reffering to…if anyone know pls respond thanks

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!