Comments on: Old bean http://www.word-detective.com/2008/11/old-bean/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: karol http://www.word-detective.com/2008/11/old-bean/comment-page-1/#comment-22246 karol Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:53:40 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/22/old-bean/#comment-22246 Minor point. I would suggest that its quintessentialy <i>English</i> not British. And historically English upper class at that. Great Britain includes Scotland and Wales and even in bygone days I can't imagine you would have natives of those two countries using this phrase. Minor point. I would suggest that its quintessentialy English not British. And historically English upper class at that.

Great Britain includes Scotland and Wales and even in bygone days I can’t imagine you would have natives of those two countries using this phrase.

]]> By: Missouri Love Company http://www.word-detective.com/2008/11/old-bean/comment-page-1/#comment-21979 Missouri Love Company Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:52:42 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/22/old-bean/#comment-21979 I remember using the expression "Old Bean" with my high school friends because I heard it used in movies. It was fun to call everyone by the first name and add Bean behind it. 20 years later, my friends see me and and call me Tina Bean. It sort of my signature. I remember using the expression “Old Bean” with my high school friends because I heard it used in movies. It was fun to call everyone by the first name and add Bean behind it. 20 years later, my friends see me and and call me Tina Bean. It sort of my signature.

]]> By: robertfitch http://www.word-detective.com/2008/11/old-bean/comment-page-1/#comment-5274 robertfitch Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:38:08 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/22/old-bean/#comment-5274 richard...well put richard…well put

]]> By: Richard http://www.word-detective.com/2008/11/old-bean/comment-page-1/#comment-1292 Richard Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:25:45 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/22/old-bean/#comment-1292 Any American out there keen to expose him- or herself to an onslaught of similarly quaint and aristocratic British English slang should consult P.G. Wodehouse. I recommend 'The Inimitable Jeeves' as an introductory text. Wodehouse frequently uses the expression 'old bean' as a form of address alongside other inanimate objects such as 'old top' and 'old teapot'. He also uses the word bean to mean head, or brains. One of my favourites, however, is the adjective 'rum' and its derivative 'rummy' which are used to describe something peculiar, strange or out of the ordinary. In my opinion these are all relics which should be brought back to life in everyday conversation, as they are chock solid with character, which seems to be lacking in the digital age, with its tendency to abbreviate everything to txt spk. Pip pip. Any American out there keen to expose him- or herself to an onslaught of similarly quaint and aristocratic British English slang should consult P.G. Wodehouse. I recommend ‘The Inimitable Jeeves’ as an introductory text. Wodehouse frequently uses the expression ‘old bean’ as a form of address alongside other inanimate objects such as ‘old top’ and ‘old teapot’. He also uses the word bean to mean head, or brains. One of my favourites, however, is the adjective ‘rum’ and its derivative ‘rummy’ which are used to describe something peculiar, strange or out of the ordinary. In my opinion these are all relics which should be brought back to life in everyday conversation, as they are chock solid with character, which seems to be lacking in the digital age, with its tendency to abbreviate everything to txt spk.
Pip pip.

]]> By: Isaac http://www.word-detective.com/2008/11/old-bean/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Isaac Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:20:38 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/22/old-bean/#comment-1133 In Hong Kong, it is customary for children to refer to their fathers as "Low Dow" (In Cantonese) which translates directely to "Old Bean" is it possible there is a link between the two terms, given tha In Hong Kong, it is customary for children to refer to their fathers as “Low Dow” (In Cantonese) which translates directely to “Old Bean” is it possible there is a link between the two terms, given tha

]]> By: Victoria http://www.word-detective.com/2008/11/old-bean/comment-page-1/#comment-508 Victoria Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:40:53 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/22/old-bean/#comment-508 I always thought "old bean" was a play on the term human being, which is sometimes playfully mispronounced "human bean". I always thought “old bean” was a play on the term human being, which is sometimes playfully mispronounced “human bean”.

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