sweeny todd....


the sweeny...


flying squad....

an elite Metropolition (ie London) Police division. All armed, fast cars, non- uniformed. In todays jargon, they would be a 'quick response armed tactical unit' but without the uniforms and fairly automonous - they could pick their own targets.

Ah, I was on-topic and didn't even know it!

Ah...we call that "SWAT" (Special Weapons and Tactics)

Do they use Colonel in Texas too, or is that an antebellum south thing?:confused:

mmmm.... I actually refrained from using the term 'swat', althought there are similarities....

But the flying squad was more than that.They had their own intelligence network, and the automony to select their own objectives. In todays jargon, they were proactive rather than reactive.

Secret police. :unsure:

I'm just having a "spot of tea" now.

My two cents re: three sheets to the wind:

First, despite what at first blush would be considered a "sheet", the sail is just a sail. A sheet is the rope used to fasten the sail to an anchor point, usually the deck. This sheet controls your sail and thence, your sailboat. When you lose control of your sheets, the sails flap extrememly violently to the point of destruction of the sail and anyone who tries to apprehend it.

Three sheets to the wind is extrememly, violently out of control. Unless your boat is becalmed, then you proceed to become three sheets to the wind.

Re: "Pubcrawls" When I was a bike mechanic we did something like a pub crawl with our three speeds. We'd ride from bar to bar having a drink or two at each place. The last person to arrive had to buy the first round. Something like that.

"family allowance" we have "family jewels"
Dog's body? = bee's knees? something great.

Dogsbody is a servant; your batman. Which term may be military, as I never recall seeing it used in any other context.

I thought it was an outstanding show, both as a police drama and for the major plot point (cop from 2006 has near fatal accident, ends up in early 1970s ... which is the dream?). I sincerely hope that BBCAmerica picks up next series.

From American Phrases
I've heard
Sweating like a rapist
and Sweating like a paedophile in a creche

Also
Polite as a whore at a Christening

You'd do better to have a cuppa.

dogsbody = gopher

Hmm. you may need to move to a nicer area?

Also spelt "gofer" if your spellchecker doesn't tyrannize. I rather prefer this spelling as it more clearly carries the meaning:

"You need a gofer."
"Huh?"
"A gofer. A guy to go fer coffee, go fer a paper..."

--Some Donald E. Westlake novel I read over thirty years ago

I see I wrote a little too ambiguously: I figure "batman" for a chiefly military usage. I know he's not a "batsman."