rum go
English
Alternative forms
- rum goo
Etymology
UK dialectal (chiefly Cockney); rum (“strange, peculiar”) + go (“incident, occurrence”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɹʌm.ˌɡəʊ/
Noun
rum go (plural rum gos)
- (Cockney slang, archaic) A peculiar, surprising, and/or confusing event, thing, &c.
- 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 35, p. 318:
- ‘Here’s rayther a rum go, sir,’ replied Sam.
‘What?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick.
‘This here, Sir,’ rejoined Sam. ‘I’m wery much afeerd, sir, that the properiator o' this here coach is a playin' some imperence vith us.’
- ‘Here’s rayther a rum go, sir,’ replied Sam.
- 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, Chapter 7, p. 44:
- “Well, who's a better right?” growled the gamekeeper. “A pretty rum go if squire ain't to talk for Dr. Livesey, I should think.”
- 1955, C. S. Lewis, The Magician's Nephew, p. 85:
- “There they are, Strawberry - Fledge, I should say. This is a rum go.”
- 1964, William Crozier Walsh & al., Mary Poppins:
- Bert: Life's a rum go, Guv'nor, and that's the truth.
- 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 37:
- Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’
- 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 35, p. 318:
Synonyms
- rum start, rum 'un, rum one
Translations
a surprising event, a confusing experience
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