Ping Tweed "Eating for England"

Tweed, you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which
has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. But maybe
it's older than that? Or maybe you made it up?

I'm curious!

--
Joyce

No one should try to hit another's bumper. But bumper bumpage is a part of
life. Yawn and get on with it. -- Gene Weingarten

On 12/1/2015 8:45 PM, Bastette wrote:
Tweed, you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which
has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. But maybe
it's older than that? Or maybe you made it up?

I'm curious!


The phrase makes me think of World War II. Even in the US, many people
had "victory gardens" at that time. I hope Tweed will give us the
background of the phrase.

MaryL

you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has
always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition.

I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the
allusion is to some sort of international competition.

Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend
(who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother
of a friend of mine could bore for Greece.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin

On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin
wrote:

you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has
always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition.

I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the
allusion is to some sort of international competition.

Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend
(who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother
of a friend of mine could bore for Greece.

In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc).

On 12/3/2015 10:49 AM, The New Other Guy wrote:
On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin
wrote:

you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has
always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition.

I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the
allusion is to some sort of international competition.

Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend
(who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother
of a friend of mine could bore for Greece.

In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc).





And the reverse is, "He/she eats like a bird." The irony is that birds
eat a great deal, proportionate to their body weight.

MaryL

The New Other Guy wrote:

On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin
wrote:

you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has
always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition.

I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the
allusion is to some sort of international competition.

Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend
(who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother
of a friend of mine could bore for Greece.

In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc).


Sure, but what I particularly liked was the idea of eating for one's
country.

--
Joyce

What I look forward to, is continued immaturity, followed by death.
-- Dave Barry

MaryL wrote:

On 12/3/2015 10:49 AM, The New Other Guy wrote:
On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin
wrote:

you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has
always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition.

I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the
allusion is to some sort of international competition.

Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend
(who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother
of a friend of mine could bore for Greece.

In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc).





And the reverse is, "He/she eats like a bird." The irony is that birds
eat a great deal, proportionate to their body weight.

Ditto on "bird brain." If someone calls you a bird brain, the correct
response is, "thank you."

--
Joyce

What I look forward to, is continued immaturity, followed by death.
-- Dave Barry

On 12/3/2015 11:42 AM, Bastette wrote:
MaryL wrote:

On 12/3/2015 10:49 AM, The New Other Guy wrote:
On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin
wrote:

you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has
always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition.

I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the
allusion is to some sort of international competition.

Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend
(who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother
of a friend of mine could bore for Greece.

In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc).





And the reverse is, "He/she eats like a bird." The irony is that birds
eat a great deal, proportionate to their body weight.

Ditto on "bird brain." If someone calls you a bird brain, the correct
response is, "thank you."


Very true. I remember seeing a demonstration of a red-tailed hawk
repeatedly dropping a rock on a emu egg to break it open so the hawk
could eat what was inside. This is using tools, which is a definite
sign of intelligence. Other types of birds do similar things that show
reasoning and intelligence.

Joy

"MaryL" wrote in message
...
On 12/1/2015 8:45 PM, Bastette wrote:
Tweed, you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which
has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend,
also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've
never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. But
maybe
it's older than that? Or maybe you made it up?

I'm curious!


The phrase makes me think of World War II. Even in the US, many people
had "victory gardens" at that time. I hope Tweed will give us the
background of the phrase.

MaryL

It's about the Cat Olympics. surely you know about eating for Britain?

On 12/3/2015 10:51 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"MaryL" wrote in message
...
On 12/1/2015 8:45 PM, Bastette wrote:
Tweed, you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which
has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend,
also
American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've
never
heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend
hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that
expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win
a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. But
maybe
it's older than that? Or maybe you made it up?

I'm curious!


The phrase makes me think of World War II. Even in the US, many people
had "victory gardens" at that time. I hope Tweed will give us the
background of the phrase.

MaryL

It's about the Cat Olympics. surely you know about eating for Britain?


Somehow, I don't. I have heard the phrase but don't know what it
denotes. Unfortunately, I am not even familiar with Cat Olympics.

MaryL