2006-06-16 00:00:13 · 4 answers · asked by Brohnan 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Never heard that one before.
2006-06-19 10:27:29 · answer #1 · answered by i'm_a_goodie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your question made me smile, as I use a slightly different phrase, 'Queen Anne's dead'. Unfortunately I can't help with the origin of either phrase, but think it's rather cheery that petticoats still feature in the lives of some 21st century citizens - even if it is just in the form of a phrase remembered. Hope you get an anwer.
2006-06-19 04:12:30 · answer #2 · answered by Amanda C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Charlie's dead" was also in use in Ireland during the 1950s when I was growing up. I recall that, brash boys that we were, we used to take great pleasure in using it. I can't find the origin, although I'll keep trying. The only possibility I've come across so far is that "Charley", an abbreviation of "Charley Hunt" was for a very long time rhyming slang for a woman's vagina, in the same manner as "Berk", from "Berkshire Hunt". Perhaps as the perceived obscenity of "Charley" died off it became possible to use it in an extended manner to indicate something awry with female underclothing. ??? The usual queue of experts ready to disprove this should form on the left . . .
2006-06-16 07:25:34 · answer #3 · answered by cmhurley64 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently when King Charles 2nd died, his reputation as a ladies man was quite highly thought of. When he died, women lifted their skirts a few inches to show their petticoats as a tribute.
2006-06-21 15:06:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋