Whats a numpty? and where did 'how do you like them apples' came from?

Question

you 'numpty'
'how do you like them apples?'

Answer 1

i saw "how do ya like them apples" in Good Will Hunting, ive been saying it ever since!
It seems to come from World War 1, when "Stokes guns" fired round shells with sticks that were nicknamed Toffee Apples. In the 1959 film "Rio Bravo", guy throws a grenade, followed by the taunt "how do ya like them apples?".

Maybe it was something that WW1 soldiers shouted when they hit a target with a Stokes gun??

Source: http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...rm=them+apples


I found this about numpty on a weird website:

Numpty's are fairly easy to spot in the office-place, but slightly more difficult in the real, outside world. Numpty's usually sit alone, either through choice or force. They most certainly will NOT be identified by the large numbers of cartoon character figures around their computer terminal. They are most certainly NOT Star Trek fans. They can sometimes have very simple (he he he!!) first names, such as John, Goddfrey or Steve. A few times they have been heard to speak in a very thick Lacanshire (Sheffield'ish) accent. But most of the time a Numpty can be spotted simply by their actions at the time.

Answer 2

I've searched high and low for the apples phrase, which I have used for years. I have a book on phrase origins and I don't see it, and online about all I could find was that it originated in the 1920s.

"Numpty" is military slang for someone who doesn't get it.

Answer 3

Numpty is northern slang for a twit, or daft person.

Dad has a colleague from Yorkshire and he uses the word quite a bit....they get quite a few numpties asking daft questions at their counter! XD

Answer 4

Numpty, as far as I have experience, is a Naval expression. Somene who is a bit thick or has no knowledge base. A civilian, even.
The apples bit - no idea, sorry.

Answer 5

My friend used this word the other day when his 3 yearold daughter wanted to walk along a wall and jump off, and then she told him she had no knix on. He said "you cant jump off cos everyone will see your numpty if your skirt goes up."

Answer 6

I think a numpty is a bit of a plonker, but don't know abaout the apples!

Answer 7

i have no idea whatsoever what a numpty is but how do you like them apples came from fruit

Answer 8

A scottish word for an idiot.. can't answer the second part.

Answer 9

i have no clue sorry
i tried looking on dictionary.com but their were no results fornd

Answer 10

Same as idiot