2006-07-02 13:17:48 · 11 answers · asked by Joe 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
It's not suppoed to mean anything except hello brown cow. The phrase was used by elocution teachers to help their students practice the 'correct' (i.e. middle class acceptable) 'ow' sound in Voctorian times. The phrase possibly stuck in the language because of its use in George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion'.
2006-07-02 13:21:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It means "greetings (or hello) brown cow". In the context of elocution exercises, where it is most used, it doesn't matter that it makes no sense.
I have heard that during the production of Olivier's Othello Maggie Smith (who played Desdemona) got so fed up with the black-faced Olivier that she would say it to him!
2006-07-04 17:45:31 · answer #2 · answered by Ms. Tyrrell 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That was a phrase taught in eloqution classes to demonstrate the rounded vowel sounds.
2006-07-03 02:31:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain....
Pipsqueak nailed it. Used to be a phrase used for enunciation training.
Voctorian...Victorian
Tomatoe....Tomato
2006-07-02 13:25:22 · answer #4 · answered by DM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means 'hello' in most places, but it started out as a lesson in diction.
2006-07-02 16:42:36 · answer #5 · answered by wilsonmatthewf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not supposed to mean anything. It's a diction exercise.
2006-07-02 15:31:36 · answer #6 · answered by lisita429 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's the first words Mr. Ed ever spoke to Wilbur- when he knew Wibur suspected he could talk
2006-07-02 18:09:45 · answer #7 · answered by leo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have a clue lol not even after reading the second answer! It just sounds stupid.
2006-07-02 13:24:49 · answer #8 · answered by miss_gem_01 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its amazing. it's by ron burgundy! yayayayayay! it means, "how are you now brown cow.?" and then you hug.
2006-07-02 13:21:37 · answer #9 · answered by yazznjazz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's a line from a poem
2006-07-02 13:21:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋