Does anyone know the origin or reason for a saying "Ohh I'd go to the bottom of the stairs"?

Question

My grandfather used to say it as some form of exclaimation

Answer 1

I'LL GO TO THE FOOT OF OUR STAIRS! - "An old north England expression of surprise or amazement - meaning presumably, that the short walk to the place mentioned would allow the speaker to recover equanimity. Or perhaps it meant it was time to give up and go to bed! Used by Tommy Handley in BBC Radio's ITMA (1940s) and elsewhere. Said to have been used by the entertainer George Formby as 'Eeh, I'll go to the foot of our stairs', as also, 'Eeh, I'll go to our 'ouse (pronounced 'our rouse')' - Robina Hinton, Suffolk (1999). Chris Littlefair gave this variation from the North-East (2000): 'I'll go to the bottom of our garden.'" From "Oops, Pardon Mrs Arden! An Embarrassment of Domestic Catchphrases" by Nigel Rees (Robson Books, London, 2001) Page 99-100.

Answer 2

hahahaha - that's made my night ! i was seriously thinking of asking that exact same question, but never got around to asking it. i'd never heard of the phrase until i watched a Peter Kaye concert on TV. i'll be interested to see what people think is the origin to this phrase..... coz i really have no idea where it stems from ! (although it does seem to be a northern saying)

Answer 3

Sounds like a Max Miller line.

Answer 4

I think that came from a programme that used to be on years ago in the UK it was called Pledges Pickles I think it might have been Hilda Baker.

Answer 5

Sorry i've never heard the saying

Answer 6

So did my grandma!