Do you know what i mean if i say " This won`t get the bairn a new coat? "?

Question

North East of England expression. Would be good to hear other expressions from other places.

Lmao about the the babby washed. I shall use that in my book

Answer 1

I know a lot of people are saying about spending money, but I always thought of it as, sitting around doing nothing !!

Answer 2

Aye lass. It's meanin' ye cannea spend ye brass wh'oot care, or ye'll no hae enough fer what you'll be needing. A bairn is a wee lad or lassie for those that don't know. It's an auld scottish term, many of which hae trickled doon to the North East English.

Answer 3

( USA here) I believe a "bairn" is a baby, so I am thinking its a way of saying that it ( whatever it is) won't make much money/will profit little. In the US among many other sayings are "a day late and a dollar short" and "the wolf is at the door"...in which case its time to "rob Peter to pay Paul", assuming there is still a Peter around to rob ( ha ha)

Answer 4

Sounds like it mean that by doing "this" you aren't making any money at all??

Aussie here.

Round here we have an expression where if somebody is belly aching about something not having been done then we say - "Have you got arms?? Use them then!!"

CHEERS
♥

Answer 5

Round here it's " This won't get the "babby" washed"

Answer 6

you are spending money you shouldnt
you need it for necessities

like a new coat for the baby/young child

and i would also agree like a previous answer that its origins are Scottish

Answer 7

Its originally Scottish, but yes I know what you mean (I'm in the North East too).

But is it a splinter, or is it a spelk? :)

Answer 8

Do you mean that whatever your doing is not worth doing because it's not really worth it?

Now one for you.

Do you know what I mean if I were to say "He would peel an orange in his pocket" ;-)
(Saying from Ireland)

Answer 9

I have no idea but here if we don't know what we are going to have for dinner when asked we say 'bees knees & spiders ankles'

Answer 10

Yes it means the place where you keep your straw needs painting ;