Phrases coined by J.G.Harston
I may have coined these phrases. Some of them I have used them since the
early 1980s, and certainly in conversations at University in the late
1980s. I have not found any references to them prior to my usage.
Nouveau Middle-Class (sing), Nouveaux Middle-Class (pl)
Those who have quickly or suddenly entered the middle class from a lower
social backgound. Generally a 1970s phenomenem. Typified by Rodney Bewes'
character Bob Ferris in
Whatever
Happened to the
Likely Lads? and the characters in the play
Abigail's Party.
The phrase refers particularly to those who live and behave not in a manner
that would be described as middle class, but in a manner that they believe
is what is middle class.
Compare with Nouveau Riche in the 1980s, those who have quickly or
suddenly become wealthy, characatured as being obnoxious, as exemplified by
Harry Enfield's characters
Stan
and Pam Herbert with the catch-phrase "Oi am considerably richer
than yoi"
I remember using Nouveau Middle-Class in the mid-1980s.
The British Isles - everything north of France at low tide
A definition of the British Isles to emphasise that all the islands north of
France make up the British Isles. Emphasises that the Channel Islands just
north of France and the island of Ireland are part of the British isles. The
reference to low tide is to exclude those islands on the French coast that
are connected to the mainland at low tide, such as Mont St. Michele. A
slightly flawed definition as it implies that the Faeros and Iceland are
part of the British Isles, but used to emphasis that the British Isles is
more that just Great Britain - the largest of the British Isles - or the
United Kingdom - which comprises parts of most of the Isles, but not all of
them, particularly the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
I first used this phrase in 1988 when explaining to Japanese students at
Stirling University the geography and political bodies in the British
Isles.
Probably not coined by me, but used since early 1980s
Computographer
Historiochromolinguistics
"Historiochromolinguistics is a very fine coinage which I will try and
find an opportunity to use."e;
link
Commonly found on uk.rec.sheds
Remantle
Opposite of dismantle.
Macrosope, Piers Anthony, 1969, p126:
You can be sure that if they offically dismantle it, there will be an
unofficial remantling.
The verb mantle exists: cover, conceal.
Molish
Opposite of demolish.
Unforget
Opposite of forget, ie remember.
Unforgettery
By extension from unforget, meaning memory.
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- Last update: 29-Jul-2021