up the pole

up the pole
   pregnant
   Where the monkey ends up. The phrase puns on the meaning, in trouble, and the vulgar pole, the penis. Also as up the spout, with imagery from a shell rammed in a rifled barrel from which, the copper band having been engaged, it can be extracted only with danger and difficulty; and up the stick, reverting to the simian imagery:
    'We've planned [marriage] for a long time.'
   'When you discovered she was up the pole.' (Binchy, 1985)
    The chorus, four times repeated, was 'Sho was up the bleeding spout'. (F. Richards, 1936)
    I believe Garry Foster's young fella's after puttin' some young one from Coolock up the stick. (R. Doyle, 1987)
   All these phrases can also be used of financial difficulties.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • the pole vault — an athletic event in which people compete by using a pole to jump over a bar that is high above the ground • • • Main Entry: ↑pole vault …   Useful english dictionary

  • (the) pole vault — the pole vault UK US noun a sport in which you use a long pole to push yourself over a high bar Thesaurus: athletics and track and field sportshyponym sports events and competitionshyponym Derived Word: pole vaulter …   Useful english dictionary

  • the Pole Star — north star • • • Main Entry: ↑Pole Star …   Useful english dictionary

  • up the pole — (slang) 1. In a predicament 2. Drunk 3. Crazed 4. Pregnant 5. In favour (military) • • • Main Entry: ↑pole * * * up the pole Brit informal : ↑c …   Useful english dictionary

  • up the pole — mod. alcohol intoxicated. □ You sound a little up the pole. Why don’t you call back when you’re sober? □ She’s up the pole and shouldn’t drive …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • up the pole — ► up the pole Brit. informal mad. Main Entry: ↑pole …   English terms dictionary

  • Old Pulteney Row To The Pole — The Old Pulteney Row To The Pole is an expedition which successfully navigated a rowing boat to the North Magnetic Pole at 78°35.7N 104°11.9W, the position certified in 1996.[1] It is believed to be the only polar expedition to feature rowing… …   Wikipedia

  • the pole vault — UK / US noun a sport in which you use a long pole to push yourself over a high bar Derived word: pole vaulter noun countable Word forms pole vaulter : singular pole vaulter plural pole vaulters …   English dictionary

  • Conquest of the Pole — Directed by Georges Méliès Produced by Georges Méliès amd Charles Pathé …   Wikipedia

  • Round-the-pole flying — (RTP) is a form of flying model aircraft, in which the model is attached via a line from its wingtip or fuselage to a central support structure. Control signals can be passed to the model via wires alongside or integral with the attachment line.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”