I have tried Googling a number of variations but cannot determine exactly what was said a few times during the series. I believe Miss Brahms used the phrase twice and in one episode, Mr. Rumbold repeats it after her. It sounds like “that’s a right gnaws up” or something similar. Does anyone know? And where does the phrase come from? Thanks!

@drpjfitz I vaguely remember what you are referring to and had a hard time figuring that out too at the time. If I had to hazard a guess I think "That's a right nause up" was the phrase used and it means that it is an annoying situation. 

If you happen to know the show where the phrase was used I can look into it more.

I myself will be watching the shows over the next few months too and will keep an eye out for it. Another fan her might help in the meantime too.

One way or another this will be answered! 🙂

hello
I was brought up by a british parents so I understand most british slang but there is one episode where Captain Peacock reveals that Mrs. Slocombe worked as a "nippy" somewhere. What the goodness gracious is a nippy? Can anyone put me out of my misery and tell me.....??????

@bluehairslocombe

This is a guess, but I think this will answer it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippy

Interestingly they even mention it a little at the bottom of this page at:

http://www.kzwp.com/lyons/research.htm

Someone else seems to wonder about the term too!

@admin 

Yes the Wiki link is correct - is there not an episode where Mrs Slocombe reveals she worked at Lyons tea, or maybe revealed as a dig from Captain Peacock in an episode series 1-7???

Although as wiki explains this was a typecast name for a certain type of waitress at Lyons Tea it could also refer to someone who is 'speedy' or in a slang expression someone who is bottom of the ladder and I would love to know if this 'Nippy' term at Lyons was indeed someone who was a the bottom of the ladder/Junior position?

UPDATE: Just read this from another forum from someone who seems to know more about the Nippy -

"By Lyons it means the Lyons Corner Houses that were in London between the wars and had table service with uniformed waitresses nicknamed nippies because they were so fast or nippy".

@admin It was Season 1, episode 5, “His & Hers” in which Miss Brahms says, “We made a right naws/nause up of that, didn’t we?” Then Mr. Rumbold agrees that it was “a right naws/nause up.” It seems to mean they screwed up the situation. There’s another episode in which the expression is used as well.

@drpjfitz I think you've got it! 😀 It all depends on how "nause" is used in the sentence:

There seem to be 2 variations:

( http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/english-slang/n.htm)  

@admin That’s excellent! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to those statements and tried to figure out what they were saying. 😊

@drpjfitz The episode where the phrase you mentioned was used is "His and Hers". Just saw it the other day. Phrase also used in "Fire Practice".

In regard to the comments above about "nippy", I've repeatedly seen the explanation that it was a waitress style job during that particular era, which seems to be correct.

At first, this did not seem to make sense when taking into account Mrs. Slocombe's reaction to it. There seemed to be more to it than that.

However, as Mr. Humphries has pointed out a few times, Mrs. Slocombe was very "status" conscious and wanted people to think she had only worked in so-called "professional" jobs.

This was the reason for her reaction when Captain Peacock brought it up.

Here's some other phrases in the show:

"She's the cat's mother" = Not 100% sure on this, but supposedly it's used to correct someone's grammar and get them to use a specific name instead of vaguely referring to "she". This was said by Mrs. Slocombe to Mr. Harman in S6E4.

"Cop the lolly" = Get paid, especially a substantial amount. This was said by Miss Brahms a few times, especially in Grace and Favour when they are considering selling Millstone Manner.

Another expression I always enjoyed came from Mrs. Slocombe:

"Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs."

She always used it as an expression of surprise/disbelief over something that just happened.

For example, in S4E3, she says this right after they find out that Mr. Grainger is taking over for Mr. Rumbold.

I always wondered what the origin was of this expression. Looking online, it seems the most likely explanation is that someone is literally 'going to the stairs' and taking an exit because of their astonishment over what just happened.

@changingfloors Pretty cool explanations for these sayings. So different from what we say in the States for similar situations!