Go for a Burton

Posted by ESC on October 11, 1999

In Reply to: Gone for a Burton posted by Tony Haddock on October 11, 1999

: does anyone know of the origin of gone for a burton
: is it anything to do with the brewing industry in the uk?

From The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang by John Ayto & John Simpson (Oxford University Press, 1992): burton, noun.

Also "Burton, to go for a." Brit. of a pilot; to be killed, of a person or thing: to be missing, ruined, destroyed. 1941-. E. Roberts "I can see those flowers going for a burton."

Origin unknown; perhaps connected with Burton type of beer from Burton-on-Trent.)

• Gone for a Burton, Part II ESC 10/23/99
  • Gone for a Burton, Part II Blocky 11/05/99