Goodness gracious

Posted by Gary on October 12, 2002

In Reply to: Jelly posted by ESC on October 11, 2002

: : : : : : : : Does anyone know where the expression adjective "jammy" comes from. I'm not sure how widely it's used but means lucky - as a kid it was lengthened to "jammy dodger" which is a biscuit - any ideas?

: : : : : I think it comes exclusively from that biscuit confection with strawberry jam (or jelly if you're US) inside, meaning a dodgy sort of person-with the 'dodger' bit left out.

: : : : We have strawberry jam in the US, too. Jam, made with whole fruit, has seeds; jelly, made with juice, doesn't.

: : : It has a different consistency too. When I see a glob on the kitchen table, I think to myself, "It must be jelly 'cause jam don't shake that way."

: : I'll just bet you do.

: And as The Killer sings:
: I like a little coffee/I like a little tea/ But jelly, jelly, jelly is the thing for me"

I assume you mean Mr. J.L. Lewis? If so I think (thing?) he might well have been singing Jerry, Jerry, Jerry is the thing for me. I worked with "Killer" in the 1970s in my previous life as a recording engineer. A most alarming character. As far as I know he didn't actually kill anyone during his stay in London but he always gave the impression it was his response of choice if you did something he wasn't 100% pleased with. From the safe distance of 25 years and a few thousand miles I can say that he came across as a tiny bit conceited.

Great to have had a front row seat while he knocked seven bells out of the studio piano though.

• Goodness gracious ESC 10/12/02
  • Goodness gracious Gary 10/13/02
    • Goodness gracious ESC 10/13/02
  • J. L. ("Rhotic") Lewis R. Berg 10/12/02
    • J. L. ("Rhotic") Lewis Bob 10/12/02