Not on your Nelly

Posted by Cedric Barfoot on March 31, 2003

On BBC News this evening Andrew Marr used a phrase I haven't heard for years and totally unknown to my wife: "Not on your Nelly." The meaning of the phrase is, I believe, "not bloody likely" (but much politer, of course). Any ideas on the origin of the phrase? And is it "Nelly" with a capital N? And who might she have been?

• Not on your Nelly R. Berg 03/31/03
  • Not on your Nelly Cedric C. Barfoot 04/01/03
    • Not on your Nelly R. Berg 04/02/03
      • Not on your Nelly : the alternative Spurious 04/04/03