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"rough as guts"?

Posted by Smokey Stover on August 06, 2005

In Reply to: "Rough as guts"? posted by Uplah on August 05, 2005

: "rough as guts"?

: I heard a Kiwi say this a while ago and I thought it was quite amusing. Am I right in assuming the word "rough" refers to something nasty or unpleasant?

From the OED: [rough:] "d. In slang phrases rough as bags, guts, etc., uncouth, coarse. Chiefly Austral. and N.Z. [citation:] 1966 B. BEAVER You can't come Back 118 I'm shy all right, but I'm not smooth... I'm rough as guts. 1968 F. HARDY Unlucky Australians 11 The old Territorian is a good bloke, rough as guts but his heart's in the right place." SS

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