Skunk at the garden party

Posted by ESC on August 29, 2008 at 22:04

In Reply to: Skunk at the garden party posted by Smokey Stover on August 29, 2008 at 13:39:

: : : "To be the skunk at the garden party"
: : : I know that it means to be the unwanted guest at a party, It could be someone who crashes a party. I would like to know the origin of this expression.

: : I would imagine that it is quite straightforward: a skunk (for reasons which even us Eastpondians know) would not be popular at any social gathering. So to be 'the skunk at the garden party' is to be unwelcome.

: : DFG

: Although it may be unnecessary to say so, the reason DFG says "even us Eastpondians know" is that skunks are not native to Great Britain, although most Brits have heard of their special properties. Most species of skunk, including the common striped skunk, belong to the Western Hemisphere, especially North America. (A lesser-known species is native to Southeast Asia.)
: SS

A hog in Sunday school. And so forth.