Butchers (A little knowledge)

Posted by Masakim on October 30, 2001

In Reply to: A little knowledge posted by Helen Elliott on October 30, 2001

: I have just come across this database and it seems to be useful.

: I saw the phrase " a little knowledge" listed. I have always believed that this is a misquote and the actual expression is " a little learning is a dangerous thing", but I cannot remember the origin. Help please.

: Also, I noticed the word "butchers" listed with the meaning given as "sick" (Australian origin). I have never heard this before and only know the Cockney rhyming slang from which this version is derived, i.e. Butcher's hook = look. This origin is not given on its own, which is odd.

: I llok forward to the development further of this site.

butchers (hook) 1. (rhyming slang; butcher's hook) look. 2. (rhyming slang) crook; angry.
go butchers (hook) at become angry with: e.g. The boss went butchers at him for bungling that job.
From _The Penguin Book of Australian Slang_ by Lenie Johansen [First published as _The Dinkum Dictionary_, 1988]