Bent as a nine Bob note

Posted by TheFallen on November 07, 2004

In Reply to: Bent as a nine Bob note posted by Brian from Shawnee on November 06, 2004

: : : : : I know what it means bent=crooked a nine Bob note never existed it was a ten Bob note which is really a ten shilling for some reason a shilling was know as a Bob so if u had a nine Bob note it was counterfit so it was crooked or bent this phrases was used to express a fear of something being illegal
: : : : that all I know would like more input thanks

: : : There's an expression in the U.S. -- queer as a two-dollar bill. Meaning there is something "off" or wrong. This sounds similar to the above.

: : A $2 bill was actually issued. See -- www.treas.gov/education/faq/currency/denominations.shtml#q5

: : Anyway, I consulted a reference and it said the U.S. expression is "queer as a $3 bill." But I stand my ground and say it's $2.

: : I looked for bent as a Bob in my two British expression books and couldn't find anything.

: ESC, I really think it's "queer (or phony) as a $3 bill". As you indicated, it's commonly known that a $2 bill exists, even though they were never in wide circulation.

Bent as a nine Bob note is an expression still to be heard today, at least in London. Cockney terms and phrases have over the last few years gained a new lease of life or at least "hipness" following the release of a number of "Brit flicks", such as "Filthy Beast", "Lock Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels". The director of the latter, Mr. Guy Madonna, is probably one of the two most famous mockneys of them all - the other being Jamie Oliver (a "celebrity" chef, whose dumbed-down mockneyed accent clashes violently with the cut-glass Home Counties diction of his two parents.)

• Mockney sparras Lewis 08/November/04