Gone for a Burton

Posted by Richard on February 17, 2005

Gone for a Burton = dead (not returning)

My mother (who grew up in Nottingham) swore that this originated in Nottingham, where the local brewery was Burton's ales, known for their strength.

If a wife asked another in the street "Where's your Jim ?", the answer would be "Gone for a Burton", which was taken to mean that she didn't expect to see him in any sensible state that day.

Anyone else heard this expalanation ?