[HPFGU-OTChatter] More British Phrases

[Neil Ward]

Ben wrote:

> Simon wrote:
> "I have had a quick gander at the forum boards at the Warner Brothers
> Harry Potter Movie"
>
> Where on earth did this phrase come from - are male geese known to
> spend a lot of time looking at things? And is "I had a quick goose at
> the forum boards" something completely different?

In this context, gander has nothing to do with male geese.  According to my
dictionary, it's a slang word derived from the Old English 'gandra' - to
have a look at something.  It's used quite commonly (I use it too) but I'd
always assumed it was Cockney rhyming slang until I looked it up.  Rhyming
with what, though?  Salamader?

Goose can mean to grab someone's rear end, among other things, so don't
confuse your geese and ganders!

I sometimes use the phrase to have a 'shufti' at something, to mean the same
as gander, and that is apparently from the Arabic for 'try to see' (saffa).
I had no idea I was such a linguist!

Neil

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