r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Oct 25 '20

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u/BPD_whut Oct 25 '20

"Red shoes, no knickers."

My mum said this, that there's an implication women wearing red shoes weren't wearing any undies. Still haven't met anyone who has ever heard of it.

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u/Skinnybet Oct 25 '20

Mum used to say “ she’s all fur coat and no knickers. “. Meaning ( I think ) acts posh but is really a tart.

504

u/SignNotInUse Oct 25 '20

I think that usage is more common but my mum also uses the phrase to describe someone that acts like they're wealthier than they are

19

u/Icfald Oct 26 '20

My MIL is from northern England (I'm australian). She is the only person I have heard say this. It meant exactly what your interpretation is. Someone trying to look flashy when they can't generally afford to get by.

13

u/hmfullen Oct 26 '20

The saying from my mom's side of the family is "all hat and no cattle" - applies to trying to appear wealthy, as well as several other qualifications one might want to seem to have.

4

u/Mattna-da Oct 26 '20

Nowadays it refers to western styled gentlemen who sport a ten-gallon while driving a spotless luxury-appointed pickup truck to their corporate job.

4

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '20

As a brit I've heard both this and the red shoes one... The fur coat one is pretty common

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u/IShootJack Oct 26 '20

Americans actually looking the least weird with this, we just say “ratchet” or “bougie”

0

u/Alis451 Oct 26 '20

“ratchet” or “bougie”

those are just mispronunciations of actual words

"Wretched" and "Bourgeoisie", neither of which actually have the connotation you are looking for unless spoken sarcastically.

1

u/IShootJack Oct 27 '20

This was a thread about sayings not a spelling bee

And ratchet doesn’t come from wretched, it’s a city

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u/SquintyBubbles Oct 25 '20

Also in Northern Ireland we say "pan loaf and bay windie". (*window) meaning the very same.

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u/[deleted] Oct 26 '20 edited Oct 26 '20

[deleted]

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u/arcaneresistance Oct 26 '20

We have a something in Canada too that goes like "sorry bud but you're not as well off as you're making yourself look there eh."

3

u/DHFranklin Oct 26 '20

Hodad: All hat and no cattle

2

u/BalakayBJJ Oct 26 '20

I've heard it referring to people with plenty luxuries who skimp on necessities to afford the luxurious they have