Humour was an integral part of the free spirited persona of Ceylonese Burghers. Here are a few phrases and their meanings:
Colloquialism | Meaning |
Yo’ll die and go. I’ll bury and put. | You children are harassing me so much that if you were to die I’d just bury you and go about my business.“I heard this being screamed at a 9 year old by the mother of a “friend” who had reached the limit of her endurance whilst trying to control half a dozen of her “unruly” children who weren’t paying a blind bit of notice to her.” Dugald Gonsal. |
“Border catch and go”. | The person says they are going to do something so quickly – or someone is being asked to do something so quickly, that they will have to hold onto the corners/ bends they take along the way, to prevent them from flying off. |
Almarah top got and have”(almarah = wardrobe) | It’s kept safely on top of the wardrobe. |
Almarah top got and have, seeni bunis bunko stool put and take | The sweet buns (seeni bunis) are on top of the wardrobe, stand on a stool and get them. |
“Bark what dog in won’t dog when I come” | The dog that is in won’t bark when I come in. |
“slipper don’t get waste put pariah”. | Put the slipper on so it won’t get wasted. |
“Fujigraphing around” | Fiddling, fudging, wasting time, when trying to do something – also ditto when trying to get the attention of someone of the opposite sex |
Moodavi……..also moospaynthu | Curmudgeon, spoiler, spoilsport. |
Where to catch, men | Unattainable, beyond reach. |
What for the telling, men | That goes without saying. |
mummy, come soon, mutton eating croton | Goats have entered the garden and are eating your prized plants. |
(Child) Mummy, the dhobi is came. (Mummy): Don’t tell like that child, tell the dhobi was came.(dhobi = the person who washes and delivers laundry – and gets paid on delivery). | Mummy said to tell mummy is not at home. |
“Bathroom got one soap piece bring and come” | Bring the soap from the bathroom. |
“I will put him a puttarse”(prounouned as in ‘but’ and not ‘put’) | I will give him a good hard slap (rarely meant literally). |
Doctor Puttarse | If someone is called “Dr Puttarse” it means they are giving unwanted advice / information and the listener is of the opinion the person doesn’t know what s/he is talking about. They are basically telling them to go away with their unwanted information (said with a tongue in cheek attitude). |
A Gumaya | A Villager – simple person. |
Gumayata magic | Villager magic. When someone is in awe of something the average person takes for granted. |
A Mikko | Someone who has no dress sense, style or class. |
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