As a born Londoner (though now much further North) I've never heard of the 'old lady' saying .... though well familiar with the 'over the brush' one ... you could ask her about it, as it might be something really local to where she was or only used for a short while.
K
For those younger readers, and to be honest I hadn't heard it for decades :- "Living over the brush" is an idiomatic expression used in Northern England to describe cohabiting without being married1. The phrase originated in the 19th century during the tunnel building days. It was used to describe an unmarried couple who lived together, and was often used to refer to camp followers from the towns, who were usually prostitutes. The phrase "living over the brush" originates from a form of marriage when a couple held hands and jumped over a besom to signal their commitment to each other, because they couldn't have a church marriage
A besom is a broom made of twigs tied round a stick
I've never heard term old lady used, but have heard of old woman used in not always a complimentary light.
Last edited by JohnHarris; 08/11/2402:55 PM.
Prev '12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY '08 Roadster FELIX '06 4/4 70th LOKI '77 4/4 SEAMUS '85 4/4 MOLLY
