Bare Cheek: What We Used To Say

An occasional series in which we struggle to remember the once common, simple words or phrases that have been replaced by unwieldy verbosity.

WHAT WE SAY NOW:
“Extreme Poverty Situation”

This is one of those terms coined by people who want to persuade us they’ve identified some-thing new.

“…And inevitably, at this time of year, our thoughts turn to those living in an extreme poverty situation and we cannot help but emit a sly chuckle of satisfaction as we, in the warmth and comfort of our homes, ram yet another mince pie down our self-satisfied maws.”

– H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas Day broadcast 2014.

WHAT WE USED TO SAY:
Dire want, need, poverty, penury, deprivation, privation, hardship, destitution

BRIGHTON BUS NAMES EXPLAINED

We explain the connections to Brighton of those names emblazoned on the front of local buses…

Mata Hari (No. 19) – The noted femme fatale and spy once used the cipher “PORTSLADE” as a code when communicating with fellow secret agents.

Skeletor (No. 16B) – The “Masters of the Universe” bad guy was pictured, in airbrushed form, on the fairground waltzer that graced the Level between 1990 and 2008, when he was inexplicably replaced with
Holly Willoughby.

Freddie Flintoff (No. 202) – The briefly-flavour-of-the-month cricketer was considered for an abortive “Come to Brighton” advertising campaign the local council was thinking of employing in 2007.