"Waylaid by a ruffian!"

**DdlR** · Posted On: 8/19/2012 1:28am

A cautionary tale of urban maleficence. Don't let this happen to you!

**doofaloofa** · Posted On: 8/19/2012 4:18am

If only Percy had opted for the Bowler hat

**Eddie Hardon** · Posted On: 8/19/2012 8:01am

Hence the cockney term, "If you want to know the Time, ask a policeman".

Have another look at the video and you'll work it out.:-)

**doofaloofa** · Posted On: 8/19/2012 10:31am

Originally Posted by Eddie Hardon

Hence the cockney term, "If you want to know the Time, ask a policeman".

Have another look at the video and you'll work it out.:-)

Is that realy where the expression comes from?

I though Policemen were just very helpfull

**Eddie Hardon** · Posted On: 8/19/2012 5:13pm

Well, it stems from the 19th C. Music Halls (the Palaces of Variety) and also Pubs, when the only "Gentlemen" who'd had too much to drink and collapsed in gutters and the like, would have their watches (Hunters probably) 'lifted' by a policeman.

So, in a period when few ordinary people had the luxury of a timepiece, you could ask the Time of a policeman and he'd likely have a Watch/Timepiece (and at least one ;-) ).

Michael Collins, eh?

**doofaloofa** · Posted On: 8/19/2012 5:31pm

Originally Posted by Eddie Hardon

Well, it stems from the 19th C. Music Halls (the Palaces of Variety) and also Pubs, when the only "Gentlemen" who'd had too much to drink and collapsed in gutters and the like, would have their watches (Hunters probably) 'lifted' by a policeman.

So, in a period when few ordinary people had the luxury of a timepiece, you could ask the Time of a policeman and he'd likely have a Watch/Timepiece (and at least one ;-) ).

informative

thanks

Originally Posted by Eddie Hardon

Michael Collins, eh?

One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter hah!