Tail over teakettle, or ass (or arse) over teakettle

[momatu]

I saw this expression online when I was looking for British slang Harry might use in 1998, and I absolutely love it.  Does it fit with Harry and the time period, though?  For context, people crowded into a large stadium are pushing and shoving, craning forward for a better vew, and he thinks someone's going to pitch themselves over the railing.  I

Comments

[ext_3359375]

In my experience it's usually "arse over apex" - but yes, it's a bit jokey. "Head over heels" is another one, but as you say it too is a bit light.

Under the circumstances I think he would probably say/think that the person was going to go, or pitch, head-first over the rails.

Later, when it was over and the danger was out of the way, he might say in retrospect "Yeesh - I really thought somebody was going to go arse over apex over those rails."

[momatu]

Thanks again!

[groolover]

I've never heard the word "teakettle" used in the UK (in any context, not just this phrase) and I'm in my 50s! I remember looking it up when I first encountered it, and being surprised to learn what a teakettle is, because we just don't generally have those.

I've never heard "arse over apex" ever, but that's probably a regional thing.

I think most people I know would say "there was so much pushing that someone nearly went flying" or possibly "they nearly went arse over tit".

[momatu]

Thanks for your response. I was surprised to see "teakettle" all as one word, but I didn't think too much about it. I'd have thought two words, tea kettle. I think I've decided against an expression like that in the particular scene I'm working on. I don't think it fits the mood. For a different scene, I'm thinking of maybe "arse over cauldron" or something like that to kind of Wizard it up a bit.

[groolover]

I've never heard heard it as either one word or two - it's just not an item that exists in the UK.

"Arse over cauldron" sounds good though!

[zigadenus]

I know where teakettle comes from: Blame Canada! We have them, and because much of our written and spoken language derives from British linguistic traditions, Americans tend to assume that anything weird in Canadian English must necessarily be a holdover from the British Empire. Not so! We have teakettles, eavestroughs, etc.

[ladyguinevere83]

As others said above, it's not a phrase I've ever come across. Although I have heard of teakettle, it sounds almost Victorian to my ears. Head over heels or arse over tit would be more usual (depending on your company).

Arse over cauldron does sound good though! :)

[momatu]

Thanks for your reply. It was an inner musing, not something spoken out loud, so current company wouldn't matter. I decided the spot I was originally thinking about using it was too heavy of a scene, but I might have him recount it later to someone, maybe Bill an Fleur, and in that case, company could matter. Not with Bill, but possibly with Fleur.

[sushidog]

I could be wrong, but I think "arse over teakettle" is a twee baudlerisation of "arse over tit". I don't think it's very Harry.

[momatu]

Thanks for your response. I think you're right. In the end, I don't think it's very Harry.

[ningloreth]

I'm 60 and from the north of England, and I'm sure I've heard people say 'arse over teakettle', though Google seems to be saying it's American slang (so it would be 'ass over teakettle', I suppose).

I have certainly heard 'arse over tit' or 'a over t' from members of my own family, many, many times, sometimes light-heartedly, sometimes in a more serious context.

In your position, I would have Harry thinking "Someone's going to go a over t," though some of your readers may wonder what it means!

[groolover]

Maybe it's different parts of the North - I'm 53 and in Manchester and I've never heard any use of the word teakettle! But definitely arse over tit :-)

[ningloreth]

I'm from Manchester too!

There's no doubt that I recognise it, but I can't quite remember where I heard it. I think my mother said it, and it is the sort of thing she would have said as a joke, but I can't quite trust my memory! I've never heard the word 'teakettle' used in any other context. I think I assumed it was a nonsense word, a sort of elaboration of 'kettle'.

[groolover]

So did I, until I looked it up!