Meaning of a phrase

[vic_vega66]

I was thinking today that I need to get some thermostatic radiator valves for the radiators, its getting near winter and its cold. I checked online for instructions on how to fit these and my eyes glazed over when it started talking about draining the central heating system and using X widget and Y screwdriver to do Z and W

Comments

[sambeth]

I'm from Sheffield, near to you, and I've never heard it! Only 'cash in hand', etc.

[ningloreth]

I'm from Manchester, and my brother, who's in the building trade, does 'foreigners'. They are cash-in-hand jobs for someone other than the company he works for (though possibly for someone who owns or manages the company he works for, since building companies are often small or family owned), and they are generally done at the weekend. As doire says above, it's the job that's 'foreign' (or possibly the customer), but only in the sense of 'not company business'. I don't know why the term 'foreigner' is used, and doubt that my brother does, either, but it has nothing to do with non-native people, and is not pejorative. A foreigner is always welcome.

[hkitsune]

Seems Manchester-specific, then, judging by the other comments. Ah, British dialects...

[provencepuss]

I've never heard 'foreigner' used like that but I wonder if it has anything to do with the old term 'on the black'....maybe it isn't PC anymore!

[vanatoomas]

My first thought was the same (but I did not know should I voice it - after all, English is not my native language)

[otana]

As an ex-Londoner and a current California resident, I haven't heard this used in either place.

[provencepuss]

I forgot to add 'ex Londoner' :) I've been away from England for 25 years and sometimes when I go back I feel I'm in a foreign country!

[otana]

Haha, only seven here but they've built a whole high school by my old house and just looking on Google Maps everything is so different! I'm half dreading when I go to visit!

[provencepuss]

I play safe - I hardly go out of London if I go back ;) but last time I raised many eyebrows because I couldn't see the coins in my purse without my glasses and there I was with my 'purrrfect' RP English saying to the guy in the paper shop 'is this a 20p?"