the Top Gear British phrases explanation thread

[Gingertom]

Originally Posted by gfc-julian

the BBC have a thing for spinal tap tributes, have you noticed the Iplayer sound level goes up to 11 too????

I noticed that too, I don't know if it's an intentional Spinal Tap reference but I hope it is.

[spicysaurus]

Originally Posted by Gingertom

I noticed that too, I don't know if it's an intentional Spinal Tap reference but I hope it is.

Come on, what else would it be? That's like wondering if a reference to the Ministry of Silly Walks is an intentional Monty Python reference. There's nothing else it could refer to.

[Gingertom]

Originally Posted by spicysaurus

Come on, what else would it be? That's like wondering if a reference to the Ministry of Silly Walks is an intentional Monty Python reference. There's nothing else it could refer to.

Let's not forget though, this is the BBC we're talking about here.

[ratinspector]

Hi Peter,
I recognize the reference to "Ashingcore" and it's not what the others think. It is not a reference to anything historical at all. It is in fact two references to a British television sitcom (situation-comedy TV show) called "Faulty Towers" which featured world-famous, comic actor John Cleese (famous from the Monty Pithon series, and for being "Headless Harry" in the first Harry Potter movie). The references are to two episodes of Faulty Towers: The Germans, and The Anniversary. Only 13 episodes were made of Faulty Towers, so people, like my whole family, who love the series have memorized most of it. In "The Germans", protagonist Basil Faulty is dealing with German guests who are visiting the hotel he runs in a small English town. In his effort to not offend them by reminding them of the war between Germany and England, he foolisly makes reference to it MANY times. He then explains to his family: "I mentioned the war once, but I think I got away with it." Then in the episode "The Anniversary" when his wife questions him about the date because she thinks he has forgotten their wedding anniversary AGAIN, he suggests to her, in a mocking way, that perhaps today is "the anniversary of the Battle of Ashingcore." The statement you heard was made by a fan of Faulty Towers. He was making a private joke through his combined double-reference to things that Basil Faulty is famous for saying. I understood it instantly.
Check out the episode guide: http://www.fawltysite.net/episodes.htm
Take care, Bill ratinspector@hotmail.com
By the way, my email address "ratinspector" is a similar reference to the episode: "Basil The Rat."

Originally Posted by pepitko

In 13x05, in the cheap car challenge ice-race Jeremy says at the begging of the race "I mentioned Battle of Ashingcore (wrong spelling likely) once and I think I got away with it" and then at the end "this is not like Battle of Ashingcore, it's more like the Battle of Hastings."

Can someone please explain the significance of this for us less familiar with UK/French history? Cheers

[salle]

... all those misspelled names are making my eye twitch...
It's Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Headless Nick, ok now that's out of the way

And you're probably right about the first quote, wrong about the second. The battle of Agincourt was a battle in the 100 years war, where the French outnumbered the English but the English still won.
Clarkson is a known english historical war nut, he's made two documentaries about heroes of the 2nd world war. He often makes references to battles or wars. The use of this perticular battle is most likely due to it being one of the biggest victories for the english against the french. And them being out numbered and on french territory there are some similarities to their situation in the segment.
Because all of this I'd say it's very unlikely that he makes a reference to the battle because Cleese also mentions it in another episode, it has got quite the track record in english popular culture even before Cleese was ever born. In Shakespear's play Henry V there's a famous monolouge before the battle, called the St Crispin Day Speach, here's an excerpt:

"This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:"

[salle]

"Chris Bangle. He's a septic."
3x05
From the SIARPC segment with Simon Cowell

Explanation from Urban dictionary:
Cockney ryhming slang for a yank (american). The whole phrase is 'Septic Tank' - but as with most cockney ryhming slang the first word is used only. The reason for the link is that, like a septic tank nobody likes a filthy stinking american!!!

[Soup?]

^Septic Tank - Yank.

[salle]

Uhm ... I did include the explanation for it...

[Chupacabras]

Often abbreviated as 'seppo' btb.

[flydiscovery]

Originally Posted by salle

"Chris Bangle. He's a septic."
3x05
From the SIARPC segment with Simon Cowell

Explanation from Urban dictionary:
Cockney ryhming slang for a yank (american). The whole phrase is 'Septic Tank' - but as with most cockney ryhming slang the first word is used only. The reason for the link is that, like a septic tank nobody likes a filthy stinking american!!!

Cockney rhyming slang is something I think I've resigned myself never to understand. It reminds me of that episode of Star Trek TNG where Picard is on the planet trying to communicate with the species that only speaks in simile. "Darmok and Jillad at Tinagra" and all that.

[spicysaurus]

Originally Posted by Soup?

^Septic Tank - Yank.

And, if you believe QI, Listerine is someone who hates Americans (anti-septic). Cute!

[avusilvia]

great thread. I knoow this one but just thought it would be a nice addition to the thread. (what is a pikey?). I urban dictionaried it. lol

[Chupacabras]

Pg. 22 would have also answered your question.