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A Northern Phrase. Any Ideas Please.

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retrocop | 20:49 Fri 15th Feb 2019 | Phrases & Sayings
16 Answers
Many years ago I was on a joint excercise with a team from ooop North. After a successful conclusion to the operation we,as hosts,invited the team back to our unit HQ for a debrief and fuel and refreshments before they drove back North. During the conversations with these lads we heard the expression, "It were right gradely" or what sounded like gradely. Could of been gravely?
None of us Southerners knew what they meant but were too polite to ask what they meant and how the expression originated. I have always assumed,all these years, that it meant 'It went well and was good.

The same team also used an expression,"Where's the Stones?" Out of their necessity more than ours they described a need for a pee and where was the urinals. Hope that may help for the quest to find the origin of the saying 'Gradely'
They could of been from Greater Manchester or Yorkshire. Any one solve my enigma after all these years of wondering. Ta. :-)
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Right gradely would mean .. it was an excellent result. More of a Yorkshire statement. Where's the stones .. I used to say it and new what it meant. But growing up in Manchester, it was just normal everyday talk. It never occured that it might amuse others !
21:06 Fri 15th Feb 2019
Gradely I have heard before.
Not the Stones one though
Did you enjoy your tripe and cow heel sir?

Aye lad, it were reet gradely.
(Yes thank you, my good man, it was deliciois).


Common as muck that phrase Retro
Question Author
Many thanks for your input ff. I think 'the stones' does not need much
imagination when a urinal is made of porcelain and ceramics with the guy making the request with his legs crossed.:-)
I was intrigued what particul;ar region the word gravely was used and how it originated. Looks like Norse or other scandinavian origins.
Thank you for your time.

Right gradely would mean .. it was an excellent result.
More of a Yorkshire statement.
Where's the stones .. I used to say it and new what it meant. But growing up in Manchester, it was just normal everyday talk. It never occured that it might amuse others !
Question Author
Thanks Cap'n
Us Southern Jessies (as Danny13 addresses us/me) aint common mate so wouldn't understand that forrin lingo. :-)
n
Question Author
Thanks avahalf
A successful result would certainy fit in with the context of the operation debrief.
Cheers Retro .. your the 'dogz'
You are lucky they did not claim to be powfagged after the exercise!
That was my Mum's favourite word after a hard day in t'mill Palustris.
The Stones thing could be a Micky take of Stones beer brewed in Sheffield and not a fantastic rep between real ale suppers. So, show me the stones would be show me the ***. Just a thought.
Pee on the stones? Makes sense.
"That was my Mum's favourite word"

Much favoured by Chorlton, he of the Wheelies, IIRC.
And for a really local saying, if you had not understood then you may have been described as being 'as thick as a Lugsdale butty'.
where's the stones

pi^s stones
A male urinal, especially in a pub or bar
Oih lad, where's the p^ss stones I'm brasting
#urinal#toilet#***#bursting#male
reet gradely (nordern) = prarper jarb! (Devon)

or RP I say that was good fun!

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