*cover picture by Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images*
The word 'bollocks' has been in the news a good bit recently.
It started when 'No' campaigner John Waters called Eamon Dunphy a 'f***ing bollocks' during an interview on the 8th Amendment referendum which was being held on Dunphy's podcast.
Then, in a rather bizarre turn of events, the Transport Minister Shane Ross reportedly called Independent TD Mattie McGrath 'an out and out bollocks' in the Dail canteen in a row over proposed new road safety laws.
No doubt the word popping up everywhere made plenty of people chuckle and giggle including comedian David O'Doherty, who then put a message out to Countdown's very own English language expert Susie Dent:
Hey @susie_dent Where does ‘bollocks’ come from? Sounds French. Like balleaux?
— David O'Doherty (@phlaimeaux) May 18, 2018
Now, we hadn't heard from Susie in relation to this... until now.
She got back to David last night, with an explanation that's so funny for a number of reasons.
Am I too late? Bollocks used to be ‘ballocks’, dating right back to the Anglo-Saxons (the word not the bollocks). It’s related to ball and was completely neutral - just as intestines were otherwise known as ‘arse-ropes’.
— Susie Dent (@susie_dent) May 21, 2018
Firstly, ballocks doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
Secondly, 'arse-ropes' is just an outstanding phrase that needs to make a comeback.
