rag

[dumasfxxk]

why do people say dont lose your rag

[Quizmonster]

'Rag' has meant various things over the years apart from a scrap of cloth. For example, it has meant 'temper' for the last hundred years or so. D H Lawrence wrote, in 1914, "An' that got your rag out, did it?" to mean losing one's temper. Earlier, there were phrases such as 'drop the rag' meaning to signal the start of something and 'take the rag off' meaning to be the best at something. The others have now disappeared from use but 'lose your rag' has stayed with us.

[jno]

Jonathon Green's slang dictionary says the particular form of rag used here (there are lots, as Quizmonster says) means either the tongue or 'ragging' - ie teasing or abusing. None of this seems to provide a very clear answer to your question, though.

[smudge]

Hi Quizzy - you should change your name to QuizMaster!

[Quizmonster]

Somebody - who I believe came later to AnswerBank than I did, Smudge - already has the name Quizmaster.
Many years ago, on a different Q & A site, I wanted to be Masterquizzer - a nickname friends at my local gave me because I was running three different weekly quizzes in three different pubs at the time - but was told the name was already taken. The easiest way I could change things was to alter the 'a' to 'on', making me Monsterquizzer. When I came to AB, I would have used the same name but there was an 11-letter length-restriction. Accordingly, I turned it around to make Quizmonster. Et voil�!
Thanks for the thought, though, ma'am!

[smudge]

You're welcome Quizzy (hope you don't mind me calling you that endearing name). I really enjoy reading all your sensible & concise A's.

We're never too old to learn!

[Quizmonster]

In Scottish dialects, Smudge, the verb ca' or caa' means 'to push/drive' and also 'to call'. Consequently, there is a saying: "You can caa' me onythin' as lang as ye dinna caa' me ower!" (You can call me anything as long as you don't push me over!) So, I'm perfectly happy for you to call me 'Quizzy', 'QM' or whatever.
'Smudge' was always, in my childhood days...long since!..an endearment for anyone called Smith. Is that so in your case? It's not really open to abbreviation; if anything, to make it even more of an 'abbreviation' - so to speak - we'd lengthen it and call the person 'Smudger'!
Thanks again for your kind comment.

[smudge]

I'm glad you don't mind being called Quizzy & thanks for the rundown on Smudge.

Smudge was our Russian Blue cat who died aged 13 years. I know not everyone likes cats, but she was so special & our girls grew up with her around.

My brother had a mate in the Army called Smith - apart from anything else, he was called, Smiffy, Smudge & Smudger!

Thanks again!

[dumasfxxk]

thanks for your help everyone

[Gromit]

Sorry a bit off thread,

Did Smudge see the Man Utd team don their Smudger T-shirt for Alan Smith after sundays League Cup win?