Bog Standard

[pjm007]

I realise that the phrase 'Bog standard' is used to classify something that is bottom of the range, but from where did it originate ?

Thanks in advance.

[Sequin]

One story states that the best engineering was British or German - so when specifying parts to be ordered they were only acceptable if made to British or German (BoG) standards

[IndieSinger]

The more likely theory is that the phrase is a corruption of the older British slang phrase box-standard. This referred to motoring and engineering and meant that parts were "in a standard, manufactured and unmodified form" which implied something was basic and unexceptional.

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bog1.htm for an etymologist's views on the phrase, including the 'British or German' and 'box' theories, neither of which he seems to be particularly impressed by!

[Damoclese]

It is interesting that most people refer nowadays to it as BOG standard. I remember the phrase from my engineering days as BORG Standard. This was usually applied to items such as a Borg Standard Clutch which is essentially the manual clutch that 95% of vehicles with inlise transmissions were (and are) fitted with today. The clutches were designed and manufactured by Borg and Beck, although I think that the patent has ran out. Borg and Beck were also responsible for other global standards, such as some machine threads.

This entomology would make sense because it is a worldwide standard clutch that Ford, GM and even the old Rover company used to use them.