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I should cocoa
13 Answers
Reused by Supergrass as an album title; I think it was common usage in the RAF in WWII and means NO WAY. Any ideas as to derivation?
Answers
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from OED
In phr. I should cocoa (Rhyming slang), I should say so. Freq. used ironically.
1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid ii. 23 She don't do so bad, I should cocoa.
1964 Listener 31 Dec. 1053/2 _I should cocoa!' I retorts._ _They won't get me in the Kate---not in a million years they won'
In phr. I should cocoa (Rhyming slang), I should say so. Freq. used ironically.
1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid ii. 23 She don't do so bad, I should cocoa.
1964 Listener 31 Dec. 1053/2 _I should cocoa!' I retorts._ _They won't get me in the Kate---not in a million years they won'
12:39 Tue 24th Jan 2012
Longman's English Idioms adds a word of caution: 'This phrase is not recommended for use by the foreign student.'
But why 'cocoa'? As always when in difficulty with a phrase origin, turn to rhyming slang. 'Cocoa' is from 'coffee and cocoa', almost rhyming slang for 'I should say/think so!' Often used ironically. Current by 1936.
Dictionary of Popular Phrases (1990) by Nigel Rees
Nicked from Yahoo
But why 'cocoa'? As always when in difficulty with a phrase origin, turn to rhyming slang. 'Cocoa' is from 'coffee and cocoa', almost rhyming slang for 'I should say/think so!' Often used ironically. Current by 1936.
Dictionary of Popular Phrases (1990) by Nigel Rees
Nicked from Yahoo
from OED
In phr. I should cocoa (Rhyming slang), I should say so. Freq. used ironically.
1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid ii. 23 She don't do so bad, I should cocoa.
1964 Listener 31 Dec. 1053/2 _I should cocoa!' I retorts._ _They won't get me in the Kate---not in a million years they won't.'
1965 J. Porter Dover Three xi. 133 _She says you paid her a pound a week for the best part of nine months,' Dover went on. Mrs. Gomersall laughed scornfully. _I should co-co!' she chortled.
1967 O. Norton Now Lying Dead ii. 22 What me?_ I should coco. Sheila'd think I was off my head.
In phr. I should cocoa (Rhyming slang), I should say so. Freq. used ironically.
1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid ii. 23 She don't do so bad, I should cocoa.
1964 Listener 31 Dec. 1053/2 _I should cocoa!' I retorts._ _They won't get me in the Kate---not in a million years they won't.'
1965 J. Porter Dover Three xi. 133 _She says you paid her a pound a week for the best part of nine months,' Dover went on. Mrs. Gomersall laughed scornfully. _I should co-co!' she chortled.
1967 O. Norton Now Lying Dead ii. 22 What me?_ I should coco. Sheila'd think I was off my head.
Obviously I am not satisfied.............ever. Perhaps I should explain the context in which I was used to hearing it.
Q. Would you do the impossible/unreasonable?
A I should f*****g cocoa!
I had imagined it might date back to the early days of radio communications in aircraft. When given instructions or orders over a craclky radio 'Roger and Wilco' stood for right and will cooperate.
Back on terra firma the opposite to Wilco??????????Try A
Q. Would you do the impossible/unreasonable?
A I should f*****g cocoa!
I had imagined it might date back to the early days of radio communications in aircraft. When given instructions or orders over a craclky radio 'Roger and Wilco' stood for right and will cooperate.
Back on terra firma the opposite to Wilco??????????Try A
Click http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ish1.htm for the view of an expert etymologist and lexicographer. (It's more just rhyme than rhyming slang, as NORMALLY construed...ie cocoa rhymes with say so, whereas, in general rhyming slang, the rhyme-word actually disappears.)
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