Brass monkeys and blowing a hoolie mean nothing to Gen Z
It’s brass monkeys outside today. Proper nippy… You might be visited by Jack Frost later!
Know what we mean by this? If so, we regret to inform you that you’re probably not a dewy-eyed youngster.
The weather phrases above are said to be at risk of extinction because Gen Z barely use them, and may not even know what they mean.
A poll of 2,000 adults found that only 5% of those aged 18 to 25 had ever used the term ‘brass monkeys’ to indicate it was cold outside.
Just one in 10 have ever referred to ‘Jack Frost’ visiting when it gets icy, and you’re unlikely to hear anyone under 30 referring to ‘Here comes Old Phoebe’ either.
Keep scrolling to find the correct answer.
Given that an Arctic chill has just arrived in the UK bringing a chance of frost and even snow on high ground, perhaps it’s the ideal time to resurrect some of these very cool turns of phrase?
The research highlighted regional differences in weather chat, with ‘it’s blowing a gale’ most used in Scotland, while ‘it’s lashing it down’ was most common in the north-east of England.
‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ is most likely to be heard in the south than anywhere else, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
‘It’s brass monkeys’ has the most entertaining origin, as it comes from the traditional Navy phrase that it is ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’, with the monkey being the structure where cannon balls were stored.
Top 10 weather phrases least likely to be used by those under 24
1. Here comes Old Phoebe (The sun is coming out)
2. That’s a gust (That’s a sudden strong wind)
3. Mackerel Sky (clouds making a rippling pattern which looks a bit like fish scales)
4. It’s slinging it down (It’s raining a lot)
5. Jack Frost has visited (There is frost on the ground)
6. Blowing a hoolie (It is very windy: A Scottish phrase)
7. It’s brass monkeys outside (It’s very cold)
8. It’s lashing it down (It’s raining a lot)
9. The Heavens have opened (It’s suddenly started raining a lot)
10. It’s blowing a gale (It is very windy)
While some phrases may be dying out, the the research proved we are still a nation of weather chatterers, with 39% happy to discuss if it looks like rain with a total stranger, with 14% even doing so while commuting.
The research was commissioned by Network Rail, which is also offering people the chance to name one of their special ‘leaf-busting’ trains, which clear leaves from railway tracks during autumn and winter.
Lisa Angus, Network Rail’s weather response director, said: ‘The scale of the operation involved in keeping passengers moving through the autumn is monumental and this year will be our biggest yet.’
Name nominations can be sent to nametheleafbuster@networkrail.co.uk before Friday September 20 or by using #NameTheLeafbuster on X.
Before you jump in with your hilarious comment, railway historian and TV presenter Tim Dunn has already suggested Trainy McTrainFace and is ‘confident you can do better’.
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