[Westbars Spireite]

Pretty common phrase round here (amongst older folk).

This post has been edited by Westbars Spireite: 06 December 2024 - 09:29 PM

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Westbars Spireite, on 06 December 2024 - 09:29 PM, said:

Pretty common phrase round here (amongst older folk).

👍

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Westbars Spireite, on 06 December 2024 - 09:29 PM, said:

Pretty common phrase round here (amongst older folk).

sorry mate just out of interest where's round here

[DIFH]

60s 70s Spireite, on 06 December 2024 - 08:51 PM, said:

The BBC had a go at an explanation
It's looking a bit black over Bill's mother's, is often heard in the English Midlands when dark clouds appear on the horizon, heralding rain. But who is Bill?
"When I was a young boy the only person I knew called Bill was very old and it made me wonder how old must Bill's mother be?," said Matt McHugh, who contacted BBC News seeking the origin of the phrase.
"And why does she move house so much?"
Some believe "Bill" refers to William Shakespeare, whose mother Mary Arden lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
However, the smart money is on Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German emperor and king of Prussia, abdicating at the end of World War One.
Germany's foreign policy at that time echoed Wilhelm's changeable and blustering character, according to the Open University., external
Black Country poet Brendan Hawthorne, said: "If there was stormy weather coming from the East they would say it's black over Bill's mother's."

Bill is William.

[Mr Mercury]

It, on 06 December 2024 - 09:29 PM, said:

No mate it's a regional east midlands saying, obviously bought up with it in Chesterfield (boza) from me parents and lads in Army

I learnt it from my grandma probably 50 old years ago.

[Westbars Spireite]

It, on 06 December 2024 - 09:35 PM, said:

sorry mate just out of interest where's round here

Chesterfield!

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DIFH, on 06 December 2024 - 09:37 PM, said:

Bill is William.

my granddad was called Willis, is that bill or William

Westbars Spireite, on 06 December 2024 - 09:39 PM, said:

Chesterfield!

👍 yes East Midlands

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Weather report tomorrow I think it might be a bit windy and rainy and a bit black over bill's mother's 👍

[Maddog Tannen]

Its also a very common phrase used in Stoke area too

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Mr Mercury, on 06 December 2024 - 09:38 PM, said:

I learnt it from my grandma probably 50 old years ago.

was your Grandpa ex army or an east Midlands lad like us .

[tomjoad]

It, on 06 December 2024 - 08:22 PM, said:

I'm no expert on the weather but it's looking a bit black over bill's mother's.

Its over OUR Bills mothers surely lol

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Maddog Tannen, on 06 December 2024 - 09:53 PM, said:

Its also a very common phrase used in Stoke area too

I have family that live in Hanley stoke on Trent yes they say black over bill's mother's, but what about the big painting off the Duck 🦆 😀

[Toddhopper.]

They say Will's Mother's here in East Anglia never Bill's.

[stainlessstephen]

It, on 06 December 2024 - 10:02 PM, said:

I have family that live in Hanley stoke on Trent yes they say black over bill's mother's, but what about the big painting off the Duck 🦆 😀

I'm Leek born and bred, and dad from Biddulph but I've never heard that saying before.

[clarevoyant.]

Toddhopper., on 06 December 2024 - 10:07 PM, said:

They say Will's Mother's here in East Anglia never Bill's.

Snobs

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tomjoad, on 06 December 2024 - 10:00 PM, said:

Its over OUR Bills mothers surely lol

yes ok OUR Bill's

[Mr Mercury]

It, on 06 December 2024 - 09:53 PM, said:

was your Grandpa ex army or an east Midlands lad like us .

Grandma, sorry typo, yes born and bred North Derbyshire

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stainlessstephen, on 06 December 2024 - 10:08 PM, said:

I'm Leek born and bred, and dad from Biddulph but I've never heard that saying before.

probably to far out in the sticks

[satnav]

I always thought that 'Bill's mother' referred to Holland with Bill being king William I of Holland.

[Mr Mercury]

Another one was when a bloke was pretty handy he?d be referred to as ..Cock o’ the Middings

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 06 December 2024 - 10:36 PM