how's your father en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
A popular catchphrase of the 1910s popularised by music-hall entertainer Harry Tate, who used it for comic effect to change the subject away from one about which his character was ignorant (hence sense 1) or a taboo subject (hence sense 2).
Meanings
-
(UK, countable, slang) A whatsit; a thing which the speaker is unable or unwilling to specify more precisely.
And meanwhile at the station, there's a couple of likely lads Who swear like how's your father, and they're very cool for cats.
1979, “Cool for Cats”, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook (music), performed by Squeeze:
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(UK, euphemistic, slang, uncountable) Sexual intercourse.
I popped round Mary's for a bit of how's your father.
I mean what a buzz, man, me four fans, an’ I'm on the fookin’ telly! They love it! So suddenly it's knickers off and ’ow's your father.
2002, Ben Elton, High Society, Random House, published 2012, →ISBN, page 226:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| how's your fathers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
thingymabob · hootenanny · whosiewhatsit · thingummabob · whachamacallit · ting · thingy · yoke · wossname · thingumajig · whatchamacallit · joint · whatsitsname · dealy · whatdyecallem · whachacallit · chingadera · thingamafuck · doodah · jobber · thing · whatchacallit · rigamajig · oojamaflip · thingummajig · gingumbob · kludge · Sorted by number of Google hits · whaddayacallit · jimbang · MacGuffin · hodad · whatchamahoozie · kajigger · doovalacky · wossisname · whatdoyoucallit · wotsit · thingmy · frammis · Sorted alphabetically · thingummy · whiff-whaff · whatsit · frobnitz · gadget · thingum · thingo · gingambob · thingie · whosit · jobby · doohickus · gewgaw · thingmajig · jawn · dinglehopper · doohinkey · doohickey · doojigger · widget · affair · whatsis · doofer · bazinga · thingabob · thingamajiggy · thingummyjig · doohinkus · foo · jigger · gismo · gizmo · thingamabob · dongle · doober · stuff · doo-hickey · thingamajigger · geegaw · thingmabob · dingus · hickey · dojigger · gimmick · whatnot · yokibus · bizzo · foobar · thingumabob · whatsaname · gubbins · thingamabobber · dealie · junk · doodad · dohickey · thingamajig · shebang · thingymajig