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Scottish vernacular?

maggiesoop
maggiesoop Posts: 358 Forumite
in Scotland
Was llistening to Radio Scotland's football prog this morning and the presenters talked about someone's "coupon" (face). Although I know this expression, does anyone know where it came from?
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Comments

  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 36,514 Forumite
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    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_origin_of_Scots_word_%27coupon%27_meaning_face

    Never associate with idiots on their own level, because, being an intelligent man, you'll try to deal with them on their level - and on their level they'll beat you every time.

    Being hated by idiots is the price you pay for not being one of them.

    Jean Cocteau 1889-1963

  • vfish
    vfish Posts: 122 Forumite
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    Dictionary doesn't give an origin (it does sometimes) - first recorded 1962 - http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/ All the citations suggest Glaswegian origins. If you ask them they might have more information?
  • Torry_Quine
    Torry_Quine Posts: 18,906 Forumite
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    That's a new one on me so I suspect it isn't Scotland wide but more West coast
    Lost my soulmate so life is empty.

    I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have -
    Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Torry_Quine wrote: »
    That's a new one on me so I suspect it isn't Scotland wide but more West coast

    I used to hear "check out the coupon on that" which meant "look at (usually) her face" ..... in the same way that you'd examine a pools coupon. That was in Glasgow.

    WR
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 36,514 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Some dictionaries suggest Scots and Irish origins.

    Never associate with idiots on their own level, because, being an intelligent man, you'll try to deal with them on their level - and on their level they'll beat you every time.

    Being hated by idiots is the price you pay for not being one of them.

    Jean Cocteau 1889-1963

  • booler
    booler Posts: 1,365 Forumite
    A common question when I was younger was, "What's up wi' your coupon?"

    A "punch on the coupon" also meant a punch on the face. I suspect that (like me) it was around long before 1962. The analogy to bus conductors punching your ticket (coupon) seems the most plausible to me (coming from the WoS). :)
    "Some folks are wise and some are otherwise." - Tobias Smollett
  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Haven't heard that in years.

    It was commonly used in Edinburgh but not the Highlands.
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • maggiesoop
    maggiesoop Posts: 358 Forumite
    I love this site, great replies, thanks to all.
  • Nosht
    Nosht Posts: 744 Forumite
    I always thought that it came from the rhyming slang "coup de grace" transposed to "face".
    Glasgow (Scottish ?) rhyming slang is very up to date with such as "Ruby Murray" for "curry" & "Hank Marvin" for "starving".

    Regards,

    N. :-)
    Never be afraid to take a profit. ;)
    Keep breathing. :eek:
    Just because I am surrounded by FOOLS does not make me wise. :j
  • booler
    booler Posts: 1,365 Forumite
    Not to mention, Gladys Knight and Lillian Gish. ;)
    "Some folks are wise and some are otherwise." - Tobias Smollett
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