'He's got monk on,' for someone in a righteous huff about something which they believe they were right. Think of the body language and it tells the story. 'Merry as Good King Dick,' for someone who's got themselves in a right pickle. I would have to check, but didn't one of the King Dicks die in Pontefract Castle? I seriously wonder if the expression comes from as far back as that time. 'Nobbut middling,' 'Middling' and 'Reight Middling' for various expressions as to how life is going for you in response to the question, 'How are you doing?'
Richard II died in Pontefract Castle - I rest my case, but think that I only ever heard the expression in the Pontefract area.
Drop of York was the Gallows in York and the drop refered to the trap doors underneath the condemned victim . It’s usually refered to doing an act of violence on someone possibly resulting in death where they would say I’ll stand the drop of York for him/ her. The saying dunt cast a clart till mays art was always a good one , meaning it could be frosty until end of may .
Int "Bite the bullet" a reference to when muskets were loaded by biting the top off a gunpowder charge..
I think they used to put bullet casings over exposed teeth . I’m not 100% but I think there’s an old western movie with that title and that’s what it’s about .
Dick Turpin didn't stand the drop of York. He was hanged at the Knavesmire in York (near where I live). I believe it refers to dropping through the trap door on the gallows. There are a few hanging-related pubs around York city centre as well, such as The Last Drop Inn
It's like sh1ttin in bed wakened, and pushin it art wi thi foot. A favourite saying of my grandad, never did work out what it meant
Now there’s a legend. It wasn’t Dick Turpin who made the ride from London to York. Some bloke writing a novel called ‘Rookwood’ put Turpin’s name in by mistake. It’s more likely to have been made by John Nevison (aka ‘Swift Nick’) a highway man who was born in Wortley and who was hung about 60 years before Turpin. Both Turpin and Nevison were hanged at Knavesmire though
Piers Gaveston Society, Oxford University. David Cameron showed he didn't have a faint heart, allegedly.
Fool to himself. Should have fought for his crown on his return from Ireland. There's a theory he escaped and went to Scotland and lived as a king until his unofficial death in 1419. They accused him of being and imposter but gave whoever it was a ceremonial funeral and when he was buried transported the imposters remains to Westminster. So two theories. Same outcome anyway. No heir because he was more into his courtiers.