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| my rubber ducky |
Speaking of laughing, was anyone else wacky enough to watch Lord Love a Duck on TCM Wednesday night? It's a spazzy 60s satirical comedy, starring Roddy McDowall and Tuesday Weld, sort of a cross between Beach Party and Dr. Strangelove. It's my kind of quirk and it certainly lent its fair share of giggles.
Of all sources, the Oxford English Dictionary surprisingly notes just one, James Joyce's Ulysses. Remember this time last year, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, overtaken by my Irish DNA, I dived head first into the book, pledging to read it from cover to cover, only to come up gasping for air? Although it has some gorgeous language, I shelved it, deciding it was much easier to read the most tasty passages singled out, online. Anyway, apparently T. S. Eliot used the phrase, "lord love a duck", as well as P. G. Wodehouse. Since it has been used a lot in inoffensive situations, it is doubtful it is a euphemism for the F-word. It also should be noted that "duck" or "ducky" has been used since the 16th century, when referring to a dear one, or sweetheart.
So, duckies, it all boils down to this: it's a quirky phrase to say, when nothing else seems to fit. I like that.
"...shall I wear a red yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish wall and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes."
--James Joyce, from Molly Bloom's soliloquy, Ulysses
oh this is so my new phrase now :) Luv it.
ReplyDeleteMine, too. Isn't it great?
ReplyDeleteLooks like a goofy, fun movie.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh yeah...I've heard the phrase before : )
I'm going to put this on my list of movies to see. Me and my Movie Boy have a rendevous with Roddy McDowall and Tuesday Weld :)
ReplyDeleteHi! Willow...
ReplyDeleteThanks, for sharing all the information about the phrase "Lord love a duck..." and the trailer too!
Great stuff!
DeeDee ;-D
How interesting, love this phrase! It's just awesome! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNancy
so glad I'm not the only one who shelved Ulysses...was I ever cross-eyed :)
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend and I have noticed that we use phrases when we have no idea what they mean. She uses the Lord love a duck one all the time. It is the perfect phrase to utter when nothing else will fit...
ReplyDeleteBy the way I made the chicken puff pastry tonight. Used swiss cheese instead because I couldn't find gruyere and put a blueberry compote in with the chicken before sealing it. Thanks for the idea.
I have no idea where I picked that phrase up, but it seems to fit the given occasion everytime. "Lord love a duck"... that looks like a real duckie movie there. Thanks for bits of history there, my dear. Cheers to the Duch! xo Unks!
ReplyDeletebtw...great header pic there too! very creative :)
ReplyDeleteTess,
ReplyDeleteThis surprised me.
1) I remember the movie from when it came out. It was . . . not too well thought of, even then.
2) 1966 is a pivotal year. It's when the 60s turned silly and irrelevant, when 'empty silliness' hadn't yet turned into anything so bold as 'camp', when 'childish play' hadn't yet become 'a happening', when Nam hadn't gotten quite to be seen by enough people as a disaster, but American culture no longer could see itself seriously.
3) Axelrod did better things, but he's always had a penchant for shallow farce.
4) Tuesday Weld. Beauty and talent, somehow ruined by the caliber of the times.
5) Lord love a duck. I'm finding the same Google-sorted answers as you did. I wonder if it's not related to Cockney Rhyming Slang -- if Wodehouse and Eliot used it for 'lower class' characters. Maybe it's a way around not the F*** word, but something to do with 'Luck' as in something that just happened to come about.
Trulyfool
I have not heard of this phrase before....but, it will be my new one now.
ReplyDeleteTess,
ReplyDeleteOh, and.
Ulysses. If I didn't suggest this before, let me now.
Naxos produced a CD of the whole novel read supremely by Jim Norton and Marcella Riordan.
The reading is absolutely terrific -- and the book is made much plainer to understand.
Try it -- likely a library copy within your reach?
Trulyfool
(P.S. The greatness of Joyce -- now I understand!)
Okay, TF, I'll take your word for it and give it a second chance. Yes, I have an excellent branch of the award-winning Columbus Metropolitan Library system right up the road from me. I'll order online ahead to have an audio copy of Ulysses waiting for me. Perfect for St. Patrick's week.
ReplyDelete'lord luv a duck' is an exclamation.
ReplyDeleteHard to say where it originates although it was heard in the east end of London in the early 20th century.
'My duck' or more commonly 'me duck' is a term of affection that comes from the English Midlands whereas 'duckie' supposedly originates once again from the east end of London.
Yes, I say Yes. I can stream it on Netflix. Thanks, Ducky ~
ReplyDeleteI love it!
ReplyDeleteHmmm.
ReplyDeleteCall me weird, but I say that phrase all the time...and I hear it from friends too. Maybe it's a Canadian thing............
ReplyDeleteSaw the movie a long time ago. Only remember it was goofy, and of course the girls. Thanks for bring back old memories, and especially the passage from James Joyce, one I haven’t read.
ReplyDeleteIn the remake of Love Affair, Katharine Hepburn's character says, "F*** Duck". That's the first thing I thought while reading this.
ReplyDeleteThe latest version of LLAD is 'Well, I'll go to the bottom of our stairs' (always spoken in Northern English accent. LLAD is, of course, always used in cockney accent.
ReplyDeleteOh, my god -- Ruth Gordon, too! I can't wait to watch that movie -- I do love that quirky sixties weird thing. I believe it was you that encouraged your readers to watch Georgy Girl, and I'm still reeling from how fabulous it was!
ReplyDeleteLord love a duck, Willow --
Yikes! The James Joyce stream of consciousness brings back anxiety attacks of college literature courses... ;-P Have a blessed weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've said Lord love a duck my entire life. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all said it. It's one of those funny exclamations that define explanation.
ReplyDeleteOdd that I don't remember that show with Tuesday Weld and Roddy McDowell. I like both of them. I'll have to google the title of and see if I can find any images that will jog my memory.
Confession: I think I have used it from time to time... there are moment's when it's just perfect!
ReplyDeletelove Ruth Gordon too but never heard of that film.
Elizabeth and Earlybird, Ruth Gordon is hysterical in this film. She adds the perfect amount of quirk!
ReplyDeleteDelightful read!
ReplyDeleteOh, I still can't watch 60's movies, reminds me too much of bad hair days and cheesy polyester...however...
ReplyDelete'how he kissed me under the Moorish wall' made me sigh...
Sweet Repose, I love the juxtaposition of James Joyce and polyester!
ReplyDeleteCro, I want to hear you say "Well, I'll go to the bottom of our stairs" in your best Cockney.
ReplyDeleteI LIKE IT TOO!
ReplyDeleteThink I will say it around the kiddos! They oftentimes think I am a bit nutty anyway!
Have a wonderful weekend Willow!
I use that phrase quite often! I never knew where it came from, but I suspect that I picked it up from reading P.G. Wodehouse. Thx for this post. Now I feel more informed and self-aware.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was at University in the early seventies in that part of Britain known as the Potteries (think of Arnold Bennett) I was surprised to discover that "duck" was almost universally used as a term of greeting. When you entered a shop you would be asked "What would you like Duck?" Every time I hear the word used other than in its strictly descriptive sense it takes me straight back to Stoke-on-Trent.
ReplyDeleteTakes me back Alan, to Rugby and Leicester! I couldn't believe my ears!
ReplyDelete'My duck' and 'ducky' are things I say a lot of the time, also 'duckyboots', 'chick' and 'chickadee' - I didn't discover what a chickadee was until late last year yet I always called my babies by that name.
ReplyDeleteI love these funny old phrases. My step-mother likes to use them, including this one. If you ask him, my father knows all kinds - related to sailing and otherwise. A few favourites are "it's as black outside as the inside of a cow," and "that water's as still as pee on a plate." Who knows who dreamed up the parallels, but they're always good for a chuckle!
ReplyDeleteOh, and really love that film - saw it again about a year ago. My kind of quirk.
I have to say I love the notion of Ruth Gordon in this--she's always fun. Looks like a goofy, fun flick. As for the expression, it definitely sounds like something my grandmother would have said. She was a nut.
ReplyDeleteAlan, thanks for your input on "duck". Apparently, it's more common in your neck of the woods, than mine. I had a sneaking suspicion you would know.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, "it's as black outside as the inside of a cow" cracks me up. Sounds like something my in-laws in Kansas might have said. Never heard it, though!
ReplyDeleteI adore Ruth Gordon and also wonder if Gay Gordon is related (another actor in the list). Have not really heard this phrase and missed this movie. Very funny. the Joyce quote is wonderful, yes.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow. The 60s were so weird.
ReplyDelete