Mysterious joke reference
February 23, 2020 3:09 PM Subscribe
I'm reading a mystery novel set at a law firm in post-WWII London (and written around that time). One of the secretaries at the firm is extremely literal-minded. A partner, chaffing her for it, says, "Would you search yourself anxiously for traces of strawberry jam if someone accused you of being a--" She cuts him off, "Really, Mr. Cove!"
What in the what now? I feel I have a somewhat above-average grasp on twentieth-century English pop culture for an American, but I have no idea what figure of speech is being referred to here, and why it might be somewhat inappropriate. Can anyone explain?
What in the what now? I feel I have a somewhat above-average grasp on twentieth-century English pop culture for an American, but I have no idea what figure of speech is being referred to here, and why it might be somewhat inappropriate. Can anyone explain?
Best answer: I also immediately assumed "tart".
posted by northernish at 3:12 PM on February 23, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by northernish at 3:12 PM on February 23, 2020 [7 favorites]
Jammy Dodger is a possibility; I wouldn't have associated strawberry jam with a tart.
posted by thefuzzypanda at 5:16 PM on February 23, 2020
posted by thefuzzypanda at 5:16 PM on February 23, 2020
Strawberry jam is absolutely what you would find in a traditional British jam tart.
Jammy Dodgers didn't appear until the 1960s, and would never have led to that reaction from the secretary anyway. As a reaction to suggesting she might be called a tart, it's bang on.
posted by automatronic at 5:27 PM on February 23, 2020 [5 favorites]
Jammy Dodgers didn't appear until the 1960s, and would never have led to that reaction from the secretary anyway. As a reaction to suggesting she might be called a tart, it's bang on.
posted by automatronic at 5:27 PM on February 23, 2020 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Yeah, it just didn't occur to me because as an American I think fruit and/or custard in a tart, not jam, but of course they were/are a thing.
posted by praemunire at 5:58 PM on February 23, 2020
posted by praemunire at 5:58 PM on February 23, 2020
My mind, which thinks in American and might not be properly attuned to this context, went immediately to "crumpet."
posted by novelgazer at 6:04 PM on February 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by novelgazer at 6:04 PM on February 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
My mind immediately went to “tart” and then, “which mystery novel?”
posted by Bella Donna at 7:43 PM on February 23, 2020
posted by Bella Donna at 7:43 PM on February 23, 2020
Response by poster: As you're not the only one who's asked: Smallbone, Deceased.
posted by praemunire at 7:57 PM on February 23, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 7:57 PM on February 23, 2020 [7 favorites]
It's "tart".
posted by ominous_paws at 10:47 PM on February 23, 2020
posted by ominous_paws at 10:47 PM on February 23, 2020
« Older Question about Hindu god Chitragupta | Can I enter my new barn roof into my taxes... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by space snail at 3:11 PM on February 23, 2020 [24 favorites]