To: wordhunt@bbc.co.uk Subject: Wordhunt words Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:57:04 +0000 Hi BBC Wordhunt people, I've managed to get some early references to some of your phrases in Usenet newsgroups. I've found older references to two of the phrases, and have matched a few others. I'm pretty sure that I can beat "hoodie", but I'll need to contact some old school friends first! David. Pole Dance ---------- Naturally, Usenet can offer you a pole dance before 1992, infact on Jul 24 1991 we have pole dancing: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.sex/msg/1b20a4ab8ee6a204 Duh Brain --------- The other one that is strictly before the date that you give is "duh brain" on Dec 17 1996: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.eating-disord/msg/8ffabc99e338fdc7 Interestingly, this is in a group on eating disorders, which with your J-17 issue may say something about the community using this expression. One Sandwich short of a picnic ------------------------------ Searching for phrases like "one sandwich short of a picnic" is interesting. The first hit I get is May 18 1992: http://groups.google.com/group/soc.motss/msg/bffee6fb44598758 however, the phrase cannot be in wide circulation at this time because someone had compiled a list of such expressions (Mar 11 1992) and it is not listed: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.humor/msg/17cade8ce006a726 There is an 1985 post on "idioms denoting insanity" which includes "one brick shy of a load" and says there are many variants of this idiom. Regime change ------------- I'm afraid I can only match your 1991 here (Nov 2 1991): http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.pakistan/msg/d01ee19bdbd0c57d In use in a newsgroup on Pakistan. Sick Puppy ---------- Two references in 1985, but nothing earlier. Jun 18 1985: http://groups.google.com/group/net.sf-lovers/msg/84439827ed8e0199 and on Aug 28 1985: http://groups.google.com/group/net.abortion/msg/29f6d69190e8186b