Ripped your knickers

Posted by Meghan Kirkland on July 22, 2005

I wondering about this phrase my mother uses a lot, which she heard from her mother. I use it, too, but people look at me strange. My mother grew up in
Logan, West Virginia, and her mom was raised all over southern West Virginia in coal camps. The phrase is "ripped your knickers"...If someone has made you made so mad, you'll never help them out again...you say, "She's ripped her knickers with me." I figure it's British at least in part, because of knickers. I can't find anyone else who really uses it, but I suspect that people age 80 and up use it. My mother uses it out of habit, but most of her brothers and sisters don't. It's not really part of their generational culture. Well, that's all.

• Ripped your knickers ESC 24/July/05