Hi guys, I’m new here and I really need your helps during my study of English.
I read that “Stick it up your junta” is the headline that made The Sun notorious. But I don’t understand the phrase “Stick it (sth) up” means, especially in this headline.
Can someone give me a favor, please?
Insert (sth) forcefully into one’s or another’s anus.
Actually, the original phrase was ‘Stick it up your jumper.’ In 1982, The Sun mangled this phrase when creating that headline about the Falklands War (one of a number of sensationalist headlines which they have produced over the years), hence (military) junta. When used by the Sun it was a comment designed to cause outrage, but originally it was a jocular derisive declaration of contempt for a crazy suggestion, said as a gesture of lighthearted dismissal and not particularly offensive.
The complete original phrase was ‘Oompah, oompah, stick it up your jumper.’ and it arose during the 1920s, then occurred frequently throughout WW2. It echoes the blare of the trumpet, trombone, etc, in a brass band. During the 1950s it was made famous as the catchphrase of a British comedian named Jimmy Edwards. It had nothing to do with the current meaning of ‘stick it up your…’ and was just a funny expression. It also occurred in the chorus of a 1935 song “Oompah, oompah”.
It was included in the Beatles song ‘I am the walrus’, but the four made it sound far more sinister long before the Sun newspaper did.
But watch out. People today will think it means what I said.
Sound advice.
…unless, of course, they happen to be a middle aged Brit.
Yes, you can use the idiom freely with middle-aged Britons.
Now you’re being naighty.
Okay, I admit, you may have to be careful with some middle aged Brits too.
I like the new pic. Very distinguished.
Maybe, thank you– but at least more accurate. The last one was from about 1989.