Semper Discretus and Other English Expressions

That’s an easy one Sandy. Everybody knows where the expression getting buggered came from. It actually has roots in a spelling error, so you and the mistress should appreciate the story.

Back in the day; two English dudes were hanging around the pub doing what English dudes do best: drinking warm beer and shooting the shit in funny sounding, slightly effeminate, accents.

One of the two dudes goes to the other,“ Hello There Old Boy, Wonderful Day, I Say, What”. The second dude answers back, " I Must Say Old Boy, Splendid, Splendid. What, What”. This goes on, back and forth, back and forth, for quite awhile- until one of the dudes starts to fidget more than normal.

Now, English dudes are fidgety types in general, but this guy is really shifting about; he’s moving from one foot to the next, pulling at the back of his pants, more and more frantically, faster and faster; all the while mumbling “ Oh Dear, Oh Dear, I say, What, What.”

His friend, the other English dude, acts as if nothing is happening. That’s because he’s practicing English discretion. Rule number one in English boarding schools is, when surrounded by boys, “semper discretus ”. All dude two does is rock back and forth on his heels, holding a pint in his left hand, and muttering “Splendid, Splendid”.

At this point a vacationing American notices what's happening. He steps up to dude one who's doing the ants-in-his-pants routine, and says “Excuse me sir, I think I can help”.

In one smooth gesture, the American sticks his hand in the back of the English dude's baggy, tweed, pants and pulls out a long, reddish, worm.

“I say! I say! “ exclaims the relieved English dude “That was splendid old boy; just splendid! But how did you know, old boy, I had a worm up my bum? What, What!”

“Don’t worry about it “ says the American “shit happens; the bug erred”.

The English have been misspelling it ever since.