Chuffed

Wed Jun 23 21:08:10 UTC 2010

There may be some folks running around the UK using chuffed in an obscure
fashion, but I have only ever heard it to mean pleased, satisfied or happy,
usually involving being proud about something.
DAD

-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
david hughes
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 2:24 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Chuffed

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Victor=2C

=20

It definitely means he wasn't happy.=20

=20

The late section you quote refers to the fact that Rooney has previous form=
 for getting upset when substituted. Since he didn't throw a tantrum or a w=
obbly at his substitution this time=2C he was unhappy (he looked more surpr=
ised than unhappy to me) but did become angry and kick the dug-out.
=20
> Date: Wed=2C 23 Jun 2010 13:13:45 -0400
> From: aardvark66 at GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Chuffed
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>=20
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
>=20
> From a live webcast of the England-Slovenia=2C I was attracted by one
> comment:
>=20
> > Joe Cole gets a roar as he comes on but it is Rooney who is making
> > way. He doesn't look chuffed.
>=20
> Checking OED=2C there are two verbs "chuff"=2C neither appropriate=2C but=
 also
> an entry for "chuffed":
>=20
> > slang (orig. Mil.).
> >
> > a. Pleased=2C satisfied. b. Displeased=2C disgruntled.
> > a. 1957 P. WILDEBLOOD Main Chance ix. 163 Aren't you pleased? There's
> > not many kids of your age what owns a factory. You ought to be dead
> > chuffed about it. 1960 A. WAUGH Foxglove Saga xii. 218 He was chuffed
> > at this new monumental skive he had discovered. 1961 S. PRICE Just for
> > Record iv. 29 My beard is black=2C all-black. That makes me pretty
> > chuffed. 1967 Crescendo May 6 (Advt.)=2C I cannot express too much just
> > how =91chuffed=92 I am with the drums.
> > b. 1960 D. STOREY This Sporting Life I. ii. 59=2C I felt pretty chuffed
> > with myself. 1964 C. DALE Other People viii. 158 Don't let on they're
> > after you=2C see=2C or she'll be dead chuffed=2C see? She don' like the=
 law.
>=20
> The trouble is=2C of course=2C that it's impossible to tell from the cont=
ext
> whether (a) or (b) is implied by the commentator=2C or even if the meanin=
g
> matches one of these at all. To add to the confusion=2C
>=20
> > chuff=2C a.1
> > Obs. exc. dial.
> >
> > 1. Swollen or puffed out with fat=3B chubby.
> > 1609 HOLLAND Amm. Marcell. XXXI. ii. 399 By reason of their fat
> > chuffe-necks they are monstrously deformed. 1688 R. HOLME Armoury II.
> > 427/1 Chuffe=2C or puff Cheeks=2C or blob Cheeks [are] great and swelli=
ng
> > out. 1821 CLARE Vill. Minstr. II. 27 His chuff cheeks dimpling in a
> > fondling smile. 1880 W. Cornwall Gloss. (E.D.S.) 1887 Kentish Gloss.
> > (E.D.S.) Chuff=2C fat=2C chubby.
> >
> > 2. Pleased=2C satisfied=2C happy. dial.
> > c1860 in Northampton Dial.=2C I saw the old man and he looked as chuff
> > as ever=2C although he is between 80 and 90. 1876 Mid-Yorksh. Gloss.
> > (E.D.S.) Chuff=2C expressive of a state of hilarious satisfaction=2C
> > whether outwardly exhibited or not..=91As chuff as a cheese=92=2C =91As=
 chuff
> > as an apple=92. 1881 Leicestersh. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Chuff=2C pleased=2C
> > delighted=2C proud=2C conceited. =91The children's quite chuff to come.=
=92
> > 1888 Sheffield Gloss. (E.D.S.) Chuff=2C proud=2C pleased. =91Thar rare =
an'
> > chuff o' that dog o' thoine.=92
>=20
> and=2C
>=20
> > chuff=2C a.2
> > Obs. exc. dial.
> >
> > Surly=2C churlish=3B gruff=2C stern=2C morose.
> > 1832 G. DOWNES Lett. Cont. Countries I. 289 Like a British
> > sea-captain=2C rough=2C chuff=2C and headstrong=2C{em}but withal fair a=
nd
> > honourable. a1859 L. HUNT Robin Hood Poet. Wks. (1860) 149 Pure
> > venison and good ale or wine=2C Except when luck was chuff. 1864 E.
> > CAPERN Devon Provinc.=2C Chuff=2C churlish=2C surly. 1880 W. Cornwall
> > Gloss.=2C Chuff=2C sullen=2C sulky. 1887 Kentish Dial.=2C Choff=2C ster=
n=2C
> > morose. 1888 ELWORTHY W. Somerset Wordbk.=2C Chuff=2C surly in manner=
=2C
> > boorish=2C brusque=2C stiff and unbending.
>=20
> So Rooney might have been "gruntled" or disgruntled and the commentator
> is negating the opposite=2C whichever it is.
>=20
> A bit further in the "live" commentary it does become more clear:
>=20
> > No tantrum from Rooney though and he was limping earlier. Cole will
> > play off Defoe.
>=20
> So the meaning was that Rooney did not look annoyed. Glad it was cleared
> up =3B-)
>=20
> VS-)
>=20
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