[Ads-l] Paws off Pompey

[dave@wilton.net]

I think Napoleon in the referent. That fits with the other citations of the phrase in the OED (paw, n1.2c), where the metaphor is that of calling off a dog named "Pompey," a popular dog name back in the day.
 
I don't know of any use of "Pompey" to refer to Britain. And a meaning "keep your paws off of Portsmouth" is unlikely. Expecting scrupulous adherence to punctuation in a cartoon speech balloon is expecting too much.
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2024 6:03pm
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: [ADS-L] Paws off Pompey



Looks to me like Britain is the only likely referent.

JL

On Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 5:26 PM Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:

> Pompey is a known nickname for the seaport Portsmouth, England.
> Napoleon has also sometimes (less often) been compared to Pompey.
> In this early print (note no comma suggesting Napoleon and Pompey are
> appositives) is Pompey meant as representing England?
> Enlarge the print to read the words.
> https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-7101
>
> Stephen Goranson
>
> paws off
> hands off
> Pompey
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>


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