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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
=?ISO-8859-1?Q?sleeping_policeman/gendarme_couch=E9?=
THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973. Does anybody know if the use of this term in England preceded the use of "gendarme couché in
France or vice versa?
France or vice versa?
Top answer
[nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973. [/nq] In 1972 I was a regular visitor to the Penglais Campus of the University of Wales in Aberystwyth. There were sleeping policemen on all the roads on the campus.
- [nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973.
- [/nq] In 1972 I was a regular visitor to the Penglais Campus of the University of Wales in Aberystwyth.
- There were sleeping policemen on all the roads on the campus.
- The following year I visited the campus with a friend from the Vendée and another from Bretagne.
- Neither had heard the expression "sleeping policeman" and I recall them joking about whether you could translate the phrase as a flic dormant, flic en lit, etc.
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56 Answers
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[nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973. Does anybody know if the use of this term in England preceded the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
In 1972 I was a regular visitor to the Penglais Campus of the University of Wales in Aberystwyth. There were sleeping policemen on all the roads on the campus. The following year I visited the campus with a
In 1972 I was a regular visitor to the Penglais Campus of the University of Wales in Aberystwyth. There were sleeping policemen on all the roads on the campus. The following year I visited the campus with a
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[nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973. Does anybody know if the use of this term in England preceded the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
Do you know if "gendarme couché" is originally a French term, or a Canadian one?
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail,
Do you know if "gendarme couché" is originally a French term, or a Canadian one?
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail,
00
[nq:1]On 05 Feb 2004, howard richler wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is ... the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you know if "gendarme couché" is originally a French term, or a Canadian one?[/nq]
I first heard it used in Jamaica on the north shore in 1972.
Bob
[nq:2]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is ... the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you know if "gendarme couché" is originally a French term, or a Canadian one?[/nq]
I first heard it used in Jamaica on the north shore in 1972.
Bob
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[nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973.[/nq]
We then called them 'dead policeman'...
MH
We then called them 'dead policeman'...
MH
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[nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973. Does anybody know if the use of this term in England preceded the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
Checking US/UK newspaper databases, the earliest usages of "sleeping policeman" I can find is 1973 in the UK and 1976 in the US.
As was discussed the last time we had a thread on the topic (1), the
Checking US/UK newspaper databases, the earliest usages of "sleeping policeman" I can find is 1973 in the UK and 1976 in the US.
As was discussed the last time we had a thread on the topic (1), the
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[nq:1]On 05 Feb 2004, howard richler wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is ... the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you know if "gendarme couché" is originally a French term, or a Canadian one?[/nq]
Or even Swiss:
http:
[nq:2]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is ... the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you know if "gendarme couché" is originally a French term, or a Canadian one?[/nq]
Or even Swiss:
http:
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[nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973. Does anybody know if the use of this term in England preceded the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
I take it this doesn't refer to a dormant peace officer?
Peter T. Daniels (Email Removed)
I take it this doesn't refer to a dormant peace officer?
Peter T. Daniels (Email Removed)
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[nq:2]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is ... the use of "gendarme couch=82 in France or vice versa?[/nq]
We call them speed bumps here.
Wolf Kirchmeir, Blind River ON Canada
"Nature does not deal in rewards or punishments, but only in consequence= s."
(Robert Ingersoll)
We call them speed bumps here.
Wolf Kirchmeir, Blind River ON Canada
"Nature does not deal in rewards or punishments, but only in consequence= s."
(Robert Ingersoll)
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[nq:1]THe first citation of "sleeping policeman" in the OED is 1973. Does anybody know if the use of this term in England preceded the use of "gendarme couché in France or vice versa?[/nq]
Not relevant to your question, but I heard the Spanish term "policia acostado" as a child in Venezuela in the 1960's.
Steve M - (Email Removed) (remove dirt for reply)
"Experience, to most
Not relevant to your question, but I heard the Spanish term "policia acostado" as a child in Venezuela in the 1960's.
Steve M - (Email Removed) (remove dirt for reply)
"Experience, to most
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[nq:1]I take it this doesn't refer to a dormant peace officer?[/nq]
Speed bumps, I believe.
Brian Rodenborn
Speed bumps, I believe.
Brian Rodenborn
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