Made Up

Question

Can anyone in this group give me the origin of the term "Made Up" meaning overjoyed.
Most of the usage in the UK seems to come from people in their late 40s/early 50s which suggests to me that they have acquired it from their teenage kids.
That, in turn, suggests to me that it is an import either via Buffy or Neighbours.
Over to you, aue!
F A

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Can anyone in this group give me the origin of the term "Made Up" meaning overjoyed. Most of the usage ... That, in turn, suggests to me that it is an import either via Buffy or Neighbours. Over to you, aue![/nq]
This phrase was the Mark of the Scouser back in the early 1960s, when Liverpool was brought forth unto the meejer for the first time in living mammary.
Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Can anyone in this group give me the origin of ... import either via Buffy or Neighbours. Over to you, aue![/nq]
[nq:1]This phrase was the Mark of the Scouser back in the early 1960s, when Liverpool was brought forth unto the meejer for the first time in living mammary.[/nq]
Explains why Ricky Tomlinson was one of the said 50-ish year-olds who used it on BBC Radio 4 this morning?
Everyone else agree with Matti?
F A

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Can anyone in this group give me the origin of the term "Made Up" meaning overjoyed. Most of the usage ... That, in turn, suggests to me that it is an import either via Buffy or Neighbours. Over to you, aue![/nq]
Cassell's Dictionary of Slang calls it 20th century Irish. They say "lucky, well-off" not "overjoyed."
Your own theory makes no sense to me, frankly. If a term was as recent as Buffy and teen-agers, then you would easily find examples of it on Buffy and among teen-agers today. It's certainly not US slang, I never heard of it until today.
It is far more likely that you are hearing an older generation use a term they used in their own youth, than that any word could have circulated in so short a time without anyone noticing.

Best Donna Richoux
An American living in the Netherlands

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Can anyone in this group give me the origin of ... import either via Buffy or Neighbours. Over to you, aue![/nq]
[nq:1]Cassell's Dictionary of Slang calls it 20th century Irish. They say "lucky, well-off" not "overjoyed."[/nq]
In that case, I would contend that either the usage has slipped, or it is a different usage and the Irish reference is coincidental.
[nq:1]Your own theory makes no sense to me, frankly. If a term was as recent as Buffy and teen-agers, then you would easily find examples of it on Buffy and among teen-agers today. It's certainly not US slang, I never heard of it until today.[/nq]
OK - thanks for that. I chose these programmes as they seem to be the richest sources of teenage neologisms in the UK.
[nq:1]It is far more likely that you are hearing an older generation use a term they used in their own youth, than that any word could have circulated in so short a time without anyone noticing.[/nq]
Understood but I was suspicious having never heard the term before this year. I am 41 and don't live under a stone. If the term is as old as I am then I would have expected to hear it some time before.

Unless, of course, it is a school usage which died out as the kids grew up and was resurrected in a novel, film, song or TV drama.

F A

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Can anyone in this group give me the origin of the term "Made Up" meaning overjoyed. [/nq]
[nq:1]Cassell's Dictionary of Slang calls it 20th century Irish. They say "lucky, well-off" not "overjoyed." [/nq]
That sounds like a different usage from the Liverpool one, although it's likely that the two are related. I would have described the one under discussion here as meaning "delighted" rather than "overjoyed", but it's certainly not "lucky" or "well-off".
Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Can anyone in this group give me the origin of the term "Made Up" meaning overjoyed. Most of the usage ... turn, suggests to me that it is an import either via Buffy or Neighbours. Over to you, aue! F A[/nq]
Why would you assume the 50-year-olds got it from their kids? And why, if it were the kids, would you assume they imported it? That seems to me a total non sequitur. I remember the phrase from my youth in the North West of England. Most commonly 'I'm made up for ya!' - 'I am pleased at your good fortune'.
Origin - I can only guess. One possibility - a woman will put on make-up for a special occasion and so is 'made up' as a prelude to celebration. Another - 'made up' is Services' slang for promotion 'He was made up to full Corporal' so 'I am made up' = 'I have received a boost to my self esteem'. No connection with May Dupp the newspaper reporter

John 'You are May Dupp AICMFP' Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Can anyone in this group give me the origin of the term "Made Up" meaning overjoyed. [/nq]
[nq:1]This phrase was the Mark of the Scouser back in the early 1960s, when Liverpool was brought forth unto the meejer for the first time in living mammary.[/nq]
And I've found a site for British slang which lists it: http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/m.htm
Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]This phrase was the Mark of the Scouser back in ... unto the meejer for the first time in living mammary.[/nq]
[nq:1]And I've found a site for British slang which lists it: http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/m.htm[/nq]
Oh goody! I love these!
...and, as a quizmaster, it might just come in very useful!

FA

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]John 'You are May Dupp AICMFP' Dean[/nq]
Didn't we establish thanks, I think, to extensive research by a much-missed cheese cabineteer that it should be "AICMWGP"?

**
Ross Howard

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]This phrase was the Mark of the Scouser back in ... unto the meejer for the first time in living mammary.[/nq]
[nq:1]Explains why Ricky Tomlinson was one of the said 50-ish year-olds who used it on BBC Radio 4 this morning? Everyone else agree with Matti?[/nq]
Yes.
m.

Made Up

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