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Usenet Posted 16 years ago
Usage

Sink the Bismarck - 'a diabolical liberty'!

Civilian worker, Sydney Tafler sails with the Prince of Wales cruiser along with Johnny Briggs cos they ain't finished the work - they go into action against the Bismarck!
Sydney says,
'I'm in a reserved occupation - it's a diabolical liberty'!

A funny line, but though 'diabolical liberty' was popular around the end of the 50s, I'm not sure it was in use during the Second World War - or was it? :-D
  

Top answer

[nq:2]The earliest quote for "diabolical liberty" in the OED is: ... started being used colloquially. usage)[/nq] [nq:1]The Sydney Tafler comment is a bit like (but cheaper than) those councils that declare theirs is a nuclear free ...

  • [nq:2]The earliest quote for "diabolical liberty" in the OED is: ...
  • started being used colloquially.
  • usage)[/nq] [nq:1]The Sydney Tafler comment is a bit like (but cheaper than) those councils that declare theirs is a nuclear free ...
  • nuclear zone the council will get no say in it.
  • [/nq] Such as Derbyshire - a "Nuclear Free Zone" - except for the one in the city suburbs (Raynesway) Nuns!
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8 Answers
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[nq:2]The earliest quote for "diabolical liberty" in the OED is: ... started being used colloquially. Peter Duncanson, UK (in alt.english.usage)[/nq]
[nq:1]The Sydney Tafler comment is a bit like (but cheaper than) those councils that declare theirs is a nuclear free ... nuclear zone the council will get no say in it. Of cause it was said for laughs in the film...[/nq]
Such as Derbyshire -
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...
[nq:1]A funny line, but though 'diabolical liberty' was popular around the end of the 50s, I'm not sure it was in use during the Second World War - or was it? :-D[/nq]
On thing I am sure - the PoW wasn't a cruiser.
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[nq:1]Civilian worker, Sydney Tafler sails with the Prince of Wales cruiser along with Johnny Briggs cos they ain't finished the ... of the 50s, I'm not sure it was in use during the Second World War - or was it? :-D[/nq]
The earliest quote for "diabolical liberty" in the OED is:
1958 B. BEHAN Borstal Boy III. 231 Why ain't I given a chance tofollow my trade in 'ere, eh?..It's a diabolical
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[nq:1]Civilian worker, Sydney Tafler sails with the Prince of Wales cruiser along with Johnny Briggs cos they ain't finished the ... of the 50s, I'm not sure it was in use during the Second World War - or was it? :-D[/nq]
Nice x-post...
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[nq:1]Civilian worker, Sydney Tafler sails with the Prince of Wales cruiser along with Johnny Briggs cos they ain't finished the ... of the 50s, I'm not sure it was in use during the Second World War - or was it? :-D[/nq]
Interesting question!
Daibolical is used in two senses:-
Firstly, to mean excruciatingly bad.
Secondly, as an 'intensifier' - as in dialbolical liberty.

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[nq:2]Civilian worker, Sydney Tafler sails with the Prince of Wales ... during the Second World War - or was it? :-D[/nq]
[nq:1]Interesting question! Daibolical is used in two senses:-[/nq]
I thought 'daibolical' meant 'almost as bad as the Welsh' ...
[nq:1]Firstly, to mean excruciatingly bad. Secondly, as an 'intensifier' - as in dialbolical liberty.[/nq]
... and 'dialbolical' mea
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"Dialbollycal" means "almost as bad as an Indian call centre".
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[nq:2]The Sydney Tafler comment is a bit like (but cheaper ... Of cause it was said for laughs in the film...[/nq]
[nq:1]Such as Derbyshire - a "Nuclear Free Zone" - except for the one in the city suburbs[/nq]
Strathclyde a "Nuclear Free Zone" with 5 civilian reactors & the biggest concentration of nuclear weapons in Western Europe.

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