Author Topic: who knows the origins of "chock a block" (Read 6676 times)

nichola · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2011, 12:45:04 PM »

I have given you a clue

kaptainkrunchie · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2011, 13:05:16 PM »

Fishies?

Colwyn · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2011, 14:30:54 PM »

Nichola says she has given a clue. She has also posted it the Turkish Discussion Forum. Perhaps this is the clue and she is suggesting its origin is Turkish? I have found one internetter who thinks this is possible says it (may) come from "çok kalabalik" (cram full of fish). Nobody else seems to agree with this - except possibly Turkish etymologists to whom I have not referred. The vast majority of opinion points to a nautical origin - two blocks running close together in a tackle.

Fastlady · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2011, 15:09:32 PM »

I'm guessing it's not anything to do with a big bar of Cadbury's then? ...or is that 'block o'choc'?

GordonA · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2011, 17:50:05 PM »

You Beauty, Keith,:D love it, just LUV IT!!:D:D

Scunner · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2011, 18:01:27 PM »

The literal meaning of çok kalabalik is "full of fish": the fish in question being a particular Mediterranean species. çok is pronounced as "chock" and not "cock". Given the fact that etymologists when in doubt tend to pin things on the nautical world and the fact that there was a huge amount of trade between Istanbul and the West around the time that this phrase entered English, this seems quite plausible. If the phrase did enter English this way, it is unlikely that people would have written the fact down. So yes, possible.

(Stolen by Scunner)

nichola · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2011, 18:33:11 PM »

I have some blocks of Cadbury's chocolate (thank you June) melting in the fridge it's so hot here... Nothing to do with the topic though

nichola · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2011, 07:16:18 AM »

before I go out for the day - there are some (more than one) clues in some of the answers and Colwyns right about why I psoted in this section.

A little bit of lateral thinking (about what I won't say now)and you could come up with a translation that fits a time

Highlander · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2011, 20:23:33 PM »

I fear you are going to have to reveal all nichola (figuratively speaking of course)

nichola · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2011, 22:53:08 PM »

OK H

The expression "cok a blok" is Turkish and was an expression used by Turks during the first World War to descibe their conditions in the trenches (packed in like sardines) hence "chock a block"

Author Topic: who knows the origins of "chock a block" (Read 6676 times)

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