London Underground (Metro, T, Subway) platforms are sometimes on a curve, so there is a gap between platform and train. Not a big one, but a shoe could get trapped. Phrase has been adapted to other situations of course.

Don't Panic! Don't Panic!

I raise you one White Castle with a side of KFC.

 

Arghr (cornish pirate accent.) You are now making me hungry for Steak and Kidney with mushy peas. And a pint of Murphy's on tap to wash it down. (And my teeth hurt today. bugger dem ivories.)

Near Apple's headquarters in Cupertino was the 'Duke of Edinburgh' pub. A kit pub, like many exported to Australia for brit expats. Had it all Dart boards brass rail. The menu was it all toad in the hole, bubble and squeek, Bangers and mash. (If you were lucky you could get Bambi bangers.)

These were the years when the Dickens fair was dark, So I would take my Dickens books and read them in there sometimes after work. The best thing was the desert. Reese's penut butter cup pie. Took me years to find the recipe. (can also be made with mars bars.)

(why does one think of these things after a trip to the dentist.)

Now I am thinking of 'tatos brand salt and vinegar crisps and wine gums. (was at a trade show once and that is what to snack on. A unique combination of flavors.)

Pardon me I think I might masticate some pub onions what have been in the chilly bin for a couple of years. Might be some Stilton too. That is if my knashers can handle it.

 

WUT?

 

What it really is.

Aw write, wots awl this, then.

 

I use wotcha all the time. London/ Essex male, 42 yrs old. But I have to say, not many people use it lol

 

I like the way “wotcha”sounds. Do we surmise is some sort of shortened version of, “What ya…”, as in “What ya doing?”, “What ya up to,” etc.?

 

Shortened version of an archaic greeting "what cheer"

 

I occasionally use “Wotcha”, sometimes to say hello, but often in place of “excuse me” when I need to get by someone.

 

Time for a quick test…..

My best China plate told me he is proper brassic, He said the khazi at his drum is so taters that he has got Chalfonts (Belinda Carlisles for the younger generation:0)

 

I nearly missed that last flat vowel

 

Great stuff Omegafanman, but I flunked out after "mate."

 

Or Farmer(s) (giles)

 

I can lend him some cream if that helps...?

 

Well, you learn something new every day...! Had no idea, despite being guilty of using "wotcha" occasionally.

 

New one on me too.

 

Fixed that for ya. No charge

Let me venture though, that even as an Hiberno-English speaker, you would tend to write the word down as 'wotcher'

It is a general informal greeting that is a contraction from "what about you?" Though there are some etymologies that suggest it is a later corruption of the C18 phrase "what cheer?", as was pointed out earlier.

"What about'a?" would also be a common greeting in the south and north east of Ireland.

When at the height of Trainspotting fever (books, not movie), mates would often greet each other with the cheery "A'righ', cunts!"

Hilarious, though even then, not socially acceptable.

 

Ee ba gum, nowt lost in translation from your explanation….

 

Of course, the gold standard for understanding proper pronuncition has to the my esteemed colleague, Roly Birkin QC...

 

wuh-CHUP-tah?