Not on your nelly....

[Bbbananas]

I just used that expression to vibra. About knitting of all things.
Where did that originate, does anyone know? Who indeed was Nelly?

[redcrx]

not on your Nelly - an old saying meaning 'not on you life' or 'no way !'. It derives from the Rhyming Slang 'Nelly Duff' an invented name meaning 'puff' or 'breath (of life)'.

http://www.londonslang.com/db/n/

[Bbbananas]

Thanks red.

What a sweet name for a little girl - Nellie. If I were to have a daughter, I would consider calling her Nellie.

[steg]

Nelly was an elephant and a one time star of the circus where she ran around gleefully while the Ringmaster (oh mighty one)stood on her back and juggled , but she got banned from the circus because people said that it was cruel to have animals there.
Now her head is pride of place in the collection of stuffed animals in Lord Applecross's trophy room.