Who Is Billy-O?

[naomi24]

'I laughed like Billy-o' - a common expression and something I said yesterday .... but then it occurred to me.  

I haven't a clue who Billy-o is.

 

 

[barry1010]

It's named after an early steam train, Puffing Billy.

 

[barry1010]

I could have phrased that better, but you get the gist.

Dad ran so fast he was puffing like Billy-o

 

[Moorea7]

Some info here -

https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/like-billy-o.html

[Ken4155]

One 'theory' has it that he was a 17th/18thC Puritan preacher, known for his "Hellfire and Damnation" sermons.

[Ken4155]

Forgot to give his name but i got it from the same source as Moorea7😊

[douglas9401]

Not the 'When The Going Gets Tough' songster then. 😄

[jno]

my mother used to say "Go to Billy O" as a more genteel way of saying "Go to Heck".

[naomi24]

Thanks all.  I had no idea.  

[Canary42]

Funny how we pick up these expressions as we grow up without ever questioning where they come from 😁