Meaning

[Dark Angel]

why is a man who is a wimp referred to as "a big girl's blouse" in England?

[Quizmonster]

If you click here, that will link you to a web-page which explains.

[Jackanory]

Oh, the memories...I must get a little hand put on this watch!

[Quizmonster]

Despite my earlier answer, referring you to Michael Quinion's web-page, he doesn't seem any too sure. I should add that I've always believed it was a play on words, in which 'full' was supposedly mistaken for 'fool'.

The one thing you can state categorically about a real big girl's blouse is that it is 'full'...of big girl, that is! As a result, I imagined that calling someone a big girl's blouse was roughly equivalent to calling him a 'fool'. I appreciate that it refers to the soppy, wimpish element, but any man showing such a tendency could easily be considered and, therefore, called a fool as well.

[Dave :0)]

Surely the answer is simple. A girl's blouse is flowery, maybe even with some frills and lacey bits too. Effeminate. Therefore, a big girl's blouse is extremely effeminate. I don't agree that it is a play on words with "fool"/"Full".

[Quizmonster]

The answer can't be that simple, Dave, if the noted lexicographer and etymologist, Michael Quinion - as is clear from the link in my first response above - finishes by saying about it that "your guess is as good as mine". So, you're entitled to your guess and I'm entitled to mine...it doesn't really matter whether either of us agrees with the other's idea! Cheers

[Dark Angel]

Thank you Quizmonster!

[SimonMorton]

In Canada I believe the phrase "a pudding king" is used to mean something similar.