like cheese at fourpence

English

Etymology

From the mill towns of Lancashire, where fourpence was considered expensive for cheese and hence cheese for sale at that price would not be bought.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

like cheese at fourpence

1. (idiomatic) Of a person: waiting idly or timewasting.
   • 1989, Colin Dunne, Hooligan, page 38:

     Don't stand there like cheese at fourpence.

   • 2003, Rachel Wyatt, Time's Reach, page 75:

     "Why are you standing there like cheese at fourpence?"

   • 2010, Ruth Hamilton, Mersey View, page 89:

     Then you can stay sat there like cheese at fourpence till Mrs Henshaw gets back with her lawyer.