all my eye and Betty Martin
Meaning
Noun
Related
Similar words
Origin
- In Britain during the 1700s, the phrase was a common claim of dismissal (similar to 'nonsense', or 'hogwash'), or a way to declare disbelief of an absurdity. The phrase possibly originated as the punch line of a joke. Most variations of the joke involve a British sailor visiting Italy. He overhears a Latin prayer, "Ah! mihi, bea’te Martine" (which translates to "Ah! Grant to me, blessed Martin", referring to St. Martin). The sailor misheard the prayer, and later used the phrase as "All my eye and Betty Martin".
Modern English dictionary
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