boomshanka

Meaning

Interjection

• A wish of happiness.

Origin

• The phrase originated in an episode of the British television comedy series The Young Ones. The pilot episode, first aired in 1982 and entitled "Demolition", included a brief piece of dialogue by Neil, who was fantasizing about taking advantage of the impending demolition of their home to commit suicide:
• Neil: When they come, I'm going to hide in the wall cavity and pretend to be thermal insulation. And when they knock the wall down, boomshanka!
• The phrase was also spoken by Neil in an episode entitled "Cash", which was first broadcast in 1984. The segment of dialogue, where Neil is composing a letter to his bank manager to request a loan, is as follows;
• Neil: I know, why not "Boomshanka"? It means, "May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman."
• Mike: He'll never understand "Boomshanka". You'll have to write the whole thing out.
• Neil: Right, okay, here we go. "Darling Fascist Bullyboy: Give me some more money, you bastard. May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman, Neil."