Re: Mackerel snappers

Blue Sow wrote:
I encountered the term 'mackerel snappers' while watching TV last
night. It was used in a way that seemed to make it similar in
meaning to 'god botherers'.
I can manage to see a link between 'mackerel' and the old fish symbol
but 'snappers'? I am not sure what that would mean in this context.

Does anyone have any ideas about this? It is not mentioned in SOED
so I have no idea if this was an original usage.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mackerel+snapper

A Roman Catholic. Mildly pejorative or humorous. Refers to the former
Catholic custom of abstaining from meat on Fridays, and hence eating fish.
--
John Briggs


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Mackerel snappers
    ... meaning to 'god botherers'. ... I can manage to see a link between 'mackerel' and the old fish symbol ... Refers to the former Catholic custom of abstaining from meat on Fridays, ...
    (uk.culture.language.english)
  • Re: Mackerel snappers
    ... Blue Sow wrote: ... It was used in a way that seemed to make it similar in meaning to 'god botherers'. ...
    (uk.culture.language.english)