Posted by PeterH on May 24, 2006 at 21:07:47 from 86.130.124.134 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Terminological Inexactitude posted by Iain on May 24, 2006 at 19:43:20:
Iain - the 'pish-tosh' racist phrase which you allege to exist is utterly unknown to me. I have not heard of it. Neither has anyone in my household, nor the friend I have just rung up. Are you winding me up, by any chance? In my OED 'pish' is defined as 'an expression of impatience or contempt', and 'tosh' as 'nonsense'. As to 'pish', contempt is too strong in this case - I would not want to be contemptuous of anyone, but let's say I used it as an expression of exasperation.
However, if the words for some reason have caused you offence, I withdraw them, and substitute 'stuff and nonsense!', which as far as I know has no 'racial' connotation, but I may be wrong. Really, Tarboard is getting like a minefield these days.