Who are POM's?
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Who are POM's?
Been having a discussion in work about this today and I thought I'd tap the wealth of knowledge this forum has. Before I get started I'm not looking to start a fight or anything, just to get the answer to a simple question.
I've been away on Det a few times with our Aussie counterparts and been called a POM. It was my understanding that we called them POM's as it stood for "Prisoner Of her Majesty" many moons ago. Is this correct or am I way off?
Who are the POM's?
P_J
I've been away on Det a few times with our Aussie counterparts and been called a POM. It was my understanding that we called them POM's as it stood for "Prisoner Of her Majesty" many moons ago. Is this correct or am I way off?
Who are the POM's?
P_J
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Nixor ut Ledo
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Britz iz Poms. Whether it's Prisoner etc or a reference to Pommes de Terre or whatever - it has all been lost in the mists of time.
I don't have a problem being called a Pom or a Pommie Bastard - unless, of course, it is said and meant in a mean spirited way when one can tell in an instant. Then I start to not like the person.
I don't have a problem being called a Pom or a Pommie Bastard - unless, of course, it is said and meant in a mean spirited way when one can tell in an instant. Then I start to not like the person.
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The term it seems is increasingly used to refer to people of 'English' origin, rather than 'Brits' in the wider sense.
Cricket and Rugby are to thank for this trend as you'll only hear the expression 'Pommies' applied to the England Cricket and Rugby squads when playing Australia.
I've yet to hear the 'P' word used to describe Australia's opponents when playing Scotland or Wales. (Although 'Piss' comes to mind
). 'Jocks' and 'Taffys' seem to be prefered for these nations.
My Ozzy based relatives of Scottish origin are quick to correct anyone who refers to them as 'Poms', insisting instead that 'Jocks' be used.
Anyone else heard similar?
Cricket and Rugby are to thank for this trend as you'll only hear the expression 'Pommies' applied to the England Cricket and Rugby squads when playing Australia.
I've yet to hear the 'P' word used to describe Australia's opponents when playing Scotland or Wales. (Although 'Piss' comes to mind
). 'Jocks' and 'Taffys' seem to be prefered for these nations.My Ozzy based relatives of Scottish origin are quick to correct anyone who refers to them as 'Poms', insisting instead that 'Jocks' be used.
Anyone else heard similar?
If "Pom" is used in a derisive manner....does that equate to the well known term of "Teabag"? I know we "Spams" do make a differentiation between Brits and "Teabags" and use "Poms" much as we do "Brits". I would suppose "Teabag" derives from something like "Pompus Windbag" and our national fondness of saltwater tea.
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Or perhaps it is your enjoyment of teabagging that makes you so likable sasless.
If the scots don't like being called Poms then I'll stick to calling them FRISPS then.
If the scots don't like being called Poms then I'll stick to calling them FRISPS then.
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SASless. There was I thinking that all you American lads who had a fondness for the UK and it's institutions were known as teabags. As I recall it was never meant in any derogatory way except when being used by US citizens about other US citizens and accompanied by a curl of the lip. Had loads of US lads in Aberdeen at one time, most of whom were fine 'teabags'.
My understanding of POMs was being a 'prisoner of mother England'. Had an Australian Sqn Cdr once who used to refer to one as a pommie bastard...never felt threatened or put out by this...revelled in the fact actually, but then one did not live in a PC world and to the Australians PC meant something entirely different at that time. Used to worry about the blokes he was being polite to, though.
tpm
My understanding of POMs was being a 'prisoner of mother England'. Had an Australian Sqn Cdr once who used to refer to one as a pommie bastard...never felt threatened or put out by this...revelled in the fact actually, but then one did not live in a PC world and to the Australians PC meant something entirely different at that time. Used to worry about the blokes he was being polite to, though.
tpm
TPM,
A dear friend who hand rolled fags, lived in a thatched cottage and married one of your women, and ran an operation for his employer,assimilated "British" as much as any American has.... he is not a "TeaBag" in any sense of the word. The use of "Teabag" refers to and should be reserved for that select small group who with their up-turned probiscus and arrogant attitude insult all...operative word....all ,around them. Considering the weather in the UK, I am amazed more of the big nosed rascals do not drown while out-of-doors.
As that famous cliche goes..." Some of my best friends are...(fill in the blank) (in this case....British). Well two anyway....maybe.
A dear friend who hand rolled fags, lived in a thatched cottage and married one of your women, and ran an operation for his employer,assimilated "British" as much as any American has.... he is not a "TeaBag" in any sense of the word. The use of "Teabag" refers to and should be reserved for that select small group who with their up-turned probiscus and arrogant attitude insult all...operative word....all ,around them. Considering the weather in the UK, I am amazed more of the big nosed rascals do not drown while out-of-doors.
As that famous cliche goes..." Some of my best friends are...(fill in the blank) (in this case....British). Well two anyway....maybe.
Hardly Never Not Unwilling
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You hardly hear the term "POM" in America, but it's part of my Aussie wife's vocabulary.
We'll be watching a movie and she'll say about an actor, "He's a POM". (I don't keep up with the current stars.)
"What about her?", I ask.
"No, she's a Septic."
I never heard either descriptive until I met her. It doesn't seem derisive to her at all, just the way things are.
We'll be watching a movie and she'll say about an actor, "He's a POM". (I don't keep up with the current stars.)
"What about her?", I ask.
"No, she's a Septic."
I never heard either descriptive until I met her. It doesn't seem derisive to her at all, just the way things are.
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An Irish friend of mine is a Professor of Linguistics in the university here. He tells me that during the eighteenth century the expression 'Pom' or 'Pommy' was in widespread use among the Irish, as a derisory description of the pommaded wig wearing English gentry who lorded it over them.
That seems to be a perfectly reasonable explanation. No doubt the large numbers of Irish who were transported to the spider-infested snake pit took the expression with them.
That seems to be a perfectly reasonable explanation. No doubt the large numbers of Irish who were transported to the spider-infested snake pit took the expression with them.
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Whilst I have no idea of the origins, the term POM has always, to me at least, been a term of endearement when referring to the English as opposed to the Scots, Irish etc. If I've ever felt the need to use the term as an insult (last ashes series of 2003 RWC final spring to mind or perhaps the morning after the night before in Basrah...) it usually came out something like 'f
whingingpommiebas '.
Regards,
A 'Colonial'
whingingpommiebas '. Regards,
A 'Colonial'
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A pleasant afternoon on the Thames
I don't know how accurate this is but on a sunny Sunday afternoon having boarded the London duck by the London eye we proceeded along the Thames in a ship shape and satisfactory fashion. Our on board guide informed us as we passed moorgate that the origin of the word "POM" came from the ships anchored in the Thames, waiting to take the unfortunate lot to the other side of the globe. In order to identify the ships when the prisoners were removed from moorgate prison they had POM painted on the side of them to signify Prisoners Of Moorgate...POM. I have no idea if this is the correct answer but it is a nice story.
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I was always told that the reason Poms are called Poms was because when they went out to Australia, the unaccustomed sunshine burnt their knees to that attractive pomegranate colour - hence "Poms".
Could be wrong though....
Could be wrong though....