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ESL forum >
Ask for help > expression meaning
expression meaning
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serene
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expression meaning
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Could anyone please explain the meaning of the following expressions?
1. choose a crowd
2. the hip and Hackney
Thanks in advance!
Have a nice day! |
28 Feb 2010
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douglas
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I believe "choose a crowd" refers to selecting the type of people you "hang out" with.
I have no idea about "hip and hackney"--it sounds pretty UK though. |
28 Feb 2010
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serene
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Thanks a lot for your reply, Douglas!
I came across these expressions in a video about Prague. The first expression was part of a sentence referring to the astronomical clock : ... that always choose a crowd with medieval figures.
The second expression was in a sentence referring to the new town : ... where the suited and the booted, the hip and the hackney shop and socialise. |
28 Feb 2010
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Mariethe House
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It probably is cockney slang from east London. Hackney is a town, district in London ... Probably east london. I shall try to get some information for you serene!
From the extra information you gave , it probably means the fashionable people, the well to do , with a lot of money tyoo! hackney used to be a very poor area in London... But has been renovated and is populated with artists and people from the fashion world!
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28 Feb 2010
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douglas
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Wikipedia says:
"Hackney has a reputation as one of the most crime-affected London boroughs"
So I guess they mean "hip or ghetto"
Also,
The astronomical clock in Prague is known to draw a large crowd--maybe the text got mixed up. |
28 Feb 2010
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Mariethe House
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Just talked to a London friend.... Seems it refers to the world of fashion... talked about " hackney carriage"! Does it ring a bell ?
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28 Feb 2010
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serene
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Many thanks to both of you, Mariethe and Douglas!
I think perhaps that �s what it means, Douglas. Draw a large crowd of tourists.
Mariethe, fashionable people fits with "the suited and the booted". I think that �s it!
Anyway, it �s not really that important. I was just curious as I hadn �t come across these expressions before.
Thank you both for your help! 
Have a nice day! |
28 Feb 2010
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Mariethe House
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last piece of info, serene: Just spoke to an other English friend of mine . Hip is a new word very much "in" at the moment which means : " in fashion " And hackney is indeed a part of North east London ...which used to be a very poor part of the city but like many other poor places it has been "invaded" by" hip" people who have redecorated flats and houses there and it has become a very fashionable place to be in! AND THE EXPRESSION "HIP AND HACKNEY" IS PROBABLY A FABRICATED ONE which means very much in the fashion , the latest fashion . Hope it helps!
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28 Feb 2010
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serene
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Thank you so much, my dear Mariethe! I didn �t mean to cause you so much trouble!
Your explanation sounds perfect! In fact, the situation you are describing has been in progress in our capital, Athens, as well. Some poor parts of the city have gradually been transformed into "in" areas, where fashionable, well off people spend their time at cafes and restaurants.
Hugs
serene
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28 Feb 2010
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