Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2018 August 31

= August 31 =

Can't ride for toffee
My local corner shopkeeper Mr Khan is often saying to me that I "can't ride a bike for toffee." What is he really saying about my riding bike skills? He is never once offering me toffees, even when I try Boris Bike. I am thinking he even has no toffees in his shop. Thanking you. 86.187.172.199 (talk) 21:00, 30 August 2018 (UTC)


 * "Can't something for toffee" is a long-established idiom in British English, meaning "is useless at something". There is no toffee involved. See https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/for-toffee. --ColinFine (talk) 21:21, 30 August 2018 (UTC)


 * First recorded use in 1896, apparently: "The phrase appears in a collection called New Sporting Stories by ‘G.G.’ in the following extract: "Flitters said that I could not ride for toffee."" Martinevans123 (talk) 21:44, 30 August 2018 (UTC) .....although it appears that bikes can run on toffee
 * See here for the last appearance of this troll. That thread was boxed up, as this one should be. --Viennese Waltz 07:11, 31 August 2018 (UTC)