The Meaning of Headlines: ‘muck around’

The Mirror published an article on 10 July 2017 with the headline: ‘We don’t muck around!’ Australian Prime Minister throws Brexit lifeline to Theresa May by promising a swift trade deal. What does ‘muck around’ mean? And why would it be a Brexit lifeline for the United Kingdom?

‘To muck around’ in Australian slang means ‘to waste time instead of doing something useful or important.’ This means that the Australian Prime Minster, Malcom Turnbull, told British Prime Minister, Theresa May, that Australians will do something ‘useful or important.’

Muck around originated from the word, muck, which means manure or rubbish. The be in muck is to be in manure, probably deep manure. So Australians are not wallowing around in muck – they don’t muck around!

The first sentences of the article are: ‘Australia's Prime Minister has thrown a Brexit lifeline to Theresa May by promising a swift trade deal with the UK. Malcolm Turnbull said he wanted an agreement between the two countries as soon as possible and declared: "We don't muck around!"’

Turnbull was asked how quickly a trade deal with Britain could be done, and he responded: "As soon as possible. We move quickly. Australians are fleet of foot. We don’t muck around. We're very simple.’’

The article continued to explain that the lifeline would assist United Kingdom to achieve a swift trade deal after it ‘exits’ the trade deals with the European Union.

Scorecard for The Mirror headline is 100%. The article shows the common understanding (in trade and language) between the Australian and the British Prime Ministers. The article emphasises the potential swift deal, soon after Brexit is finalized, and the ‘simple’ (i.e. uncomplicated) nature of Australians to complete the deal.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/malcolm-turnbull-trade-deal-brexit-10768832

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

Comments

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

The Knight in the Panther Skin by Shota Rustaveli (2015 translation): book review

The Knight in the Panther Skin (12th century, this edition 2015) is a recent translation by American poet and author, Lyn Coffin. The author, Shota Rustaveli, is Georgia’s most loved poet. This poem is mammoth, a magnum opus – it is 1,656 verses long, separated by chapters. But readers, don’t give up, because every verse is worth reading. It is akin to 1001 Arabian Knights, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, or Shakespearean poetry. King Rostevan of Arabia has a daughter, Tinatin. She loves the knight Avtandil and he loves her. Verse 368 from Avtandil: ‘The doctor’s could do nothing. A dark twilight on my heart now pressed, I was on fire because of love, but nobody knew or guessed. They blamed my blood. The king decided bleeding my arm would be best; I let it be done to hide the suffering I had not confessed.’ But a knight in panther skin is seen weeping, and subsequently kills the king’s soldiers, sparing the king. Before Tinatin weds Avtandil she r...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog