I reckon half the population crossed their legs when they heard this story on the radio news this morning.
One small but interesting bit of trivia was missed out though. As anyone who has a copy of Harrap’s French-English slang dictionary – one of my favourite books – knows ‘zizi’ is a French slang word for penis. (And also for the female genitals – what a versatile word!) I believe it is a slightly childish word, and I have always looked on it as the equivalent of the English “willy”.
So its the equivalent of someone going into a restaurant in Paris called Willy’s and cutting his willy off.
Staff said it was the most unwelcome tip anyone has ever left for them.
I’m off to pay penance now. Its obviously not funny for anyone who was there or for the poor bloke himself who must have been severely troubled, and for whom a spot of irony will not be much compensation when he comes to his senses…
I frequently amuse Greek customers, of whom I have a surprisingly large amount, by telling them my surname. Apparantly the greek for poo is scudar (although I have no idea how they spell it….). I can balance ‘I’m sorry your book has been delayed’ with ‘just be grateful your name isn’t…..’
I think the Greek pronunciation is something like sker-DAH.
There must be a word with a similar root in other languages as well. When I was returning from Tunisia the chap at passport control looked at my passport and laughed. He asked if that was really my name and then he laughed again.
He then called several of his colleagues over to look at my passport and they all laughed.
Sometimes the gift of laughter is a little over-rated.
So I can add Tunisia to the list of places I can’t go to. I may save the planet yet if I daren’t fly anywhere for fear of outbreaks of hilarity.