Posted by
Katie Shoard
December 9th, 2009
Fantabulosa! The hidden charms of Polari
by Katie Shoard
Well hello ducky, how bona to varda your dolly old eek!
Don’t worry, I’ve not been overdoing the sweeties again…
Believe it or not, I’m actually paying you a compliment. The phrase is Polari, a secret language invented by the British gay community in the early 20th century – back in the dark old days when homosexuality was illegal.
Never heard of it? Poppycock! If you’ve ever described something as ‘naff’ or ‘manky’, put on some ‘slap’ before a night out, or popped to your local for a few ‘bevvies’, then you’re practically fluent darling!
