Friday, April 01, 2011

A is for... Argy Bargy

Can you believe it's finally here? It's the first day of the A to Z Challenge, and as a co-host, I'm very excited! Almost 1,000 bloggers are participating -- yes, 1,000! -- and it's going to be a great month of blogging.

Welcome to all new followers! If you leave a comment, I'll be sure to make my way to your blog, too. I can't wait to meet lots of fun new bloggers. To the left of this post on my sidebar is a nifty button that will let you navigate through the other participants -- thank you to the wonderful person who produced it (whose name I can't recall right now!).

Right, with that out of the way, on to today! I was going to blog about adenoids, but that kind of fell through when the analogy I was going to make didn't quite work out. So . . . argy bargy! That makes sense, right? Adenoids to argy bargy?

First, a bit of history: regular readers know that I'm a Canadian who has been living in Britain for almost seven years now and, in fact, recently became British myself! However, I still marvel at the unique vocabulary here, so different from back home. Argy bargy is one of those phrases that always makes me grin.

What does it mean? 'A vigorous discussion or dispute.' There you go! My A word: argy bargy.

(Also A: Angels! As in, Ordinary Angels. As in, my wonderful friend India Drummond's book being released on Monday! She's also in the challenge, so if you get a chance, head over and say hi!)

128 comments:

  1. I used to work with a Canadian girl who really did say 'hey' at the end of sentences in the way I'd say 'yeah?' or 'y'know?'. It was terribly cute! I do love regional variations in language.

    I also came across an American girl on a forum years ago who was campaign for North Americans to switch from 'ass' to 'arse'. Another excellent A word!

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  2. Hi,

    It's certainly one hell of a Jamboree! ;)

    F

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  3. Hi Talli .. argy bargy .. just got that lovely ring about it .. I'm glad you didn't do adenoids .. important but grotty things .. we're allowed to let our imaginations run with argy bargy .. I still use South African words and phrases occasionally ...

    You're so right about our vocabulary and our perfect spelling ... ?!

    Cheers Hilary

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  4. Ha ha, Language lesson for today. Love it! Filing this word away for later use...

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  5. @Ellen -I got the "hey" thing from South Africa, but it seems to wither away with time (10 years in Poland now) thanks for the reminder :)

    Talli - great post, it's great to learn something new everyday :)

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  6. As a Yorkshire lass I'm well familiar with the term argy bargy. We tended to use it in terms of having a bit of an argument or a lively discussion.

    But if you ever want a wonderful illustration of it, and how it works properly, have a read of one of my favourite books - 'There is a Happy Land' by Keith Waterhouse. It's a classic but highly entertaining and a super slice of Northern working class life.

    xx

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  7. Argy bargy! I haven't heard that for ages. Maybe it's because I don't live in Britain any more. My word for today is appoggiatura, I think.

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  8. LOL. I think arse is my favourite A word!

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  9. A wonderful start to the challenge, Good luck Talli,

    Yvonne.

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  10. *waves* to Bluestocking Mum,
    I am the side-kick to a Yorkshire lad, his parents still crack me up with their sayings. (and accents)

    We currently live in Australia (i was born in NZ) and it's funny there are WAY more similarities in the language between England and NZ where the Aussies speak a whole new definition of slang.

    Growing up in NZ i was familiar with argy-bargy and many other expressions that prepared me well for the Yorkshire sub-language.

    Thank Tali for helping orchestrate this awesome blog fest, 1000 people is one hell of an effort.

    I hope this month doesn't leave you too tired out.

    sarah

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  11. Nice word - especially now that I know what it means ;-) Now to figure how to use it in my WIP...

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  12. My MIL is Britsh,I continue to hear her say, 'those Bloody Americans!'
    Have fun in the challenge! It has begun :)

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  13. I haven't heard that phrase in ages. Argy bargy is a brilliant way to begin... but let's hope none of us end up having argy bargies over our A to Zs!! And thanks for the nifty button. I'm about to try it out. :-)

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  14. Wow, didn't know that's what it meant..what an interesting word for A! Thanks for helping me out with words starting with C on twitter, do throw a word or two my way whenever it occurs to you...I'm doing a fiction challenge based on word-prompts by others, and it is really proving to be a challenge.

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  15. argy-bargy ... i love it! Happy A-Z kick off! :)

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  16. Oh, I wouldn't want to get into an argy bargy, eh? Hope you'll throw some bluenoser words in their too...
    Jan Morrison

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  17. I love Argy Bargy too, just don't want to get involved in any :-)

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  18. Can't wait to use it. The buttons, BTW, are courtesy of Marcus at WritingInvestigated

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  19. Argy bargy - I'll be sure to use it! This a test run and a challenge for me to blog almost the whole month. We'll see.

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  20. You got my vote. Ain't no Argy Bargy here!

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  21. I love learning about slang and phrases from other parts of the world. "Argy Bargy" is great, love it!

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  22. I love the word! I'm in NJ now but prior to moving here a year and a half ago we were in the UK for six years. The language is one of the things I loved the most! My husband managed to throw Gobsmacked into a work presentation the other day-that's one of our favorites. Have a great weekend-

    http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com

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  23. Hi Talli, pleased to meet you. I'm not going to argy bargy about your choice of words (does that sound right?). So Canada uses English or American spelling? I find myself switching arbitrarily between the two...

    You are welcome to drop by at The Farm some time -

    Grandpa
    Life on The Farm

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  24. Hahaha I am so going to try putting argy bargy into my book now.

    ;-)

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  25. Thanks for the education, Talli - that's a new vocabulary word for me. :)

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  26. I am an American expat living in New Zealand, and like you, am amazed a the vocabulary, which I am often told is similar to british English, but I never heard argy bargy before.

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  27. Will def. keep that phrase in mind. I can see a character in one of my stories using it for sure! Good to meet you!

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  28. I have found a new phrase to my vocabulary. Thank you, Talli! :)

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  29. LOL! Love argy bargy. Will have to start using it regularly.

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  30. Argy Bargy? Nice. I think I'll use it today....somehow.

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  31. I first came across argy bargy in Dorothy L Sayers' Five Red Herrings. Love that word.

    Good Morning! And Happy Blogging Challenge!

    Bev@My Reader's Block (#288 on the list)

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  32. Argy Bargy it does have an unique sound; I like it~
    I'm amazed, that many...whoa! It is going to be an
    aspiring journey ;-D

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  33. Are you doing the A-Z of British slang? Argy bargy covers you for the first two days!

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  34. SWEET - I'm follower 800! That should be good for some kind of award...LOL. I love to hit milestones...actually, in this case, I guess you hit it - ARGY BARGY!

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  35. Thanks for co-hosting. And you can count me as a new follower. It's going to be a fun month, for sure!

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  36. thanks for cohosting..what an accent you must have!!!

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  37. Love it! I will totally use argy bargy in a conversation today! :)

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  38. I love it when you share British words and phrases! My dad is Italian and he engages in argy bargy quite often, hahaha. I can't wait to use that word the next time his hands go flying every which way during an argy bargy!

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  39. Good for you for not just going with "Arguement"! :D

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  40. taking notes, might have to use that phrase in my writing. :)

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  41. Yay for abit of Argy Bargy!! That's like A AND B all rolled into one!!!!!

    Hoorah for ordinary ANGELS too!!!

    Take care
    x

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  42. haha. Love that phrase. Trust you to think of posting on it! :o) LOLOL

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  43. OMGosh, Talli, is it really up to almost 1,000!?? Whoa! I'd lost track.

    Kindly, and enjoy your weekend!

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  44. Cool! Never heard that expression before!
    I'd love to live in Britain and learn more colorful phrases!

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  45. I love the word (words?) argy bargy. I wonder how well they'd go over in Texas? I'm going to try it!

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  46. I'm all agrin over your phrase, Talli.

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  47. Argy bargy ... right ... got it. I'll try that at Muleady's tonight. Have a great weekend.

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  48. Love British slang also. That's why I listed ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL FRONTAL SNOGGING as one of my A audiobooks today.

    Thanks for co-hosting this! So much fun!

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  49. I'll have to bust that one out in some conversations today! This is my first-ever blogging challenge and I can't believe how huge it is.

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  50. thanks for hosting. this is going to be rough.

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  51. I love it! Reminds me of the words I'm using, out of a book called Reading the OED.

    And now I also get to find a new author, India. I love the title and am writing it down to check it out later.

    Have a fun month! I'll love seeing your beautiful face on the blogs.

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  52. Thank you so much for the shout-out today! I've been doing my best to visit a bunch of the A-Z blogs today, hoping that if I visit a handful a day, I'll visit them all once by the end. Maybe. LOL

    I did start at #500 because I figured the first on the list would get the most traffic. I wonder if next year there's a way to divide it up by interest or ... something. Like a secret santa. Heh.

    Anyway, have a lovely April! See you around the alphabet!

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  53. Thanks for increasing my vocabulary!
    New follower here. Great to meet you.
    xoRobyn

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  54. I still say argy bargy (meaning a bit of a fight) occasionally, I think it is a Yorkshire thing!

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  55. Kicking 'A' with a bit of word play. Love that! I don't know if you've read the Lovejoy mysteries by British author Jonathan Gash, but you may want to give them a go. Gash, too, uses language like a playground.

    Best of luck on your A to Z, then. See you 'round the alphabet...

    Best,
    Joe Richardson

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  56. My favorite term is still Brilliant!
    Happy 1st day! Seems to be going really well!
    I just downloaded your book to my laptop. I am planning to start it this weekend!
    HMG

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  57. Hi Talli, I love that phrase. I have decided to join in the madness.

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  58. Argy bargy, love it!! I am attempting this challenge as well, here is my link http://creativelyspiltink.blogspot.com/

    Good luck!

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  59. What a fun idea. I'm going to play too.

    http://katherinescott.blogspot.com

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  60. Argy bargy would make a great book title. Much better than adenoids. Good luck with the challenge and thanks for co-hosting.

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  61. I think I'll use "argy bargy" on my kids when I get back to school. LOL!

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  62. I love dialect differences. Very fun.

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  63. Oh my word. Honestly, I know I've only lived in the UK for three and a half years, but I really thought I'd heard every weird phrase/bit of slang there was to hear. Apparently not. Brilliant!

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  64. Really??? Argy Bargy? Well, isn't that something? I've had a British lesson. Thank you and cheerio.

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  65. Cool word. I like it. I will have to use it today~ can't wait to see the reaction from people. Thanks! Blessings, Joanne

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  66. Thank you for my lesson in british it is a pretty cool phrase actually.

    I will probably try and use it.

    Teresa
    http://icecoldpenguin.blogspot.com

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  67. Is it wrong to know that. Love it.

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  68. It's good to know you're picking up the lingo;-)

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  69. I lived in the UK for a while, up in Edinburgh though, and the language can really be different.

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  70. Heheheheheh! I love learning new words.
    I'm a new follower, thanks to the A to Z Challenge, and I look forward to reading much more from you.
    Best of luck to all challenge participants.

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  71. "Argy bargy" seems more like it's referencing bulls*** than it's referencing a heated discussion. That make me laugh.

    Congrats to India! Thanks for spreading the word. I'll have to hop over to her, too, to say hello :)

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  72. I love local phrases. Thanks for hosting the challenge! What a fabulous turnout. I will be working my way through as well. Fun fun!!

    Thanks for the post too. I will try to use it in a sentence today when my kids get into it... maybe it will shut them up. HA!

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  73. So THAT'S what I do at work all day. Thank you for giving it a name.

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  74. It's my new phrase! I love it!!!

    Totally off subject (but currently on my brain) someone told me about pirate talk on facebook. All your posts turn to pirate talk, I was giggling for hours! It's hilarious!!

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  75. FUN! FUN! FUN!

    Love you word and kudos for doing such a great job with this event. I am SO proud of all of you and love being involved in this event!

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  76. Yeah! A new word for me to use!!!

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  77. Cool post!

    Thanks for hosting the Challenge! :)

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  78. Hmmm, I used to use thrilly dilly way back in college. I totally made that up. Maybe it can be my "t" blog. Hadn't thought of that in years.

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  79. I like it! Has a nifty rhyming ring to it. :)

    (I still like 'pants' best) (cracks me up)

    Huggles,
    Lola

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  80. New words! Thanks for hosting this with over 1000 signed up! Wow!

    Monti
    MaryMontagueSikes

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  81. Never heard of argy bargy before, and I love it. English is a wonderfully funny language wherever it's spoken or broken.

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  82. I LOVE argy bargies!! Which is a good thing as I have plenty og them with my nine year old... *old*

    I'm going to borrow your nifty little 'next blog' tool. It's awesome.*nods*

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  83. New words to implement, priceless. I'm sure I could find an argy bargy in a bar around town. Thanks!

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  84. Argy Bargy, I like the sound of that word. Never knew what it meant, and now I do. I always enjoy the A-Z challenge because I always learn some think new.
    Smiles.

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  85. *waving to a fellow Canadian* Although, I'm no longer in Canada either. I'm in the US now.

    Lynnette Labelle
    www.lynnettelabelle.com

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  86. I just read Rules, Britannia which is such a great resource for learning Brit-speak. :P Here's to a crazy april month!

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  87. Nice to meet you, Talli. I've always wanted to visit England, but I'm sure I'd have a time with the dialect and slang too.

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  88. April's only just started and already I learnt a new world. Two, in fact. Argy bargy. I'll never forget! ;-)

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  89. I love the word Argy Bargy. We do love our weird slang here :)

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  90. I feel so lucky to have come across your blog through the challenge.

    I love British phraseology, such humor can be found among those people.

    Also, your books look very interesting.

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  91. Wow! I am going to start using argy bargy with my kids. It will be much better than "aw, crab cakes, we missed the bus again."

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  92. Argy bargy? I LOVE it. Going to start using it today!

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  93. OK I am following you now. Love argy bargy and think I need to keep it. Great sounding.

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  94. Argy is a great word - it ranks right up there with arsey, which I love way more than arse. ;)

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  95. That is an interesting phrase. I feel silly saying it.

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  96. I've always been a fan of British slang, even though I don't understand half of it. Okay, that's a lie. I probably only know 14% or so, and it all comes from movies and BBC programmes. (As you can see, I'm better with the spelling... colour, organise, aluminium, pyjamas, arse.) Anyway, thanks for inspiring me to go watch some British films. Cheerio!

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  97. I love learning new words! Great post!

    New follower and fellow A-Zer. Nice to meet you!

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  98. Argy bary...I like that...I'm going touse it!

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  99. Great one! Will have to remember that! :)

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  100. never heard argy bargy before!

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  101. It's easy to remember as it rhymes & is in alphabetical order!

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  102. I love learning British words/phrases! Thanks, and this one sounds so cool, too. :)

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  103. lol, cool word..erm, or is that a phrase? :)

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  104. Fabulous! I love Brit speak! One of the resins Harry Potter is so dear to my heart is the awesome verbage!

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  105. That's a nice, concise opening post. I'm from the great land of England but have been living in Malaysia for the past 5 years. Don't miss a thing!

    Take a peek at my A-Z adventure too:

    Duncan In Kuantan

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  106. I adore your decision to go for 'argy-bargy'.

    Having a blast with this challenge - thanks for co-hosting it!

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  107. Hi Canadian girl. Well, sorry but my C isn't going to be for Canada. I'm trying to be a bit more obscure.

    Thanks for visiting Oz.

    Denise<3

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  108. Sweet word!!! I'm so excited for this challenge! I'm new-ish to blogging, so I think it's going to be hard but notheless I'm happy to be here! Love the blog!

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  109. Love Argy Bargy - what a great expression :)

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  110. haha I haven't heard argy bargy for ages. Good luck for the challenge.

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  111. Hi,

    Thanks for adding the meaning of Argy Bargy because I had no idea what that was when I visited this blog.

    Angels is a good selection too.

    Let's see:

    I asked the Angels in heaven to take mend an Agry Bargy over adults being responsible for learning new things.

    Would that work? I'm not from Canada so I've never heard that "Agry Bargy" expression. It sounds pretty neat!

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  112. Talli, always great to meet another novelist! I'm excited to participate in the A to Z challenge. Never heard of Argy Bargy before. Very cool! Good luck with the challenge. :)

    ~Melissa
    Reflections on Writing

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  113. Great A word. I'm not sure we've had this conversation before but I am Canadian living in the UK but since I was 2 yrs old and have taken up British Citizenship as it helps with the beaurocracy/ Argy Bargy! :O)

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  114. Argy bargy. Fun to say!
    : )

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  115. You're right, argy bargy is funny! Hmm, now you've got me wondering about the adenoids analogy.

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  116. I lived in Britain for a year in high school, and I'm always wishing I could go back. I'd love to hear even more stories!

    New here - hello!

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  117. Just seeing the words "argy bargy" I didn't gues that that's what they actually meant!

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  118. Yeah you are one of me now! lol

    I said argy bargy to a friend and she burst out laughing. She is American. It made her day.

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  119. Lol, argy bargy hasn't managed to perforate the savage wilds of Wales yet, though it does ring a very small bell... I love picking up phrases and sayings from other cities/countries. My most recent one: gompin' - undesirable or repulsive. Tell your friends :P

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  120. Awesome! Always love to hear new words and phrases. This is a good one. I'm going to start using it whenever possible. Fun post! Thanks!
    Have a beautiful day!

    Heather
    littleredhenry.blogspot.com

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  121. Argy bargy, huh? I've got to keep that in mind!

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  122. hi TR. what is the A - Z challenge?

    please do visit my blog- I'm a newbie - thanks.

    http://journal120.blogspot.com

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  123. Hi Talli,
    I'm an Aussie and spent a couple of years living in the UK marvelling at their inventive use of language. I thought Aussies had a colourful vernacular!
    I look forward to see what comes up next in this series.

    If you have a second please check out my blog (mjhearle.com).

    Cheers,
    M. J.

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Coffee and wine for all!