In the film, The Madness of George III, everywhere George went throughout his castle, he was preceded by attendants shouting, “Chop chop! The King! The King!”
Now, is “chop chop” in this case the same as pidgin English “chop-chop” meaning quickly? Was it meant as a warning to courtiers to be on their toes? Was this a traditional method of announcing the monarch’s arrival or was this peculiar to old George alone? (I’m assuming here the filmmakers did their homework and the shout is historically correct.)
What’s the current protocol? Are there people employed to run ahead of Queen Liz, opening doors and shouting, “Chop chop! She may not have any real power, but she’s still the Queen!”?
I haven’t seen the movie, and have never heard of this “chop chop” thing, but add my two cents here to caution you about this assumption. The movie “Elizabeth,” while great entertainment and wonderful costumes, was sadly historically inaccurate.
My Webster lists one of the (now archaic) meanings of “chop” as “move quickly” – perhaps this would be an appropriate warning for the courtiers. “Off yer duffs, boys and girls, the Boss is coming!”
Webster also lists this as the origin of the Pidgin “Chop-chop”.
Well,from 1820 or some years before till 1834 isn’t all that long for a written reference to appear. At least the oldest one found. Still “Chop Chop” seems a strange thing to be saying around a king.Maybe in France a few years earlier. They never say "Chop chop " in Black Adder,so I figure the use in the movie is erronious.
“Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx
