I always thought it was a backhanded way of calling someone a failure. The accusation being that they couldn’t get married because no one would have them, as opposed to them simply being disinterested. The latter being near-unthinkable to some people.
Ah, yes. “Local institution” - runs for mayor every election, receives three ironic college student votes.
that’s still better than “institutionalised.”
‘helping police with their enquiries’
The alternative is when mention of his sixth wife comes up.
When my obituary comes out, I’m glad I won’t be able to read it.
You could be right in terms of U.S. usage. It’s a bit of a long-standing joke in Britain, though, that the “Telegraph” newspaper in particular, used to like that one a lot, with the meaning I suggest.
Ah, I’ve got one. “Well-known East End businessman”. 
In a similar vein “colourful racing identity”.
Grrr. Someone always manages to pip me at the post.
“career criminal”
Always made me think of someone saying “Yeah, I majored in Criminal Activities, with postgraduate work in Advanced Thuggery.”
…and at the press conference the Premier was reported to be tired and emotional.
“Tired and emotional” is press-speak (in Canada anyway) for falling-down drunk. I’ve wondred how they would actually described someone who genuinely **was ** tired and emotional, and alcohol-free as well.
Friends and family say he was in the process of turning his life around…
The victim has been identified as…
“…checked herself into the hospital for symptoms of exhaustion.” AKA “crazy” or on drugs. If I’ve done something big enough to get an article in the paper about that, that’s a bad thing. :eek:
Political gadfly. That means you’re the person who speaks for 20 minutes at a school board meeting complaining about the budget and that when you were astudent there the teachers sent you outside to find rocks to use as chalk on the blackboard and by god you not only learned to read and write, but learned resourcefullness as well.
Political gadflies also run for some local office in every election, and always finish 6th in a field of 7.
I am stealing this for my sig.
My contribution is the accused.
Robin
Former bank CEO …
“Former Illinois governor”
Between jobs…
“The center of an intense legal battle” is never a good place to be.
Nobody ever wants to have the phrase “officially calling off the search” associated with them.
And if your doctor uses the word “interesting” in describing your case, you’re in trouble.