# Language Slapdown **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227 "2009-03-04T02:16:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/1 "2009-03-04T02:16:57Z")
From the CBC: [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/03/03/leg-language.html](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/03/03/leg-language.html) > [@](#): > > **Who you calling stupid, jerk? Speaker gives MPPs a language slapdown** > > . . . > > Ontario MPPs got a stern reprimand on Tuesday from the Speaker of the legislature, who reminded them words like “stupid” and “jerk” do nothing to enhance decorum at Queen’s Park. > > . . . > > He also questioned the recent use of words and phrases such as “bamboozle and hoodwink,” “bathroom break” and “booze cruise.” “Bathroom break?” Heaven help our democracy if the politicians start pissing themselves in the House, rather than going for bathroom breaks. I wonder what the Speaker would think of “huffwiffle”? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/2 "2009-03-04T02:39:47Z")
They should do as I do and suggest a break for a physiological imperative. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/3 "2009-03-04T02:46:36Z")
…or “bio break”. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/4 "2009-03-04T02:52:43Z")
How about expelling superfluous humours? Is that still allowed? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/5 "2009-03-04T02:57:05Z")
Toilet time? Whiz biz? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/6 "2009-03-04T04:41:13Z")
[duplicate] ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/7 "2009-03-04T04:45:44Z")
My personal preference is “where even Her Majesty must go on foot.” As for unparliamentary language, I remember one vivid account of a parliamentary dust-up (I believe in Australia) that resulted in the expression “perfumed gigolos” being declared unparliamentary. Just what legislative juncture led to one or more hon. Members being described in that fashion is left to the public’s imagination. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-slapdown/488227/8 "2009-03-04T05:40:36Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > As for unparliamentary language, I remember one vivid account of a parliamentary dust-up (I believe in Australia) that resulted in the expression “perfumed gigolos” being declared unparliamentary. Just what legislative juncture led to one or more hon. Members being described in that fashion is left to the public’s imagination. That would be Prime Minister Paul Keating. Parliament House in Canberra also gave us the prolix former Leader of the Opposition, Mark Latham, who used the term “conga-line of suckholes” during debate to describe the then-PM and his followers. I miss Aussie politics!