# Ollie, Ollie oxen go free
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ollie-ollie-oxen-go-free/321772
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [September 15, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ollie-ollie-oxen-go-free/321772 "2005-09-15T13:07:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Karl\_Sharman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karl_Sharman)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ollie-ollie-oxen-go-free/321772/1 "2005-09-15T13:07:07Z")
What’s the meaning of “Ollie, Ollie oxen go free”?
22-Jun-1990
A little late to the party, but to make the mysterious “spuggy” less … mysterious… it is a geordie (Newcastle upon Tyne) term for a sparrow, or generically a bird.
Useful site. Thanks for clearing up so many unresolved issues in my life. Nirvana is almost attainable now!
Karl
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ollie-ollie-oxen-go-free/321772/2 "2005-09-16T19:01:59Z")
Thanks for clearing that up **Karl** , though now I am wondering why citizens of Newcastle would want canned sparrow.
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[What’s the meaning of “Ollie, Ollie oxen go free”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a900622a.html)
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