# OMG!! "Fanny Pack" is a nasty nasty thing... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 9, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351 "2003-07-09T23:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eilsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eilsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eilsel)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/1 "2003-07-09T23:49:24Z")
LOL When my gf from the UK was visiting two weeks ago we were discussing pocketbooks and stuff (we’re girls okay so be quiet lol)…I said what about a fanny pack. She burst into laughter. Apparently “fanny” means “vagina” there. Who knew? :eek: My dh thought this was hysterical and deicded that he should go around the house saying “fanny” all the time anyone was around in earshot. Consequently, over “there” they call it a “bum bag” :rolleyes: Gee, I always thought a “bum bag” was tied to a stick as the bum jouneyed on his way…you know, like Snoopy does when he leaves home… ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/2 "2003-07-09T23:54:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eilsel \* > \*\* > Gee, I always thought a “bum bag” was tied to a stick as the bum jouneyed on his way…you know, like Snoopy does when he leaves home… \*\* That’s a “bindle,” actually. ---
**Author:** ![Eilsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eilsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eilsel)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/3 "2003-07-10T00:00:54Z")
Oh, well pardon me. LOL ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/4 "2003-07-10T00:08:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eilsel \* > \*\*My dh thought this was hysterical and deicded that he should go around the house saying “fanny” all the time anyone was around in earshot. \*\* You have your own Designated Hitter? How odd! It was called a “Butt Pack” in the Marines. Insert joke here. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/5 "2003-07-10T00:09:11Z")
Fanny is the ‘tame’ word. It’s the first word we English boys learn for it (before we even know what it does) ‘Willy’ Is the word for our male bits. ---
**Author:** ![Eilsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eilsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eilsel)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/6 "2003-07-10T00:16:24Z")
So what is the untame word for the female bits? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/7 "2003-07-10T01:31:29Z")
“Bum bag” to me sounds like something you’d use after a colostomy. :eek: Amazing how divided we are by our common language! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/8 "2003-07-10T01:37:20Z")
I hear it’s considered worse outside the UK than in **Eilsel** cunt ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/9 "2003-07-10T01:43:02Z")
Ugh, when I read the title, I had just come from the IMO forum reading the porn movie title thing. Imagine what I thought it was. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/10 "2003-07-10T04:17:20Z")
OK have you noticed that the “tame” words for genitals in the UK are actual given names here in the US? I had a Sunday School teacher named Fanny and everyone has known a Willy or two … ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/11 "2003-07-10T04:48:48Z")
I always thought fanny meant butt. I guess that explains why “butt”-packs went in the front… ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/12 "2003-07-10T05:54:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \* > \*\*OK have you noticed that the “tame” words for genitals in the UK are actual given names here in the US? > > I had a Sunday School teacher named Fanny and everyone has known a Willy or two … \*\* They’re also given names outside of the US. For instance, there’s an Aunt Fanny in Enid Blyton’s “Famous Five” series. And Prince William would certainly have be called Willy at some stage of his life. Incidentally, “fanny” also means female genitals here in Australia. This made the inimitable theme from “The Nanny” even greater: “She was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens 'Til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes. What was she to do? Where was she to go? She was out on her faaaaaanny!” I can’t believe I remembered that. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/13 "2003-07-10T06:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \* > OK have you noticed that the “tame” words for genitals in the UK are actual given names here in the US? > > I had a Sunday School teacher named Fanny and everyone has known a Willy or two … And don’t forget my pal Randy. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/14 "2003-07-10T06:47:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBill \* > \*\*You have your own Designated Hitter? How odd! \*\* I always thought that **Eilsel** played in the National League. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/15 "2003-07-10T11:13:39Z")
I just returned from England where I discovered the following additional oddities: lemonade = sprite that has been visited by a slice of lemon gamin steak = ham water = you have to actually ask for iced tap water or else they’ll bring you a very expensive bottle of “still” fish & chips = order them only on a Tuesday or Thursday & early in the day if you want the freshest stuff (they don’t go fishing on weekends) English Breakfast = disgusting mess hotels serve to tourists I also found British people absolutely delightful, very funny and engaging. Their sarcasm is the best. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/16 "2003-07-10T11:17:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fessie \* > \*\*English Breakfast = disgusting mess hotels serve to tourists > \*\* Not when i cook them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dawne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Dawne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dawne)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/17 "2003-07-10T11:40:08Z")
I remember going to America when i was 9. Boy, did the fanny thing confuse me. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/18 "2003-07-10T11:53:26Z")
Don’t forget [this chap](http://www.novell.com/training/cde/features/randy.html), whose name in the UK reduces puerile people to playground tittering. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/19 "2003-07-10T12:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fessie \* > \*\* I also found British people absolutely delightful, very funny and engaging. Their sarcasm is the best. \*\* 😃 I found out about the fanny/bum thing a while ago. I found it hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Hattrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/34f0e0/32.png) [@Hattrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hattrick)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351/20 "2003-07-10T12:02:52Z")
Or a 'merkin friend of mine Randal Pratt Shortend to Randy Pratt [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-fanny-pack-is-a-nasty-nasty-thing/187351.md?page=2)