# Two meanings questions in one - 'swings'n roundabouts' and 'f\*\*\*in A'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 14, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383 "2005-04-14T23:54:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**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:** [April 14, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383/1 "2005-04-14T23:54:19Z")

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The term ‘swings and roundabouts’ is fairly common. It means ‘good and bad’ What’s it’s origin.  
Also what’s the origin of saying ‘f\*\*\*in A’ (replace stars with ‘u’, ‘c’ and ‘k’) which means ‘I strongly agree’

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383/2 "2005-04-15T01:14:15Z")

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Dunno about the first - never heard it.

As for the second, I’ve always understood that the “A” stands for “Affirmative”. But I confess no cite for this.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383/3 "2005-04-15T01:20:14Z")

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[What’s the origin of “fuckin’ A”?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfuckina.html)

Hey! Do you think I write these reports for my HEALTH? 🙂

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383/4 "2005-04-15T02:00:35Z")

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[QUOTE=samclemHey! Do you think I write these reports for my HEALTH?[/QUOTE]

Er, no - sorry - should have checked.

(Hell hath no fury like that of a moderator scorned).

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**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383/5 "2005-04-15T02:36:16Z")

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> [@Lobsang](#):
>
> The term ‘swings and roundabouts’ is fairly common. It means ‘good and bad’ What’s it’s origin.

This [page](http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/27/messages/808.html) says

> [@](#):
>
> SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS: This is a shortened version of the fairground proverb ‘What you lose on the swings you win on the roundabouts’, current from the beginning of the twentieth century in various forms. It is used to mean that things will balance out in the end. Penguin Dictionary of Cliches.

That doesn’t seem very satisfying, though. How exactly did one lose on the swings? Or win on the roundabouts?

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**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383/6 "2005-04-15T02:49:37Z")

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**Sam** , did you ever address the origin of the variation of “Fuckin’ A Toochee!” or any similar spellings of that last word? Is that just a Southernism?

(Of course, I reserve this usage for special occasions such as the Auburn-Alabama game.)

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-meanings-questions-in-one-swingsn-roundabouts-and-f-in-a/299383/7 "2005-04-15T03:42:35Z")

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> [@Zoe](#):
>
> **Sam** , did you ever address the origin of the variation of “Fuckin’ A Toochee!” or any similar spellings of that last word? Is that just a Southernism?
> 
> (Of course, I reserve this usage for special occasions such as the Auburn-Alabama game.)

Southernism, I’m sure. Even though I’m from Virginia/North Carolina, never heard it.