# What's wrong with cobblers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 6, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798 "2001-06-06T14:07:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kendo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Kendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kendo)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798/1 "2001-06-06T14:07:34Z")

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It seems kind of unfair that ‘cobblers’ (to mean “Rubbish!” or “Nonsense!” or “What a load of \*\*\*\*”) is used in the context it is. Actually, this is probably only used in the UK.

But anyway, what did cobblers do wrong? Why pick on them?

* * *

[http://www.laughsend.com](http://www.laughsend.com) - for those who want to read and write spoof news.

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**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798/2 "2001-06-06T14:20:37Z")

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From [http://www.takeourword.com/Issue085.html](http://www.takeourword.com/Issue085.html)

> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> The British expression cobblers meaning “nonsense” derives from cobblers’ awls, Cockney rhyming slang for “balls” (testicles).\*\*

…which seems kind of unfair on testicles, but there you have it.

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**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798/3 "2001-06-06T14:25:58Z")

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mmMMMmmmm…  
I love cobblers…  
Peach or cherry…  
served still hot, with a big scoop o’ vanilla ice cream on it.

Huh?

What?

ooOOOOOooohhh! I see.

never mind.

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**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798/4 "2001-06-06T16:14:27Z")

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I thought this was about the guys who promise your shoes on the 14th but when you show up and ask for them they say it will be at least another week…

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**Author:** ![Kendo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Kendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kendo)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798/5 "2001-06-06T16:35:27Z")

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Okay, that’s cool… but what the hoogly-moogly are **“cobblers’ awls”?**

It might short for overawls…

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**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-cobblers/67798/6 "2001-06-06T18:19:12Z")

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An awl is a tool, similar to an ice pick, used to punch through leather so that it may be stitched or laced.

Cobblers make shoes out of leather.

Thus, _cobbler’s awls_.