go for a burton
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Originated in the RAF in World War II. Unknown beyond that, but may have some association with beer. One version is that it was from a series of ads for Burton's beer which showed a group of people with one missing and the tag line "He's gone for a Burton".
Verb edit
go for a burton (third-person singular simple present goes for a burton, present participle going for a burton, simple past went for a burton, past participle gone for a burton)
- (British, of a person) To be killed.
- (British, of a person or object) To be lost, spoiled or destroyed.
References edit
- Michael Quinion (2004) “Go for a burton”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.