Fuddle duddle
Encyclopedia
In Canadian English
, fuddle duddle is a euphemistic
substitution for "fuck
" or "fuck off", a notable use of which was by Pierre Elliott Trudeau, during his time as Prime Minister of Canada
.
In February 1971, a minor scandal arose when opposition
MPs
accused Trudeau of having mouthed "fuck off" at them in the House of Commons
. When pressed by television reporters on the matter, Trudeau denied having mouthed "fuck off" (much less actually spoken it, or anything at all) at the times in question, but freely admitted having moved his lips; and he answered the question, "What were you thinking, when you moved your lips?" by rhetorically asking, "What is the nature of your thoughts, gentlemen, when you say 'fuddle duddle' or something like that?" One opinion is that Trudeau took "fuddle duddle" from the official Hansard
transcript of his words for that parliamentary session, and the Hansard reporter either read Trudeau's lip-movements differently than the accusing MPs, or read them likewise but chose to write down the now-notorious words in their stead.
Thus, it is unclear what Trudeau actually mouthed, whether he ever denied having mouthed "fuck" at all (arguably he denied only having mouthed "fuck off" in particular), and whether he claimed really to have mouthed "fuddle duddle". Nevertheless, the popular perception remains that he said "fuck" and afterward claimed that it was "fuddle duddle".
The expression then took on a humorous aspect for Canadians, with some calling the Canadian dollar
, which markedly declined in value during Trudeau's government, the "fuddlebuck," - (Canadian dollar actually increased during early 1970s) and with the popular Windsor, Ontario
, radio station CKLW announcing the impending birth of Trudeau's first child (Justin
) with the words, "Margaret Trudeau
has been fuddle-duddled!" There was also, in 1971-72, a short-lived satirical magazine called Fuddle Duddle, which aspired to be the Canadian equivalent of Mad
magazine; however it lasted only five issues before publication ceased.
At least two songs related to the incident were released as record singles. "Fuddle Duddle" by Antique Fair was written by Greg Hambleton and released on the Tuesday label through Quality Records
(catalogue GH107X). "Do the Fuddle Duddle" written by Gary Alles, performed by The House of Commons and released on GRT Records (catalogue 1233-04).
clip is as follows:
Canadian English
Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language...
, fuddle duddle is a euphemistic
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
substitution for "fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
" or "fuck off", a notable use of which was by Pierre Elliott Trudeau, during his time as Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
.
In February 1971, a minor scandal arose when opposition
Official Opposition (Canada)
In Canada, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing coalition...
MPs
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
accused Trudeau of having mouthed "fuck off" at them in the House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. When pressed by television reporters on the matter, Trudeau denied having mouthed "fuck off" (much less actually spoken it, or anything at all) at the times in question, but freely admitted having moved his lips; and he answered the question, "What were you thinking, when you moved your lips?" by rhetorically asking, "What is the nature of your thoughts, gentlemen, when you say 'fuddle duddle' or something like that?" One opinion is that Trudeau took "fuddle duddle" from the official Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
transcript of his words for that parliamentary session, and the Hansard reporter either read Trudeau's lip-movements differently than the accusing MPs, or read them likewise but chose to write down the now-notorious words in their stead.
Thus, it is unclear what Trudeau actually mouthed, whether he ever denied having mouthed "fuck" at all (arguably he denied only having mouthed "fuck off" in particular), and whether he claimed really to have mouthed "fuddle duddle". Nevertheless, the popular perception remains that he said "fuck" and afterward claimed that it was "fuddle duddle".
The expression then took on a humorous aspect for Canadians, with some calling the Canadian dollar
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
, which markedly declined in value during Trudeau's government, the "fuddlebuck," - (Canadian dollar actually increased during early 1970s) and with the popular Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, radio station CKLW announcing the impending birth of Trudeau's first child (Justin
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
) with the words, "Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Joan Sinclair Trudeau Kemper is the former wife of the late Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada.-Early years and marriage:...
has been fuddle-duddled!" There was also, in 1971-72, a short-lived satirical magazine called Fuddle Duddle, which aspired to be the Canadian equivalent of Mad
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
magazine; however it lasted only five issues before publication ceased.
At least two songs related to the incident were released as record singles. "Fuddle Duddle" by Antique Fair was written by Greg Hambleton and released on the Tuesday label through Quality Records
Quality Records
Quality Records is a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels, and also released recordings by Canadian artists...
(catalogue GH107X). "Do the Fuddle Duddle" written by Gary Alles, performed by The House of Commons and released on GRT Records (catalogue 1233-04).
Media coverage
An unofficial transcript of the CBCCBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
clip is as follows:
- John LundriganJohn LundriganJohn Howard Lundrigan was a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Gander—Twillingate in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1974...
: The question I raised to the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada was that the government should introduce some new programs to lift the unemployment burden over and above what has been announced since last March. The Prime Minister interrupted me in a way that you wouldn't expect on the street, by mouthing a four-letter obscenity which I've challenged him to verbally place on the record and I don't think he's done so since. And I certainly didn't expect this kind of behaviour from my Prime Minister of Canada, having worshipped and really adored men like John DiefenbakerJohn DiefenbakerJohn George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
and Mr PearsonLester B. PearsonLester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
and a lot of other people in the past. This to me is really inexcusable and, well I guess we're just going to have to grin and bear it, along with the Lapalme workers.
- Lincoln AlexanderLincoln Alexander-External links:* * *...
: He mouthed two words, the first word of which started with F, and the second word of which started with O. And he said it twice to John Lundrigan, the member from Gander—TwillingateGander—TwillingateGander—Twillingate was a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1988....
, and he also said the same thing to me. Now I think that we've reached a point where this type of conduct, it's not only disgraceful but it's unacceptable, and I tried to bring that point home. Now of course the Prime Minister wants to split hairs and states that he didn't say it, but when he mouthed it, it was readily recognizable by me as to what he said and what he meant.
- Pierre Trudeau: Well what are they, lip readers or something?
- Press: Did you…?
- Pierre Trudeau: Of course I didn't say anything. I mean that's a…
- Press: Did you mouth anything?
- Pierre Trudeau: I moved my lips and I used my hands in a gesture of derision, yes. But I didn't say anything. If these guys want to read lips and they want to see something into it, you know that's their problem. I think they're very sensitive. They come in the House and they make all kinds of accusations, and because I smile at them in derision they come stomping out and what, go crying to momma or to television that they've been insulted or something?
- [later in the press conference]
- Pierre Trudeau: Well, it's a lie, because I didn't say anything.
- Press: Sir, did you mouth it?
- Pierre Trudeau: [visibly annoyed] What does “mouth” mean?
- Press: Move your lips.
- Pierre Trudeau: Move your lips? Yes I moved my lips!
- Press: In the words you've been quoted as saying?
- Pierre Trudeau: [half smile] No.
- Press: (After murmurs by other press) What were you thinking… when you moved your lips?
- Pierre Trudeau: What is the nature of your thoughts, gentlemen, when you say “fuddle duddle” or something like that? God, you guys…! [walks away]