Читать книгу We’re British, Innit: An Irreverent A to Z of All Things British - Iain Aitch - Страница 46

This homely greeting is mostly used by ladies of a certain age, usually to call across to a friend who is toting a wheelie bag or zipping by on a mobility scooter. Often called at frequencies that are inaudible to male ears, a call of ‘coo-ee’ can simply mean hello, though it will often be a prelude to an invitation for cake. As everyone knows, British old ladies spend a good amount of time refining and re-refining their fruitcake recipes and this word can act as a code or boast about a particularly fine cake. If you are lucky enough to hear this call then be ready to follow, as it could lead to a secret cake sale, which is kind of like the old lady equivalent of the underground rave scene.