Whats a "bum starter"

[linda_lightning]

Judging from the context where I read it, it seems to be something used in Northern pub fights. Being a Southern softy, I haven't a clue

[bankhaunter]

Being well brought up in the better part of Surrey, I would phrase the term more as "It is a foolish thing to commence with little or no chance of success".

Usually accompanied by an air of disbelief anyone would be that silly.

[aernethril]

That's a very naice  and polite definition, bank.

'owever, Ai is sitting 'ere with an air of disbelief at 'ow this thread started on  7 June 2013 whence it lasted for about 3 days, was then left to slip into oblivion before being bumped up over TWO years later - 22 June 2015 whence it was whunce again allowed to slip, before suddenly being dugged up and posted to, yet AGAIN, near enuff about 18 months later.

Wots all that about, then?

Is we getting dehesparate at the lack of meaningful and stimulatory content in new threads?

[neipaterso-6]

The expression appears in”Jack’s Return Home” by Ted Lewis, the novel that the movie “Get Carter” is based on. Barmen confront customers who have bottles and broken glasses by standing on the bar “holding bum starters”. The book is set in a steel town near Doncaster in 1969.

[clute21]

I suggest the closest reply here has been the bumpstart thread.

I asked that question many years ago and an elderly person at that time said it orignated in the early days of motoring when good batteries (accumulators for those who know that term) and charging circuits were few and far between so vehicles often needed a push to get them going.

As some vehicles were quite low to the ground with a sloping boot lid it was easier to face away from the vehicle holding the luggage rack or spare tire mounted to back of vehicle,
or you stand the chance of ending face down on the ground as the started vehicle sped away, this ended up with you using your bum to push the vehicle as it was the part of the body in contact with the vehicle and gave good strong push.

Due to the speech habits used in that time this became known as a bum starter.

Not to be confused with how the Americans use the word bum.

Probably used today as meaning something where everything was in place for something to happen but failed.