queer as a clockwork orange

English

Etymology

Cockney phrase from East London indicating something bizarre internally, but appearing natural, human, and normal on the surface. The phrase became popular as a result of the novella A Clockwork Orange written by Anthony Burgess.

Adjective

queer as a clockwork orange

1. (simile) Strange, odd, unusual.
2. (simile) Unusually camp, unusually homosexual.
   • 1997, Tony Harrison, quoted in Sandie Byrne's introduction to Tony Harrison: Loiner (ed Sandie Byrne, 1997)

     He sauntered the flunkied restaurant, queer /As a clockwork orange and not scared. /God, I was grateful for the nights we shared.

Synonyms

• (strange, unusual): queer as a nine bob note, queer as a three dollar bill, queer as a coot

Translations

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Translations to be checked

• Spanish: más raro que un perro verde

References

• 2002, Dominic Head, The Cambridge Introduction to Modern British Fiction, 1950-2000

  (footnote) Morrison observes that the title is taken from a Cockney expression, 'as queer as a clockwork orange' which means 'very queer indeed', with or without a sexual implication.