squeaky bum time

English

Etymology

Attributed to Sir Alex Ferguson, famed Scottish association football manager and former player, it implies the sound made by moving around in a plastic seat while squirming under pressure. Ferguson had said "squeeze your bum time" (that is, clenching one's buttocks under pressure) but it was misheard by journalist Kevin McCarra and the misquote stuck.^[1]^[2]

Noun

squeaky bum time (uncountable)

(informal, chiefly UK) Chiefly, an exciting part of a sporting event, particularly the final moments of a close game or season.
- 2003 March 18, “Fergie just can't stop playing his mind games”, in Daily Express, page 62:
  "It's getting tickly now - squeaky-bum time, I call it."

References

^ Tim Rich (2013 May 17) "One last swipe at Manchester City and then Sir Alex Ferguson was gone...", in Independent. Retrieved 14 May 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/one-last-swipe-at-manchester-city-and-then-sir-alex-ferguson-was-gone-8621818.html
^ Larry Ryan (2022 Oct 8) "Larry Ryan: Squeaky bum time for football's word police", in Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 May 2024. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists/arid-40978820.html

[1] Tim Rich (2013 May 17) "One last swipe at Manchester City and then Sir Alex Ferguson was gone...", in Independent. Retrieved 14 May 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/one-last-swipe-at-manchester-city-and-then-sir-alex-ferguson-was-gone-8621818.html

[2] Larry Ryan (2022 Oct 8) "Larry Ryan: Squeaky bum time for football's word police", in Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 May 2024. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists/arid-40978820.html

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