DCHP-3

fuddle duddle

euphemism
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)

Spelling variants:
fuddle-duddle,

1ainterjection — Politics

fuck or fuck off.

Type: 1. Origin — The link between fuddle duddle and the meaning 'fuck off' is attributed to former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (see the 1971 quotation). Trudeau most likely coined the term as a spontaneous alteration of fuddy duddy, an 'old-fashioned, fussy person' (see COD-2, s.v. "fuddy duddy"). Trudeau was accused of mouthing the obscenity fuck off by members of the opposition party during a House of Commons debate in 1971. After the incident, Trudeau famously stated that he "didn't say anything", but he admitted to moving his lips in derision (see CBC reference). Pressed with follow-up questions about the words he mouthed, Trudeau offered fuddle duddle.
From that point on, fuddle duddle has been associated with fuck off in Canada. Fuddle duddle is sometimes used as a direct replacement for fuck, such as fuddle duddle around (see the 1978 quotation), "what the fuddle duddle" (see the 2007 quotation) or "fuddle duddle you" (see the 2009 quotation). The term carries cultural salience as a widely known euphemism. As seen in Chart 1, the term is almost exclusively used in Canada.
See also COD-2, s.v. "fuddle duddle", which is marked "Cdn euphemism". Not listed in ITP Nelson (Gage-5, as a school dictionary, would not list near-taboo words such as this one).

Quotations

1971
Two members of the Opposition yesterday accused Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau of mouthing an obscenity at them in the Commons, but Mr. Trudeau later denied doing so. "He mouthed the words," Lincoln Alexander (PC, Hamilton West), told two reporters outside the Commons. "I told him what he said -- and mouthed it back to him." Mr. Trudeau, however, said he had not mouthed any vulgar words. "I would never say anything like that." Pressed by reporters to reveal the words he had mouthed, the Prime Minister said they were "Fuddle-duddle."
1971
Lance writhed on his hospital bed and emitted a loud, guttural groan. He felt as though he could no longer stand the raging fever in his forehead, the intolerable pains that wracked every muscle, every nerve, every fibre of his once athletic body."Oh, fuddle duddle," Lance groaned. For no particular reason, he lifted his eyes to the wall opposite his bed. Then, he saw it. He had seen one in every room in the hospital at least a hundred times, but this was the first time he had ever really noticed it -- the small bronze cross with the tortured body of Jesus hanging on it.
1972
It's a can of worms, and if I had my way, I'd do what Oliver Cromwell did - ban it completely. Now kindly fuddle-duddle before I glue in your beard.
1978
The Ontario Government referred the request to the federal Government, and the two are playing ping pong with it. That's the difference between the two countries. "In the United States they help their growers when they need it. In Canada, our governments fuddle duddle around."
1987
Only one obvious way out of the jam remains, and one that would also give her the last word, sort of. The next time someone pushes her for a comment on Mr. Wilson's parliamentary language, she should merely emulate a former leader of her own party and mouth "fuddle duddle."
1991
Sorry, Zoya, but as a Canadian there is nothing you can do to save Twin Peaks. American networks don't give a flying fuddle duddle (remember that ancient expression, students of Canadiana?) which U.S. series Canadians watch. But having said that, we also say why not give it a try?
2007
Quick takes: Bruno Pelletier's new CD gets clawed by the critics. If you want to know why, listen to his "jazzy" rendition of the Police ballad-to-a-whore Roxanne - you can practically hear the cocktail glasses clinking and the chattering voices at the bar. Never has it been clearer that a singer didn't know what the fuddle-duddle he was singing.
2009
In a haste to get nowhere fast, or some flipping doughnut shop, drivers knowingly break every traffic law on the books. The attitude is one of "fuddle duddle you - move out of my way!"
2013
In the 1980s [sic!], then prime minister Pierre Trudeau created a minor scandal in Parliament when he muttered an almost inaudible phrase in angry response to opposition attacks. Expert lip readers would almost certainly have attested to the fact Trudeau had let loose with a common expletive regularly used in hockey team dressing rooms. Challenged by the opposition, Trudeau, with feigned innocence, responded he had merely said "fuddle duddle."
2014
Pierre Trudeau was famous for "Fuddle-duddle," the F-bomb he dropped in the House of Commons in 1971, a time when the F-bomb was still rarely exploded in public. Justin Trudeau seems to have inherited his father's penchant for F-bombing but in fact got into what likely will be longer-term trouble last week with more ordinary English words: "middle" and "class."
1bn.

nonsense.

Type: 1. Origin — See meaning 1. Fuddle duddle is a nonsense word that Trudeau apparently coined on the spur of the moment. It appears to have been generalized to mean "nonsense".

Quotations

1986
No, Reagan didn't have to mouth this new "fuddle-duddle" about acid rain. Masterfully, he left the task to the Indiana-based Hudson Institute, a think-tank which, like all think-tanks, we invariably describe as "prestigious." But the intent is pure Reagan.
2003
Now how can a program as massive as the gun registry be handled any better by another department that will be swamped with this and its own programs too? It is simply more fuddle duddle from the federal government. As matters now stand, the accumulated cost of the program since the Firearms Act was passed in 1995 will continue to climb to at least $1.1 billion by 2005.
2006
The argument has long been made that stability between the changing of the guard is essential to a community's success, but that point is fuddle duddle. Other than orienting themselves to the process and familiarizing themselves with city staff, making decisions on behalf of city constituents requires no experience. Decisions should be based on common sense and logic, which all true and committed candidates possess, regardless of experience.
2013
Regarding the article in the April 6 Brandon Sun about the failure of the NDP to support the hog industry -- "Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Ralph Eichler said the government's decision is a clear indication of its lack of support for the hog industry in the province." That statement is nothing but "fuddle duddle." When the NDP formed the government in 1999, there were about three million hogs in Manitoba. This was nurtured and ballooned to over nine million at one point through the years. This increase was not possible without the government's support for the industry.

References

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 11 Jun. 2014

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 11 Jun. 2014