Did Thomas Skinner invent bosh?
TV personality and businessman Thomas Skinner is known for his strong cockney accent and generous usage of the word bosh.
He found fame as a contestant on The Apprentice in 2019 where he used the term publicly for the first time.
Following that, Tom gained popularity by posting videos of his large and unusual meals on Twitter.
The social media icon set up furniture firm Bosh Beds in October 2020, followed Bosh Market.
The savvy market-seller was also invited to appear his trademark in the music video titled "BOSH" in collaboration with the Essex ska band Death of Guitar Pop in 2023.
Thomas has recently used the phrase as he was announced the tenth contestant for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
He said: "I've never danced in my life (other than at weddings), but I'm ready to graft and of course have a laugh. Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!"
However, he did not invent the term, as it had been previously used by others.
Did Big John invent bosh?
John Fisher, the father of heavyweight boxer Johnny Fisher, is known on social media for his catchphrase "bosh" and its variations "ye bosh" and "ze bosh".
He runs a YouTube channel called BoshTV and a TikTok channel BoshTok where he posts about his love for Chinese takeaways and other funny videos.
The word has become so associated with Big John that his followers and fans are sometimes referred to as "bosh soldiers".
They can also buy a top with the phrase, a mug, or a pack of 'Boshdoms' on his official merch site.
While Big John may seem like the top candidate, even he didn't invent the phrase.
John said that he first heard it on TV in a comedy sketch played by double-act Hale and Pace in the 1980s.
So who invented bosh?
While some contemporary figures on social media and TV have popularised the use of this saying, its origins are not attributed to any single individual.
It can be traced back to the Turkish word "boş" which has several meanings:
- empty, blank
- free, open, available
- pointless, useless
- unskilled, unqualified
- nonsense
When was bosh first used?
A manuscript of the Maitrisimit nom bitig, a major work of Old Uyghur Buddhist literature dated to the 10th or 11th Century, contains a sentence with the word "boš."
Early Turkish dictionaries from the 13th Century define the word "boş" as empty or lacking.
Who brought bosh to the UK?
The saying was introduced into the English language and popularised by the British author James Justinian Morier in his 1834 novel Ayesha, the Maid of Kars.
In this context, it meant absurd or foolish talk.
Bosh term origins & evolution
10-11th Century: A manuscript of the Maitrisimit nom bitig, a major work of Old Uyghur Buddhist literature, contains a sentence with the word "boš."
13th Century: Early Turkish dictionaries define the word "boş" as empty or lacking.
1834: James Justinian Morier used the term in his 1834 novel Ayesha, the Maid of Kars for absurd or foolish talk.
1980s:
- British comedian Harry Enfield popularised the phrase "bish, bash, bosh" as a catchphrase for his character Loadsamoney.
- Comedy duo Hale and Pace used bosh in their sketch .
2019: Thomas Skinner becomes known for his catchphrase bosh after appearing on The Apprentice.
2020: Thomas Skinner launches Bosh Beds.
2022: Big John raises to fame on TikTok using "ye bosh" and "ze bosh".
2023: Death of Guitar Pop releases music video titled BOSH, featuring Thomas Skinner.
What does bosh mean now?
Bosh has been adopted in British slang as an exclamation to signify the swift and successful completion of a task, often as part of "bish, bash, bosh."
This phrase was popularised by British comedian Harry Enfield in the 1980s.
At the same time, though, bosh can still be used for dismissing an idea or statement as foolish, absurd, or worthless, which was its original meaning.
Why are people saying bosh?
The term has a long history in English, and its use in the UK has seen several waves of popularity.
While some people use it to express their feelings, others just seem to like the sound of it.
TikToker George Baggs believes that "every time you say bosh, a year gets added to your life", so he uses it "in every other sentence".
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