Birmingham screwdriver

English

Etymology

Humorously suggesting that people from Birmingham rely on the use of force to solve problems.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

Birmingham screwdriver (plural Birmingham screwdrivers)

1. (UK, slang) A hammer.
   • 2003, Alex Ferrier, “Insurance Payout?”, in uk.rec.motorcycles (Usenet):

     I'll be watching the fucker like a hawk with a Birmingham screwdriver to the ready should I spot anything untoward.

   • 2012, Jonathan Meades, Museum Without Walls, Random House, →ISBN:

     Tinkering – the Midlands, especially, had a tradition, killed off by the introduction of the MoT test, of men who built cars called 'specials', bodged with a Birmingham screwdriver from components of other cars.

   • 2014, RJ Smith, Cataclysm, Storyteller Entertainment, LLC, →ISBN:

     “I feel like I've been walloped with a Birmingham screwdriver!”