I love this song, even though my American ignorance understands very few of the references.
The ever-reliable interwebs (as well as the picture above) tell me that Ladbrokes is a gambling center, but what does the phrase “straight down Ladbrokes” mean?
5 September 2015
bobby svarc
In the UK we have Betting Shops on the high street, mainly they were for horse and dog racing unlike today where its like a mini Vegas. Ladbrokes were one of the big 4 bookmakers and it was/is easier to say “I’m just nipping down Ladbrokes” as opposed to “I’m going down the bookmakers to put a bet on”. You could easily substitute Ladbrokes with the names of other bookmakers, Hills or Corals
5 September 2015
bobby svarc
Also “Straight Down Ladbrokes” would mean someone who has just been paid his wages on a Friday only to fritter away his hard earned money.
5 September 2015
Featureless tv producer steve
Thanks, Bobby.
5 September 2015
Russell dean
I suspected that Labrokes may have also featured in the excellent ‘Breaking News’ too but have just checked and it is William Hill.
6 September 2015
EXXO
Lad’s gave me 5/6 on under 3.5 tries for this 😀
Amazing price which could even have been arbed by those driving around with thousands in the bank.
2 November 2019
EXXO
Looking at Steve’s question and Mick’s reply 4 years ago, it could also mean “this is an absolute cert, but I’ve got no cash, so ram-raid Oxfam (easy target in those days, but a very darkly comical image) and then straight down Ladbrokes.” Thus “straight down Ladbrokes” would in some situations be short-hand for “it’s a cert”.
“Certs” generally lose. But this one has already been laid off, so that’s OK.
2 November 2019
EXXO
Except of course that I forgot the order of lyrics, which throw up all kinds of delightful mental images, apart from the one I stupidly suggested (as if it were a cert): Cash-back foot spa Straight down Ladbrokes Low cost school trip Ramraid Oxfam One thing that is a “cert” is that at this point in the song we are strapped for cash. Perhaps we have a “cert,” but no cash. We perhaps recall that someone gave us a foot-spa recently, the sort of useless nineties/early noughties Xmas present for which it was always best to give the recipient the ill receipt. If we get the refund and win the bet, we can afford to send our sprog on the low-cost school trip, but probably the “cert” is a flop, so it’s ram-raid Oxfam to pay for it instead.
2 November 2019
EXXO
Till receipt, even.
Anyway, happy for the rainbow nation (in black and white?) and thank you Mr. Ladbroke. Will re-invest on the MK Dons draw-no-bet.
2 November 2019
Bobby Svarc
The 2/5 certs were rolled today. The tears of the Tigers supporters have made the soar come up two foot.
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peter mcornithologist
Known as Brokelads in my house lately.
1 September 2015
Featureless tv producer steve
I love this song, even though my American ignorance understands very few of the references.
The ever-reliable interwebs (as well as the picture above) tell me that Ladbrokes is a gambling center, but what does the phrase “straight down Ladbrokes” mean?
5 September 2015
bobby svarc
In the UK we have Betting Shops on the high street, mainly they were for horse and dog racing unlike today where its like a mini Vegas. Ladbrokes were one of the big 4 bookmakers and it was/is easier to say “I’m just nipping down Ladbrokes” as opposed to “I’m going down the bookmakers to put a bet on”. You could easily substitute Ladbrokes with the names of other bookmakers, Hills or Corals
5 September 2015
bobby svarc
Also “Straight Down Ladbrokes” would mean someone who has just been paid his wages on a Friday only to fritter away his hard earned money.
5 September 2015
Featureless tv producer steve
Thanks, Bobby.
5 September 2015
Russell dean
I suspected that Labrokes may have also featured in the excellent ‘Breaking News’ too but have just checked and it is William Hill.
6 September 2015
EXXO
Lad’s gave me 5/6 on under 3.5 tries for this 😀
Amazing price which could even have been arbed by those driving around with thousands in the bank.
2 November 2019
EXXO
Looking at Steve’s question and Mick’s reply 4 years ago, it could also mean “this is an absolute cert, but I’ve got no cash, so ram-raid Oxfam (easy target in those days, but a very darkly comical image) and then straight down Ladbrokes.” Thus “straight down Ladbrokes” would in some situations be short-hand for “it’s a cert”.
“Certs” generally lose. But this one has already been laid off, so that’s OK.
2 November 2019
EXXO
Except of course that I forgot the order of lyrics, which throw up all kinds of delightful mental images, apart from the one I stupidly suggested (as if it were a cert):
Cash-back foot spa
Straight down Ladbrokes
Low cost school trip
Ramraid Oxfam
One thing that is a “cert” is that at this point in the song we are strapped for cash. Perhaps we have a “cert,” but no cash. We perhaps recall that someone gave us a foot-spa recently, the sort of useless nineties/early noughties Xmas present for which it was always best to give the recipient the ill receipt.
If we get the refund and win the bet, we can afford to send our sprog on the low-cost school trip, but probably the “cert” is a flop, so it’s ram-raid Oxfam to pay for it instead.
2 November 2019
EXXO
Till receipt, even.
Anyway, happy for the rainbow nation (in black and white?) and thank you Mr. Ladbroke. Will re-invest on the MK Dons draw-no-bet.
2 November 2019
Bobby Svarc
The 2/5 certs were rolled today. The tears of the Tigers supporters have made the soar come up two foot.
2 November 2019