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by Anonymous on December 15th, 2004

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When asked what he wanted for his birthday or Christmas, my father would say a "nixley and a bixley with a toothpick in it." Where did this phrase originate?

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Answers. 2 helpful answers below.

  • by Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog on April 27th, 2006

    Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog

    Okay, building on Heather's answer that it refers to a martini, I am going to make a wild stab at an answer. Taking as my reference the 'Bolly Stolly' that Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley used to live on in Absolutely Fabulous, I will venture that Nixley is Noilly-Prat, a brand of vermouth and Bixley is Beefeaters or some other gin that begins with the letter 'B' (Bombay? Booth's?). The playful mis-pronunciation is a reminder that too many martinis and you could be just as pickled as the name.

    As for origins, I obviously have no clue. It might have originated in a movie, a radio show, music hall comedy sketch, etc. I look forward to other Answerbag members providing further info.

    BTW, if you father is still around, why not ask him and let us know the answer - I'm really curious about it now!

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  • by Heather Soderstrom on December 18th, 2004

    Heather Soderstrom

    After asking several tenants in our apartments I found out that a Nixley and a Bixley with a toothpick in it mean a martini with an olive in it. I have yet to discover the origin but am working on that part. Hope this helps.

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