HE’S known for his daft jokes and quick wit.

But now the Lynemouth Lip is the Taak of the Toon.

Legendary darts commentator Sid Waddell, who was born in Alnwick and brought up in Ashington, Northumberland, has written a book of Geordie.

For those who don’t know, ‘hoozit gannagan athgyemthiday bonnyladz?’ translates as ‘are you confident of a Newcastle victory in today’s soccer contest?’

And how about the phrase ‘Yee couldn’t pezzle yer way oot of a plastic bag’? According to Sid it means ‘you are as weak as chip-shop vinegar.’

Taak of the Toon gives an insight into the region’s dialect, as well as chapters on the Geordie nation, Wor History and Wor Heroes, Geordie on the Beor and Geordie on the Pull.

As Sid, 67, his favourite Geordie phrase is ‘if patter was watter yud be drowned’, otherwise known as ‘if talk was water you would drown yourself’.

He said: "Most Geordie words come from the coalmines. I wanted to make it in the same vein as ‘Larn Yael Geordie’, by Scott Dobson. It was that popular, the girls at the printworks in Whitley Bay were stealing it by the dozen.

Sid compares the Geordie nation with American Indians and explains that like the Sioux, the Apache and the Comanche, Geordies can be split into different branches of the tribe.

He describes how the region’s heartland is the Toon, where from Scotswood to Wallsend the people are Toony Geordies.

North of the Tyne, around Ashington, Bedlington and Blyth, are the Pitmatic Geordies, to the north and west, in Morpeth and Alnwick, are the Gadgie Geordies and south of the Tyne are the Sand Dancer Geordies.

Sid also believes the wearer of the Newcastle United number nine shirt is to the Geordie tribe what Crazy Horse and Geronimo were to the American Indians.

Taak of the Toon, published by Collins, is illustrated by ex-Viz co-editor Alex Collier.

Story By: Chronicle Live

Date : 05-06-2008