Did anyone check the OED? "Cut of ___ jib" just might be an Atlantic phrase in origin rather than any nation. In the 175h/18th centuries "The Atlantic" was quite a culture all by itself, independently of nationality.

Carrol

Carrol

> -----Original Message-----
> From: T. S. Eliot Discussion forum. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 7:27 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Phrasal help wanted, s.v.p.
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Feb 11, 2013, at 7:18 AM, Peter Dillane <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 	Hi David,
> 
> 	it's interesting that all three of your examples could be heard in
> Australia in those over say 50  but still I can't think of hearing any one use set
> her cap at.  Is it a well worn joke that one about the Geordie hymn  -
> "fookhim"?
> 
> 	Pete
> 
> 
> 	On 11/02/2013, at 10:52 PM, David Boyd wrote:
> 
> 
> 		Probably just survived slightly into presentday  English culture
> / idiom but never, because there wasn't the same,stable, cultural contnuum,
> migrated to American - eg, do Americans tend to refer to liking the cut of
> someone's jib or taking a shine to someone or pillorying someone?
> 
> 		On 11 February 2013 10:19, P <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> 
> 			Can anyone in this illustrious litterarily and
> linguistically advantaged motley crew advise me as to why a Geordie in the
> 20th/21st Century would use the 18th/19th C. phrase "set her cap at"
> meaning to attempt to attract a member of the male sex?
> 			Multi-thx in advance.
> 			P. M.
> 
> 
>