Boffins

The so-called Boffins, or scientists, lent themselves to dramatic interpretation with extraordinary unconscious felicity.

An Autobiography Peter, Ustinov 1977

Place, and I said I wouldn't go up with Ma but would drive round and leave cards for the Boffins, which is taking a liberty with the name; but oh my goodness I am distracted, and the phaeton's at the door, and what would Pa say if he knew it! '

Our Mutual Friend Charles Dickens 1841

The existence of derision for 'Boffins' is symptomatic of precisely the sort of society which Britain's 20th Century socialist policies engendered.

"What counts as a swot varies from school to school..." Ann Althouse 2009

Ma came to see, oh such a dreadful old stony woman from the country in a turban in Portland Place, and I said I wouldn’t go up with Ma but would drive round and leave cards for the Boffins, which is taking a liberty with the name; but oh my goodness I am distracted, and the phaeton’s at the door, and what would Pa say if he knew it!’

Our Mutual Friend 2004

Boffins fitted with GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation systems and heart-rate monitors followed villagers to see how many mushrooms they gathered and how long it took.

Women are Better Navigators Than Men According to Researchers | Impact Lab 2010

Ill go with the Maths Boffins over the Physics ones (no disrespect), it seems to be that they are using a more complete language.

Theories of Everything and Godel's theorem Gordon McCabe 2009

Boffins say the unusual response is because Osborne speaks at ultrasonic frequencies detected only by dogs.

Canine world sent into disarray as Osborne broadcasts ultrasonic response to Ken Clarke appointment 2009

Boffins at BMW and Technical University of Munich want to fix this last one (sadly there is no cure for bike-blind drivers).

Original Signal - Transmitting Gadgets 2009

One of the reasons we see so much "sciencey" garbage in the news is because advertising standards do not allow products to be sold making dubious scientific claims, so they target newspapers (with stupid equations, "Boffins discover cure for x, y, z" etc.).

On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

The friendships – of the pawnbroker with the dolls-dressmaker and the factory worker, of Bella with her father, of the Boffins for all those less fortunate than them?

May short book reviews 2009