clabby

A 'clabby' conversation is one stuck up by a commissionare or cleaning lady in order to avoid any futher actual work.

The Meaning of Liff Adams, Douglas, 1952- 1983

Sudden access to panic experienced by one who realises that he is being drawn inexorably into a clabby (q.v.) conversion, i.e. one he has no hope of enjoying, benefiting from or understanding.

The Meaning of Liff Adams, Douglas, 1952- 1983

For instance, if confronted with a clabby gambit such as 'Oh, mr Smith, I didn't know you'd had your leg off', the ditherington response is 'I haven't ....' whereas the clixby is 'good.'

The Meaning of Liff Adams, Douglas, 1952- 1983

It is vitaly important to learn the correct, or 'clixby' (q.v.), responses to a clabby gambit, and not to get trapped by a 'ditherington' (q.v.).

The Meaning of Liff Adams, Douglas, 1952- 1983

The opening gambit is usually designed to provoke the maximum confusion, and therefore the longest possible clabby conversation.

The Meaning of Liff Adams, Douglas, 1952- 1983