Gone for a Burton

Suggest a Correction

Meaning

Lost, ruined, broken or, in its original wartime use, killed. The death sense carries wartime associations; modern use more often concerns objects or plans. Regional use: British English, originally RAF slang.

Origin

The expression emerged as Royal Air Force slang during the Second World War and is in print from 1941. It first served as a euphemism for a missing or dead airman, then broadened to damaged objects and failed plans. A link with Burton ale is plausible, but stories about particular advertisements or Montague Burton shops remain unverified.

Variants

  • Go for a Burton
  • Went for a Burton

Usage Examples

  • The camera went for a Burton when it slipped from the harbour wall.
  • One power cut and the entire afternoon's work had gone for a Burton.

Browse More

A to Z More G phrases