It was suggested on QI last night that "fargling" is a American term for the game I know as Rock-Paper-Scissors. It doesn't, however, appear in onelook. Has anyone actually heard this term?

I've only heard it called rock-paper-scissors or rochambeau (aka rochambo), but I found fargling online in Google Books (link).

My kids played it a lot, and I've only heard it called rock-paper-scissors.

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I've only heard it called rock-paper-scissors or rochambeau (aka rochambo)

Ditto.

It sounds to me like a combining of farting and gargling. NOT a pretty sight! Mr Methane might have fun with it, though.http://www.mrmethane.com/

Never heard it called "fargling." We always called it rock-paper-scissors.

Wordmatic

WM, have you heard it called rochambeau (aka rochambo)? I have only heard it called rock, paper, scissors.

I heard rochambo from my kids.

So at the moment, QI notwithstanding, we have precisely zero Americans who have ever heard the term "fargling".

More fuss about the same episode of QI:
Daily Telegraph.

I sometimes wonder why people seem to incapable of "getting it". There were NO remarks made about Margaret Thatcher. The, admittedly not very funny remarks from Jo Brand, were wordplay on the NAME "Thatcher" rather than anything aimed at the person and the Phil Jupitus "burn the witch" comment was purely based on just how hideous the distorted photograph looked, aimed at the photograph, not the person.

I blame Russel Brand and Jonathon Ross. Since their incident everything is now being gone over with a toothcomb that Mary Whitehouse would have been proud of to seek every last possible iota of imagined offence.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale,

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admittedly not very funny remarks from Jo Brand, were wordplay on the NAME "Thatcher"

Maybe because I am a woman or perhaps because I don't live in England...but...I thought the Lady Thatcher comment was absolutely hilarious. That would definitely sell.

[It might also be because I have a weird sense of humor.]

One of the most interesting, as well as unique, quiz shows is the Discovery channel's Cash Cab. And last night one of the questions was "What is another name for the children's game "rochambo"?

I wonder what the reaction would have been if the contestant had answered "fargling"?

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Originally posted by Kalleh:
WM, have you heard it called rochambeau (aka rochambo)? I have only heard it called rock, paper, scissors.

No, I have never heard the game called either one of these, either!

WM

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Originally posted by Kalleh:
I thought the Lady Thatcher comment was absolutely hilarious...

I agree, Kalleh. Don't the Brits have a nightly comic-caster like John Stewart for desensitization purposes? Maybe things are just kind of slow across the pond. Ah for the days of jihad against literati and cartoon-strip artists >sigh<