Doing a Cunningham

The idiom "Doing a Cunningham" is of common usage in England, especially Cumbria, and refers to someone or something that has caused damage during an attempt to fix or mend an item.

Origin

Doing a Cunningham derives from the late 19^th century. Rumour has it that is stems from a time when a man, Winston Cunningham, was hired to renovate a house but instead caused it to fall down after damaging the foundations, although there is no firm evidence as to this being a genuine source.

It is believed that the phrase could have originated from the references to the name "Cunningham" or "Mr Cunningham", which were frequently used in the late 18^th century as a reference name for "a fool or gullible person". This was an ironic pun on Standard English cunning and -ham (a suffix meaning place), and was shown in Cassell's Dictionary of Slang^[1] by Jonathon Green, as well as in other forms of slang dictionary.

Other

The choreographer Merce Cunningham made reference to the idiom in his 1987 piece 'Fabrications', and has been known to use the phrase in a self-mocking manner when referring to the rehearsal process of his dances when he feels he has 'damaged the essence of the piece', in reference to his own choreography.

References

1. ^ Green, Jonathon (1998). Cassel's Dictionary of Slang. London: Wellington House. p. 30.