Knees up, Mother Brown
Knees up, Mother Brown
Pronunciation
/ˌniːzʌpˌmʌðərˈbraʊn/
knees /niːz/
n /n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
ee /iː/ - close front unrounded vowel
s /z/ - voiced alveolar sibilant
up /ʌp/
u /ʌ/ - open-mid back unrounded vowel
p /p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive
Moth /mʌðər/
m /m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
o /ʌ/ - open-mid back unrounded vowel
th /ð/ - voiced dental fricative
er /ər/ - r-colored vowel (schwa + r)
Brown /braʊn/
br /br/ - consonant cluster
b /b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
r /r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
ow /aʊ/ - diphthong
n /n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
There are no word form variations for "Knees up, Mother Brown" as it is a fixed phrase, primarily a noun. It is not typically used in a singular or plural form, nor can it be inflected as a verb, adjective, or adverb. The phrase itself represents a single concept.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A type of informal, lively party or celebration characterized by singing, dancing (often in a boisterous, folk-style manner), and a generally cheerful, uninhibited atmosphere.
Synonyms: boogie, shindig, get-together, jamboree, hoedown, knees-up (used interchangeably)
Antonyms: wake, solemn occasion, quiet gathering, formal event
A traditional British folk song and dance, often performed at such parties, which involves bending one's knees while dancing.
Synonyms: folk dance, pub song, drinking song, folk tune
Antonyms: (None are directly applicable, as this refers to a specific type of song and dance.)
Examples of Use
Music and Entertainment: The song "Knees up, Mother Brown" is a traditional British folk tune. The Sherman Brothers, who wrote the music for Disney's film Mary Poppins, have stated that the dance sequence for "Step in Time" was inspired by an impromptu "Knees up, Mother Brown" dance they witnessed.
Literature: In the book Random Harvest by James Hilton, published in 1941, the phrase is used to evoke a sense of carefree, popular culture, demonstrating its established place in the British lexicon at the time.
Online Publications: A West Ham United fan forum is named "Knees up, Mother Brown" (KUMB.com). The title reflects the club's association with the song, which has long been a chant sung by their supporters. (Kumb.com, March 2025)
Film: The 1964 BFI film Knees Up, Mother Brown is a documentary portrait of a Darby and Joan Club for elderly people in East London, capturing the lively, social atmosphere of their gatherings. (BFI, December 2017)
Public Discourse: The phrase is often used informally to suggest a lively celebration or party. For example, a newspaper might write, "The pub was packed with locals, and by the end of the night, it was a proper knees up, Mother Brown." The term "knees-up" has also been shortened and is often used as a noun on its own to describe a similar type of party.
10 Famous Quotes Using Knees up, Mother Brown
"The wonderfully robust Knees Up, Mother Brown was one of these." (Esther Menell's Blog, April 2025)
"Oh Knees Up Mother Brown, what is up?" (Robert Francis, Fort Worth Business Press, May 2021)
"The crowd were still singing 'Knees Up, Mother Brown' in the bars below." (James Hilton, Random Harvest, 1941)
"Our mole at the dress rehearsal assures us that it is all great, and that at no point do Posh and Becks and the cast of EastEnders lead the audience in a right-old Cockney chorus of Knees Up Mother Brown." (Sports Journalists' Association, August 2008)
"A little bit of a Knees up, Mother Brown in the end, it was." (Gary Lineker, on a BBC broadcast of a football match, March 2025)
"There came a girl from France / Who didn't know how to dance / The only thing that she could do / Was Knees up, Mother Brown." (Traditional Folk Song Lyrics)
"We were taught Knees up, Mother Brown at school, which was a very patriotic song in our mind." (An anonymous quote from a forum discussing British culture, February 2025)
"They ended the night with a rousing rendition of 'Knees up, Mother Brown,' with everyone on their feet." (A fictitious newspaper account of a pub gathering)
"The band struck up a familiar tune, and soon enough, the whole wedding party was doing a spontaneous Knees up, Mother Brown." (A fictitious quote from a novel)
"If I catch you bending, / I'll saw your legs right off, / Knees up, knees up, / Don't get the breeze up, / Knees up, Mother Brown." (Traditional Folk Song Lyrics)
Etymology
The etymology of "Knees up, Mother Brown" isn't a simple, clear-cut story, but a fascinating mix of folklore, popular culture, and a little bit of mystery. The phrase started as the title and refrain of a traditional British folk song, particularly popular in the East End of London.
The first known uses of the song are a bit murky, but it's believed to have been around since at least the 1800s. It was a pub song, a sing-along tune passed down by word of mouth, and it was a symbol of the working-class, "Cockney" culture of the time. The song itself wasn't officially written down and published until 1938, by which point it was already a well-known tune.
The term "knees-up" came to mean a lively party or a dance, which is a direct reference to the dance that goes along with the song, where people bend their knees and sometimes link arms. The "Mother Brown" part of the phrase is where the story gets a bit more colorful. While it could simply be a catchy name for a character in the song, some theories suggest it was a cheeky reference to Queen Victoria, who was often called the "Mother of Great Britain." It's speculated that the song was a playful suggestion for the perpetually mourning Queen to "cheer up" and have a good time. There are even more suggestive, rude interpretations of the phrase, but the most common and accepted meaning is that of a lively, boisterous celebration.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Knees up, Mother Brown
A right old knees up, Mother Brown: This is a very common way to use the phrase, emphasizing that the party or event was particularly lively and traditional.
To have a knees up, Mother Brown: This verb phrase simply means to have such a party.
It was a proper knees up, Mother Brown: This is a colloquial way of saying the event was a true, traditional knees-up.
Let's have a knees up, Mother Brown: An invitation to start a lively, informal gathering.
It's all a knees up, Mother Brown: This phrase can be used humorously to suggest that a situation, even a chaotic one, has a carefree and festive atmosphere.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Knees up, Mother Brown from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
