Well known phrases and sayings

[LAT]

UASTCAN

[Bunnylump]

Use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

[LAT]

Yup

[Bunnylump]

YLAIYBDTAHB

[Scurra]

Be fair, that's just our Prime Minister's normal appearance.

[Bunnylump]

Your turn!

[Scurra]

INTPPITPPM

(You Look As If You've Been Dragged Through A Hedge Backwards)

[SparkOut]

But are you pleasant?
And are you OPPTTPPC?

[Scurra]

Well, technically I think I'm actually OPPCTPPL.

[LAT]

I'm confused by the M at the end of the original puzzle posted. Shouldn't it be an S? But then I don't get the OPPCTPPL bit either.

Or am I on completely the wrong track?

[Scurra]

Well it does sound as though you know what it is - the last word varies according to versions because the S is probably marginally 'cleaner' than the M (which seems odd, given the whole of the rest of it. )

Consider that SparkOut posed the response in the form of a question, which might explain why you can't parse it properly?

[Bunnylump]

I'm confused by the M at the end of the original puzzle posted. Shouldn't it be an S? But then I don't get the OPPCTPPL bit either.

Or am I on completely the wrong track?

Well, as usual, I don't understand any of it, if that makes you feel any better!

[SparkOut]

I think Scurra's version is:

I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's mate
I'm only plucking pheasants 'cause the pheasant plucker's late.

Whereas LAT and I seem to know the version:

I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's son
I'm only plucking pheasants 'til the pheasant plucker comes.

I assumed the M must have been for mum rather than son, which works with the rhyme.

[Scurra]

The version I know has the narrator as the pheasant plucker's wife, which is why the rhyme is "mate/late". I was fascinated to discover that there's a version with "son/comes", which strikes me as being a half-rhyme at best and, to me, feels somewhat more suspect given the clear intent of the song!

[LAT]

Is it a song? I thought it was just a tongue twister. I've known it for more years than I care to admit!

[SparkOut]

being a half-rhyme at best and, to me, feels somewhat more suspect given the clear intent of the song!

I think that’s probably why the half-rhyme emerged - it's close "enough" to serve when the purpose was to add to the "dirtying up". A bit crude in both senses.

[SparkOut]

So anyway...
WTAWTAW

[SparkOut]

Maybe a hint, or more probably a downright shove down the stairs, but it could be worth listening to 'Blockbuster' by The Sweet.

[Scurra]

Shoving down the stairs does seem like a bit of an extreme solution to me. Why not just use the tried and tested pillow method?

[SparkOut]

It's easier to make it look like an accident.
Especially if there's a cat in the vicinity.