Old Contemptibles
Preserved but no longer current.
The British Expedi- tionary Force that crossed to France in 1914 and fought in the battle and retreat from Mons. The phrase originated in the alleged comment of the Kaiser about "the contemptible British army.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Old Contemptibles” mean?
The British Expedi- tionary Force that crossed to France in 1914 and fought in the battle and retreat from Mons. The phrase originated in the alleged comment of the Kaiser about "the contemptible British army.
Is “Old Contemptibles” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.