BIRO
Noun. Spelt Biro & biro. Plural -os. Mid-20th century.
[Lázlo József Biró (1899-1985), Hungarian inventor.]
(Proprietary name for) a ball-point pen.
Although perhaps not. Looking closely, I'm not really sure that it is a Biro; it's just an anonymous, cheap ballpoint pen. That's the point, though, isn't it? Biros are so ubiquitous that we don't give them a passing thought as we hunt for them, chew them, dismantle them, suck them and occasionally write with them. And if someone lends us one, it's even questionable whether it's worth the bother of returning it. I mean, is it? Really? Worth standing up and crossing a hotel foyer to return a biro to the receptionist who'll probably just give you a quizzical oh-you're-actually-giving-that-back sort of look? This is one of the 20th century's greatest ethical conundrums.
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Andrea Joseph's bironic art |
And that's it: the humble yet thoroughly groundbreaking biro was born. It was quickly adopted by the RAF (whose pilots were rather tired of their fountain pens exploding mid-flight), became a favourite drawing tool for artists, and there's probably not a second of any day in which someone, somewhere, isn't asking: "Do you have a biro?" (and then wondering if they can be bothered to give it back).
Do you use biros?
Is "stealing" a biro really stealing?
Can you think of a better (or worse) pun?
Do please leave your comments below.
You have pretty handwriting.
ReplyDeleteReally, you guys call it a biro? I've never even heard the word! We call them a bic. Doesn't have to be an actual bic, just any random ballpoint pen could be a bic over here. Just like the biro in English!
And since I absolutely hate it if someone asks me for a pen and "forgets" to return it: yes, stealing is stealing. Bics/biros cost money too, humpf.
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RYC: The world isn't ready for tall people, that's what I think. It feels threatened by the vertically gifted and by means of all designers of the world, it tries to stop evolution by folding us in half.
Thanks Bibi - I'm really interested in handwriting. This is my "taking notes" handwriting, rather than my "letter-writing" writing. People sometimes say that my handwriting looks like a woman's ... the cheek!
DeleteAnd yes, we call it a biro, whether or not it's a Bic Biro. A biro does sound cheap and semi-disposable though - I wouldn't think of a Parker ballpoint as a biro.
And a biro? Really?? Are you the type that stands there tapping your foot until you're given it back? Hmph indeed.
Nah, not a woman's, just a man who doesn't write like he just suffered a seizure.
DeleteWell, I wouldn't go as far as to stand there tapping my feet, but I would definitely stand there. What would you need my pen for anyway? If you ask for my pen it's to fill out something hardly significant, something that takes maybe a maximum of five minutes. Nobody forgets things in such a short amount of time.
What if I've chewed your biro? Should I still return it then?
DeleteEw. Gross.
DeleteToday's post made me feel a bit pensive.
ReplyDelete-clueless.
How bironic.
DeleteI can't get over how clever your pun is! ha ha ha ha ha
ReplyDeleteThanks Evi - it seemed too fitting to pass up : o )
DeleteThis has been so entertaining haha. Also... does the watermark on your notebook say "PLAIN LAZY"?
ReplyDeleteUmm ... yes it does. In full, it says "Plain Lazy - Undercover Genius". Someone clearly thought it would be an appropriate gift for me - the nerve of some people!
DeleteWhy were the three drops of ink crying?
ReplyDeleteThere mother was in the pen and didn't know how long the sentence was :)
Ah thank you
*groans*
DeleteAlthough ... why three drops??
Here we just say 'pen'.
ReplyDeleteA ball point pen is always implied.
My current one made it home from hubby's work in his shirt pocket.
More relocating than stealing?
Exactly! And perfectly acceptable it is too.
Delete(but don't mention that to Bibi)
RYC: I find it odd how British royals all of a sudden got so popular all over the world. I mean, first there was Diana, then everything toned down a little bit, but BAM, Will gets married and the whole world goes crazy!
ReplyDeleteYou just wait, Bibi ... it's really about to kick-off.
DeleteI know! A new wave of crazy has started this morning... A blogger friend in Canada told me he's practically glued to his computer, waiting for the royal baby to be announced.
DeleteHaha oh we Canadians, eh?
DeleteIf she has conjoined twins the Brits will be splitting heirs deciding the next monarch.
ReplyDelete-clueless.
*coughs*
Delete(sorry - I missed this comment due to a change in flippin' Gmail's notification policies)