Things are not going well
Dad – 1950s
George Iliff – father of Mark, JM, G & Bel
The intonation was moderate, but when he reached for this, his strongest swear, we knew Dad was not enjoying life.
Aside:
”BOTHERED or BOTH-EARED. Talked to at both ears by different persons at the same time, confounded, confused. IRISH PHRASE”
—1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, Francis Grose