Learn English – the origin of “Couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo”

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This picturesque expression, meaning 'not a very good shot with a rifle' or (of a footballer) unable to score any goals, has cropped up a few times recently in my reading. Does anyone know where it originated?

Best Answer

I believe it is an Irish slang phrase.

You couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo (phr): bad aim, woeful hurler/darts player/soccer player etc.

Below are some Google findings which make me think this way:

I also came accross an interesting forum thread which mentions this phrase. Here is an excerpt:

Jackie Milburn: - My dad used to say "son, yer couldn't hit a cow's arse with a shovel"

Juande the Spurrier: - There is a shovel that is called a banjo, because it's shaped like the musical instrument. Seems a farmer might be more likely to have a shovel than a banjo.

With further research, I found out that banjo is a shovel type indeed.

Banjo (as a shovel):
alt text

Banjo (as a musical instrument):
alt text

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