OED2 has "sand-boy" as "a boy who hawks sand for sale" used in proverbial phrases such as "happy (or jolly, etc.) as a sandboy." These cites are given
1821 P. Egan Life in London ii. v. 289 Logic appeared to be as happy as a sand-boy, who had unexpectedly met with good luck in disposing of his hampers full of the above-household commodity. 1823 Jon Bee Dict. Turf, Sand-boy, all rags and all happiness; the urchins who drive the sand-laden neddies through our streets, are envied by the capon-eating turtle-loving epicures of these cities. As jolly as a sand-boy, designates a merry fellow who has tasted a drop. 1840 Dickens Old Curiosity Shop xviii, The Jolly Sandboys was a small road-side inn, with a sign, representing three Sandboys increasing their jollity. 1841 E. FitzGerald Letters (1889) I. 70 We will smoke together and be as merry as sandboys. 1892 Zangwill Childrens' Ghetto i. xxiv, Everything combined to make him as jolly as a sand-boy. 1928 Daily Express 17 Mar. 3/1 The King was in his element here.+ He was happy as a sandboy. 1958 Daily Sketch 2 June 11/3 Brimming with health, polished like a Derby cup, happy as a sandboy. 1973 Perthshire Advertiser 17 Feb. 18/3 It isn't hot, but they're as happy as sandboys.
These usages are UBlish and Oz -- anyone seen or heard the word "sandboy" or the phrase used in the US? Anyone seen or heard of a boy hawking sand?
1821 P. Egan Life in London ii. v. 289 Logic appeared to be as happy as a sand-boy, who had unexpectedly met with good luck in disposing of his hampers full of the above-household commodity. 1823 Jon Bee Dict. Turf, Sand-boy, all rags and all happiness; the urchins who drive the sand-laden neddies through our streets, are envied by the capon-eating turtle-loving epicures of these cities. As jolly as a sand-boy, designates a merry fellow who has tasted a drop. 1840 Dickens Old Curiosity Shop xviii, The Jolly Sandboys was a small road-side inn, with a sign, representing three Sandboys increasing their jollity. 1841 E. FitzGerald Letters (1889) I. 70 We will smoke together and be as merry as sandboys. 1892 Zangwill Childrens' Ghetto i. xxiv, Everything combined to make him as jolly as a sand-boy. 1928 Daily Express 17 Mar. 3/1 The King was in his element here.+ He was happy as a sandboy. 1958 Daily Sketch 2 June 11/3 Brimming with health, polished like a Derby cup, happy as a sandboy. 1973 Perthshire Advertiser 17 Feb. 18/3 It isn't hot, but they're as happy as sandboys.
These usages are UBlish and Oz -- anyone seen or heard the word "sandboy" or the phrase used in the US? Anyone seen or heard of a boy hawking sand?
