2026 Reading Challenge
The Butcher Boy

Questions About The Butcher Boy

by Patrick McCabe

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Answered Questions (2)

what does "six cough-no-more black toffees" mean? the complete sentence is "whistling and rolling the tanner round in my hand wondering would I get the Flash Bars after all or maybe six cough-no-more black toffees."
Joost van Tilborg It's a kind of toffee to stop you coughing. The so-called "Cough-no-more" -toffee. See? and the money would buy him six of those.... Oh, and they're b…moreIt's a kind of toffee to stop you coughing. The so-called "Cough-no-more" -toffee. See? and the money would buy him six of those.... Oh, and they're black... (less)
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Another question - what does brock mean? There are a few references to it e.g. p212 'Tell Leddy to collect this brock on time... ' Is it manure?
Cathy I tried to find this out myself, but I couldn't find a definitive answer. I thought at first it was manure, but I decided it was like slop. He was goi…moreI tried to find this out myself, but I couldn't find a definitive answer. I thought at first it was manure, but I decided it was like slop. He was going around and getting it from the hotel and restaurant. It wouldn't make sense for him to be picking up manure from the hotel. I assume it is the scraps from the food that he was taking back to feed the pigs. Just my thoughts, I don't really know. (less)
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