Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1827-1935
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FREUCHIE, prop.n. Also †Fruchie. The name of a village in Fife, near Falkland. Sometimes The Freuchie (Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 100). In phr. gae tae Freuchie (and fry mice) = go to blazes! (Ags., Slg., Fif., Clc., Edb., Arg., Ayr. 1953). [′frʌxe]Sc. 1827 R. Chambers Picture Scot. II. 191:
It is common in some parts of Scotland to say, in case of being annoyed by any trifling or mischievous person, "go to Fruchie!" As Fruchie is a little village about a mile from Falkland, it has been supposed with some plausibility that the phrase took its rise among the courtiers at the palace.Abd. 1873 P. Buchan Inglismill 42:
"Gae wa', sirs, to Freuchie, for brawly it's seen It's siller ye're wooin'," quo' Tipperty's Jean.Fif. 1894 A. S. Robertson Provost 138:
To Freuchie wi' yer tick!Sc. 1935 B. Marshall Uncertain Glory ii. iv.:
I felt like telling them to go to Freuchie and fry mice.
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"Freuchie prop. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/freuchie>
