Sweet Fanny Adams

Since the early 20th century, the expression, sweet Fanny Adams, from the initials FA, has become sweet FA, which is generally understood in Britain as a euphemism for sweet f all. This is extremely sad considering the fate of the original Fanny Adams. Fanny Adams was an eight year old girl who was raped, murdered and dismembered in Alton in Hampshire in August 1867. A 21-year-old solicitor’s clerk named Frederick Baker was put on trial for the crime, was found guilty and publicly hanged at Winchester on Christmas Eve of the same year. Over 5000 people turned up to watch the execution. From the early 20th century, it was the coincidence of Fanny Adam’s initials that has made her synonymous with sweet FA and sweet f all. Not surprisingly, most people who learn about this origin, cease to use the expression Sweet Fanny Adams to mean sweet FA or sweet f all, out of respect.