The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, riding high in the polls due to concerns over the unilateral imposition of a tax on carbon emissions, has used an expression while addressing the “No Confidence Convoy” protest against the government that is a clear reference to her unmarried status.
The Canberra Times reports he said:
“I am giving the Prime Minister an opportunity to redeem herself. I am giving the Prime Minister an opportunity to make an honest woman of herself … to overcome the honesty deficit that she currently displays.”
The Cambridge Idioms dictionary explains:
make an honest woman of somebody (humorous)
if a man makes an honest woman of someone that he is having a relationship with, he marries her You’ve been living with Jean for five years, isn’t it time you made an honest woman of her?
And Wiktionary:
to make an honest woman
(idiomatic, informal, now, usually with “of”) To marry (a woman), especially if she is having a sexual relationship.
I thought about just asking Rosalyn to move in with me, but I decided it was time to make an honest woman out of her.
Perhaps this was a Freudian slip by Abbott but in the context of personal sledging in Parliament House corridors by Chris Pyne and Joe Hockey, it does suggest that the Coalition is deliberately targeting the PM in a strongly personal way.
It’s an awkward and somewhat old-fashioned expression, at best. Speaking to protest gatherings full of enthusiastic people can often provoke excitable remarks from those roped in to addressing them.
Given how far the Coalition is ahead in the polls, the heavily personal tactics are a perplexing and gratuitous approach from which they cannot gain, in our view.
VEXNEWS (Archive) 
Novel insight as always Andy but the PM-in-waiting meant her carbon tax lie to the Australian people, in that exchange. However – since you raised the topic – Ms. Gillard had better get Tim to the altar while she still has the Lodge in her glory box.
Isn’t the correct term “Freudian Slit”?
“the statements that need to be taken absolutely as gospel truth are carefully prepared scripted remarks”.
You’ve misquoted him. He has used that expression before, but this time he said “make an honest politician of herself.”
To paraphrase South Park, Tony why won’t you come out..
I see my comment is still in moderation. I don’t know how you can verify it today, but it will be in Hansard tomorrow on the PH website. This doesn’t prove anything, but I wrote this on PollBludger at 11.43 am, just after he said it:
“Tony Abbott is currently speaking on the carbon tax plebiscite. He started by saying that governments should not make big changes without a mandate. WorkChoices anyone? He says he’s giving Julia Gillard an opportunity to “redeem herself” and “make an honest politician of herself.” The hypocrisy flowing out of every pore is flooding the chamber.”
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2011/08/17/of-boats-and-votes/comment-page-112/#comments
(post 5588). I noted particularly that he did not say “woman” because he has said it before.
We all know how she got there. It’s just not reported. us gallery journo’s know her ‘list’
Hey Mad Monk I can’t wait for those nasty little secrets to come out regarding your days in the Seminary.
***He started by saying that governments should not make big changes without a mandate. WorkChoices anyone?***
LOL. Did Howard expressly promise Workchoices would not be enacted, in the way The Frump promised a carbon dioxide tax would not be enacted? Keep the lies coming, Albo might give you a consultancy.
***Hey Mad Monk I can’t wait for those nasty little secrets to come out regarding your days in the Seminary***
Keep waiting. Like all the other cowards with keyboards.
***it does suggest that the Coalition is deliberately targeting the PM in a strongly personal way***
I hope they are. One thousand workers to lose their jobs in Port Kembla today, now that BlueScope is to close. Ten thousand workers to lose their job in the Hunter with the tax on carbon dioxide. Whyalla, the Latrobe Valley……. Labor will destroy every job necessary, to ensure the Greens are happy.
Julia Gillard is de- inudstrialising our nation, and will bring Australian workers and businesses to their knees. Wake up Labor.
So what?
Geez, Andrew. No wonder you are becoming the internet’s greatest news source blogger. The Cambridge Idioms dictionary and Wiktionary. Why didn’t I think of that?
***Did Howard expressly promise Workchoices would not be enacted, in the way The Frump promised a carbon dioxide tax would not be enacted?***
Byron, are you saying it’s okay for a government to do anything it likes as long as it didn’t promise not to? So, if a government doesn’t promise not to put up all taxes by 50%, you won’t mind if that’s what it does. Abbott said governments should have a mandate to make big changes. Howard didn’t have one for WorkChoices.
BTW, Hansard for yesterday is up now:
Click to access rhansard.pdf
wow – this from Tony Abbott – when do the questions start about his relationship with a male columnist from the Oz?
Can someone please tell me ….Is it true that Labor “can” organise a root in a brothel ???
not to mention his current liaison with one of his staffers. Margie walked out of the family home last time she caught Tony the Tramp with his pants down. will she be as forgiving as Archbishop Pell this time..?
Great to see left wing filth denigrate Tony Abbott with their calumny.
Every post of such disreputable ilk serves as another nail in the coffin of the worst Government in Australia’s history.
Worse than Whitlam, worse than McMahon.
The male columnist from the Oz will soon start revealing Tony’s pastimes around the male inside leg.
Brother Abbott, only lowered his trousers to show his throbbing muscle.
Andrew,
Abbott was using that terminology 6 months ago:
Your selective outrage would make Penny Wong blush.
Come on lets not be too special here. She has the morals of an alley cat and will do anything to stay in power so whatever Abbott says wont change things
Since when has Vexnews become the ALP left newsletter? Come on Andrew stop making up petty university arguments to try and shift the focus away from the government.
So lets move on. Abbot as Prime Minister……..we are really improving arent we? Reduce unemployment? dont think so. Reduce Interest rates? dont think so. I know – lets give the Tax back to BHP! Abbot is a grub – always has been – how do we forget? Prime Minister? what a joke
Him Tony Aboot – him the big dickhead fukcing. Zoran him remember him getting accuse long time ago about the sexual matter? Was Aboot?
Triton, prime ministerships are often defined by some pithy epithet that encapsulates the time. For Hawke, it was ‘no child will live in poverty’, an indication of the man’s capacity for self-delusion. For Keating, ‘the recession we had to have’, symptomatic of his elitist arrogance. And now for Gillard, ‘there will be no carbon tax.’ That’s a snapshot of her personal dishonesty and Richo- style ‘whatever it takes.’ Aussies have had enough, just get out there and talk to them.
I think this is a very good composite photo unless Julia has joining the Libs to get more votes next election
The will not be a carbon tax under a government that I lied
Now there is a Mandate, or a Womandate in this case
fancy nancy pyne sledging anyone.
the poofta pyne.
Has anyone got a spare razor blade?
That last comment is utter garbage Andy.
I still use a razor blade. I have plenty of spare ones.
I am prepared to provide one to anyone who would use it on the vile carbon dioxide producer who made the comment under the pseudonym of Robb, Andrew.
I feel a bit down in the dumps could I have that razor blade?
Does anyone believe the man is capable of more adult comment.
Giuseppe De Simone a lifelong ambition of mine, is to smash your greasy face into a concrete path and make a Hookesy of you.
LOL. You wouldn’t have the guts. If you’ve got a spare shovel you could leave it outside his outside his house, in the dead of night. Or is that option just for women?
Media rumours say that the ALP are considering changing the PM. I can see no point changing the ships master when the ships timbers are rotten and the ship is going to sink anyway