rum go

English

UK dialectal (chiefly Cockney); rum (“strange, peculiar”) + go (“incident, occurrence”).

rum go (plural rum gos)

(slang, idiomatic, Britain, Cockney) An odd affair; a surprising event; something confusing.
Life's a rum go.

1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 35, Google Books
‘Here’s rayther a rum go, sir,’ replied Sam.

‘What?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick.

‘This here, Sir,’ rejoined Sam. ‘I’m wery much afeerd, sir, that the properiator o’ this here coach is a playin’ some imperence vith us.’
1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, Chapter 7, Google Books
“Well, who's a better right?” growled the gamekeeper. “A pretty rum go if squire ain't to talk for Dr. Livesey, I should think.”
1955, C. S. Lewis, The Magician's Nephew, Google Books
“There they are, Strawberry - Fledge, I should say. This is a rum go.”
2003, Mary Poppins the musical
'Life's a rum go, Guv'nor, and that's the truth.'-Bert

a surprising event, a confusing experience

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