MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Carol (1999) Discussion > May I press your cudiles, Sir?

May I press your cudiles, Sir?

posted 16 years ago by poway_mojo
5 replies | jump to latest

Recently read a poser regarding "cudiles". This line was delivered by Edward Petherbridge, the actor who played the charity collector.

No dictionary search results for this word. Any ideas?

[–] mjmtxk 16 years ago

The word he uses is "credules" the plural form of the word credule. It means gullible or naive. I think he was saying basically, stop joshing me or playing me as someone gullible. OR you have to be joking and not serious in what you are saying. He couldn't believe that Scrooge was serious about not giving anything to help the poor.

This film is filled with great lines, that don't mean a thing to the average American. I love one of the funny lines at the end about "enjoying a bowl of smoking bishop!" Huh? :-) It is a type of port wine mixed with bitter oranges or grapefruits and heated, I believe.

[–] flobiwan-1 12 years ago

But the man introduces himself with "May i press your crudiles sir". He says this before Scrooge turns him down. I always took it to mean something like, "may i have a word?".

Incidentally, my opinion of the funniest line in the book is from this scene.

"We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner," said the gentleman, presenting his credentials.

It certainly was, for they had been two kindred spirits.

[–] chet19 12 years ago

This came up before last year, i think. A few of us on another board were wondering about that line. I believe the screenwriter is now passed away, so somebody got hold of the actor, and he didn't know what he said. In any event, the charity guy just met Scrooge, so he wouldn't be saying.credules at that point. He does say a word that sounds like cudile, but no one knows what it is. Lets keep investigating!!!! Here it is...
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-cud1.htm

[–] Suzume-san 11 years ago

He would be saying "May I present my credentials, sir?". In the novel the narrative mentions him presenting his credentials - documents to prove that he is who he says he is and is really collecting for charity.

It's a little too early in the season to watch this now, I will watch it on Christmas Eve and listen carefully to the line.

Edit - I finally got hold of the DVD and watched the scene. I am completely wrong! He does say "May I press your credules, sir?", as he shakes Scrooge's hand. It's as clear as a bell in Petherbridge's lovely classically-trained diction.

I have no idea what this means.

[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

it's strange.

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