potato-potato-potato

Sound of a poorly running motorcycle engine. The sound emphasis is on the ‘p’ and ‘t’ rather than the vowels. Janet writes: “My sister used the above expression to describing a problem she had on starting a new motorcycle – it was jerking along as if it had ‘kangaroo juice’ in the tank. She assumed a “Gangnam Style” stance and dance to illustrate it, while saying “there I was going ‘potato-potato-potato’ – what a show-up!” She says that this expression is often used within her group of motorcycling friends, usually in connection with novice riders, although it may be in use more widely across the UK. The sound emphasis seems to be on the ‘p’ and ‘t’ rather than the vowels.” (thanks Janet!)