Why "a load of cobblers"? Were cobblers once regarded as deceitful people, much like estate agents are today?

• It's a euphemism. Shoes were sewn with thread which had to be waterproofed to stop the seams leaking. This was done by passing the thread through a lump of wax - a cobbler's ball.

  Maxine Goda, Liverpool

• "Cobblers" is a corruption of "cobbles" - small, round stones - used as a euphemism for testicles, or 'balls'.

  Philip Bevan, Prescot

• Cobblers used to sit on the streets waiting for clients and heard all kinds of stories from passing pedestrians. They later conveyed what thay could remember and no doubt pieced a few stories together which resulted in a load of nonsense.

  Emma, Athens, Greece

• The English language is a beautiful thing. In 'Yes, Prime Minister', Sir Humphrey describes a statement perpetrated by some politician as 'a consignment of geriatric shoemakers'.

  Carla, Manchester