Gazump is a wonderful word. So earthy. So full of meaning. For those who are not old enough to remember Gazump or its past participle Gazumped was a popular word in the 1970’s and 80’s. It’s meaning, according to Google AI (you decided whether its validity), is:
verb
verb: gazump; 3rd person present: gazumps; past tense: gazumped; past participle: gazumped; gerund or present participle: gazumping
1. informal British English
make a higher offer for a house than (someone whose offer has already been accepted by the seller) and thus succeed in acquiring the property.
“the trio are fuming after they were gazumped by a property speculator”
2. dated informal
swindle (someone).
“I gazumped a friend of mine with complete success last night”
The word, again according to Google AI, is Yiddish dating back to 1920’s
The great tit above knows the meaning only too well. She had her eye on the bird box that the Blue Tit is sitting outside. She had visited the box several times and was just about to move in when the Blue Tit Gazumped her. Of course this is anthropomorphising the bird’s behaviour but it is amazing the small dramas that occur in the garden everyday when you take the time to look!
PS … The Great Tit is now happily settled in to the bird box next door. However, I swear, every now and then, I catch her longingly looking at the Blue Tot’s box next door.
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