Language notecard for British newbies
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Olympia Rebus
Muse of Chaos
Join date: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,831
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05-23-2005 08:28
From: Joseph Proudfoot Sad thing is, I'm American. Stopped watching MTV when it became one big idiotic reality show fest. So the slang you young whippersnapper's use is beyond me.
I'm just glad the worst slang I've ever heard uttered is no more. I mean come on, "CODS"?? Who remembers that particular gem? Sometimes I think there's a big difference between the slang used in the media and the slang used by everyday people. For example, when I was a teenager in the early 80s, the expression "to the max" appeared in print, on tv, and in movies, but I don't remember people I knew using it that much. |
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Roberta Dalek
Probably trouble
Join date: 21 Oct 2004
Posts: 1,174
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05-23-2005 08:54
From: Nathan Stewart well as im british cant probably answer quite a few things its quite confusing at start
the most confusing is the pants in british is known as underwear
so pants = trousers
ellie is quite right, knickerbockers died out victorian days, along with my great granny wearing her bloomers
knickers = knickers
Obviously we can understand underpants but thats a pit more outdated of a word used now and more likely to be seen in the shop as underwear
underpants = underwear This list is aimed at British people. Pants is a key one. It took me ages to work out what bangs were. Loads of clothing names are different. When I'm buying textures I see them for shingles and siding. For me shingles is either on a beach, or like chicken pox. It seems to be a sort of roofing tile. Siding for me is to do with the railways - it seems to be the exterior walls of houses. |
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Joseph Proudfoot
Proud Tsalagi
Join date: 2 Sep 2004
Posts: 234
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05-23-2005 09:21
From: Davoren Flytrap Way to insult the intelligence of an entire nation. I'm not insulting anyone's intelligence, I'm saying that *I* don't understand it. If anything, I'm insulting my own.  |
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Madame Maracas
Not who you think I am...
Join date: 7 Jun 2004
Posts: 1,953
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Amusing and Illuminating
05-23-2005 10:33
This is one I learned a long time ago, dunno if it's still relevant
Cookies - Sugar Dandies
As far as money goes:
Buck/Dollar = Pound/Quid
I guess we can't really get into the "saltier" (naughty words) vocabulary here. Darn! (Bullocks?) 
hehehe
(I'm pretty sure that's an emphatic mis-match before anyone has a fit.) 
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Roberta Dalek
Probably trouble
Join date: 21 Oct 2004
Posts: 1,174
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05-23-2005 10:34
From: Madame Maracas This is one I learned a long time ago, dunno if it's still relevant
Cookies - Sugar Dandies
Never heard of sugar dandies. Cookies = biscuits. |
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Euterpe Roo
The millionth monkey
Join date: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,395
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05-23-2005 11:13
Difference between American English and British English? I found the cultural and linguistic differences summed up on the back of a child's inflatable toy: UK: Warning! Only to be used in water in which the child is within its depth and under supervision. USA: Warning! This is not a life saving device. Do not leave child unattended while device is in use. Never allow diving into this product. Never leave in or near the water when not in use. Never leave a baby in a bath seat or a bath ring without constant adult supervision. All levels of water are dangerous for babies. . . These cautions come from the back of the same product. I am left to conclude that, either the rest of the world thinks the citizenry of the United States a litigious lot, or that the writers of the above instructions believe those living in the United States truly lack common sense.  |
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FlipperPA Peregrine
Magically Delicious!
Join date: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 3,703
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05-23-2005 11:49
In the USA... Bathroom, "Hit the Head", John In the UK... Loo, W.C. (Water Closet), Spend a Penny In the USA... Drunk Driving... In the UK... Drink Driving... In the USA... Wasted, Drunk In the UK... Pissed In the USA... Pissed In the UK... Angry In the USA... Wonderful, tasty In the UK... Lush (Short for luscious, often pertaining to food or drink) In the USA... Lush (as in person who drinks lots) In the UK... Drunk In the USA... Wigger In the UK... Chav (For an example of a chav, see exhibit a, here: http://www.chavscum.co.uk/4images/details.php?image_id=2557 ) In the USA... Ho, Skank In the UK... Tart In the USA... Lucky Sonofabitch In the UK... Jammie Sod (alternately, jammie bastard) In the USA... Its f***ing great! In the UK... Its the dog's bollocks! Its the mutt's nuts! In the USA... Jerk-Off In the UK... Tosser, Wanker (the definition is slightly different. A "tosser" is more recreational about masturbation, whereas to a "wanker", its more of a profession.) In the USA... PMS In the UK... PMT I hope this helps you avoid many pitfalls. This comes from years of experience. As a tosser and a jammie sod! Regards, -Flip
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ariel Brearly
Registered User
Join date: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 6
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Over-the-Pond definitions
05-24-2005 09:28
"In the USA...
Jerk-Off
In the UK...
Tosser, Wanker (the definition is slightly different. A "tosser" is more recreational about masturbation, whereas to a "wanker", its more of a profession.)"
Well, from this reformed lurker, thank-you, thank-you, THANK-YOU for this! I've had a whole-day-long laugh with this one - it's done me good, and taken years off me! - excellent definition - love it!
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GuinnessAnson Penguin
Registered User
Join date: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 2
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knickers
05-31-2005 09:04
As an ex-pat in Canada, I can say surely and certainly:
knickers=knickerbockers
yes that is right. I am making plus-fours for a Victorianesque golfing costume, so they have not disappeared from the world of costume and are still present for historical re-enactments and so forth. The question from people is - those are like knickers, right? right. And they don't mean risque or otherwise undergarments. They mean slightly ballooning outer-garment trousers that indeed are drawn at the knee usually fastened with a buckle or buttons. They reach to just above the calf and are usually worn with hose, though likely people say tights, by which they mean not thin nylons, but thicker tights that are likely actually knit with fine wool.
knickers here do not mean knickers. ever. despite the universal UK (and former empire) use of the word, North America remains oblivious thereof. no, really. Really.
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Cindy Claveau
Gignowanasanafonicon
Join date: 16 May 2005
Posts: 2,008
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05-31-2005 09:39
From: Joseph Proudfoot ok, now if someone would post a slang/english listing for those who speak properly. example: what the hell's a hollow back girl? It's not "hollow". It's "Holla-back girl". See Gwen Stefani's new song, though she didn't invent the phrase. You can also Google on "Holla back"/"Hollaback" but be careful if you don't care to view suggestive personal photos (i think Yahoo has an entire Hollaback photo section - no nudity but lotsa bare butts and cleavage). I'm too old to pretend I know what it really means, but from what I gather it just means a girl who's looking for friends. <shrug> Don't ask me, I'm still celebrating the death of disco. Highly instructive lyrics for one "Holla back" song: Holla back Young'n (Hoooo Hoooo!)
Holla back (Hoooo Hoooo!)
Holla back Young'n (Hoooo Hoooo!)
Holla back (Hoooo Hoooo!)
Holla back Young'n (Hoooo Hoooo!)
Holla back (Hoooo Hoooo!)
Holla back Young'n (Hoooo Hoooo!)
Holla back (Hoooo Hoooo!)Poetry that brings tears to my eyes. Literally. Cindy |
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Dianne Mechanique
Back from the Dead
Join date: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2,648
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05-31-2005 09:46
From: daz Groshomme Marmite=unlike anything you have ever seen and will most likey run screeming from Mmmmmm..... Marmite! |
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FlipperPA Peregrine
Magically Delicious!
Join date: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 3,703
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05-31-2005 09:52
From: ariel Brearly "In the USA...
Jerk-Off
In the UK...
Tosser, Wanker (the definition is slightly different. A "tosser" is more recreational about masturbation, whereas to a "wanker", its more of a profession.)"
Well, from this reformed lurker, thank-you, thank-you, THANK-YOU for this! I've had a whole-day-long laugh with this one - it's done me good, and taken years off me! - excellent definition - love it! I'm just glad to be spreading a bit of joy throughout the universe!
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Helen Dayton
Registered User
Join date: 19 Mar 2004
Posts: 93
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05-31-2005 10:36
One of my favoUrite sites: Best of British - The American's Guide to Speaking British.
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Stormy Roentgen
Prim Putter Togetherer
Join date: 25 May 2004
Posts: 342
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05-31-2005 10:40
From: Roberta Dalek I'm sure it doesn't. We use the word knickers all the time to refer to female underpants. panties -> knickers
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Stephen Grayson
Transavatar Fyborg.
Join date: 23 May 2004
Posts: 108
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05-31-2005 11:01
I'm British and there's a few things wrong.
Darn doesn't mean bollocks, and what the hell are knickerbockers and sugar dandies? 0.o
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Dianne Mechanique
Back from the Dead
Join date: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2,648
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06-01-2005 09:57
From: Euterpe Roo Difference between American English and British English? I found the cultural and linguistic differences summed up on the back of a child's inflatable toy: UK: Warning! Only to be used in water in which the child is within its depth and under supervision. USA: Warning! This is not a life saving device. Do not leave child unattended while device is in use. Never allow diving into this product. Never leave in or near the water when not in use. Never leave a baby in a bath seat or a bath ring without constant adult supervision. All levels of water are dangerous for babies. . . These cautions come from the back of the same product. I am left to conclude that, either the rest of the world thinks the citizenry of the United States a litigious lot, or that the writers of the above instructions believe those living in the United States truly lack common sense. Ha ha This is classic! I bought a hammer last week (essentially a block of wood and a hunk of metal) and it had THREE warning stickers on it!! Essentially warning that if I hit someone in the head with the hammer that "injury could result," and that if it happened to fly apart in your hands, that they were similarly unresponsible. It also somberly informed me me be carefull casuse hammers can be "heavy" at times. |
