Uk/American-isms

[Sockstickler]

I have to remember to spell "bloody" as "bl**dy" at predominantly British message boards because they think it is terribly naughty 😉

A few more:

flashlight = torch
guy/dude = bloke (old UK slang)
elevator = lift
baby buggy = pram
panties = knickers

Really? Bloody is that bad over there?

 

[MistressValerie1]

Really? Bloody is that bad over there?

LOL, it is whenever I say it because I have a reputation for never swearing 😱

 

[firepig]

Bloody aint a swear word its just to add more to what your saying such as:
You asshole!
You bloody asshole!
I think it has something to do with an old saying.

 

[quillman0071]

we speak the same language but ...

During a visit to the USA couple of years ago I realised how words are easily mistaken or have different meanings. I kept refering to the lady who had left me as my 'ex partner'. Only after a few days did I relaise that (certainly in Florida) 'partner' refers to same sex partner. In the UK it can mean either. I also explained that I was staying for a 'fortnight' (a commonly used expression in the UK meaning two weeks;fourteen nights) but it caused some hilarity and confusion as some thought I was refering to a castle and knights!

I find it amusing sometimes that it is requently heard that 'Americanisms' are ruining the 'Queens English' only to discover that often used words are in fact old english that we do not use any more ; 'Fall' for 'April' and 'House of Correction' for prison. Both of these terms I have seen on 16th century English documents.

 

[Senshi1]

I also explained that I was staying for a 'fortnight' (a commonly used expression in the UK meaning two weeks;fourteen nights) but it caused some hilarity and confusion as some thought I was refering to a castle and knights!

Hahaha! That gave me a good laugh. 😀 😀 😀

 

[z284ca]

Bristolian is a different language all together Bob :-D http://www.beast-clothing.com/shirt.html hehe that's some Bristolian sayings that I doubt make a lot of sense in America. Another one is Wrench and Spanner but not sure what's going on with that.

 

[leenotler]

torch=flashlight
On cars:
bonnet=hood
boot=trunk

It can be bad in other languages too. I know of a children's Spanish version of Pinocchio called Pinocho(sp?), published in Spain. My sister read this to Mexican migrant children, who seemed impressed with it, as their eyes got very wide. She stopped when a Mexican adult said that Pinocho was Mexican slang for penis. Oh no, and Pinocho's nose grew when he told a lie! Very bad.

 

[Senshi1]

Oh yeah:

Windscreen (UK) = Windshield (US)
Pavement (UK) = Sidewalk (US)
Black Pudding (UK) = Blood Pudding (US)
Nursery (UK) = Kindergarten (US)
Year 4 (UK) = 3rd Grade (US) [That applies to all years/grades]
University (UK) = College (US)

 

[Budweiserbob!]

Nappies = Diapers!

Tights = Pantyhose

Aerial = Antenna

and of course

FOOTBALL = SOCCER!!!

Don't forget the last one if you come over here. If you hear someone shout "FOOTBALL!" and you're expecting the superbowl, you're gonna be majorly disappointed! >XD

 

[Budweiserbob!]

Oh, and Period (.) over here does not mean full stop, it only means the "Womans Monthly", or a certain time of the day! XD

 

[Hungarian21]

Really? Bloody is that bad over there?

If bloody is really that bad, Harry Potter should be rated R, and Ron should be some hardcore criminal. XD

 

[Budweiserbob!]

Emphasis on Hardcore! 😀

 

[tickle_fan031]

Ok I've been away so long I missed the replies to the thread that I posted.After reading them all here are a few points I'd like to say even though the moment has kinda gone now,but never mind.....

Glad you have learnt something from this thread tklvr so you know what a good insult is and what a bad insult is.hehe

Nah bloody isn't bad over here.That's the first swear word that was ok to say in front of my parents when I was younger.It can't be that bad considering there is an advert for Australia saying "Where the bloody hell are you?" at the end of it.

Some good posts here.....thanks all for sharing.

Another one which I have just thought of whilst I was reading some other posts.Mothers day over here in the uk is in March sometime....I noticed that it's different in the US.

Also what's the UK's alternative to thanksgiving?

 

[Abaddon1]

Also what's the UK's alternative to thanksgiving?

There isn't one. We don't have an equivalent to it, although if your at a REAL push just looking for a holiday that could stand in for it, I'd say any of the Saints days depending where in the UK your from, (George for Britain, Paddy for Ireland and I'll be buggered if I can remember the other 2 :tounge: ) even though they're no where near as big as Thanksgiving is.

Oh, and I'm not sure, but isn't Twat only used as a swear word over here? I seem to remember it having a different meaning in America

 

[tickle_fan031]

There isn't one. We don't have an equivalent to it, although if your at a REAL push just looking for a holiday that could stand in for it, I'd say any of the Saints days depending where in the UK your from, (George for Britain, Paddy for Ireland and I'll be buggered if I can remember the other 2 :tounge: ) even though they're no where near as big as Thanksgiving is.

Oh, and I'm not sure, but isn't Twat only used as a swear word over here? I seem to remember it having a different meaning in America

oh yeah saints days I forgot about them.lol.I'm not sure I hardly use the word Twat,I'd rather call someone an eejit.

 

[ticklefiend30001]

Aii. I am from England and now live in the US so I'm good with these.

Bloody was taken from Bloody Hell, which is not swearing it is blaspheming *sp* and it now just gets spattered in, in all different kind of ways, the American Equivalent would be "goddamnit", depending on where you are this is looked at with varying severity.

There is no US equivalent to "chavs". They just don't exist out here THANK GOD!!

Wanker is a word used in certain parts of the US, as is Twat, I have only heard it used by people from New York and New Jersey where there a lot of us English folk, and twat does mean that especially lovely part of a lady out here too.

A few more I can think of --

Americans don's say the H in HERBS, but the brits drop h's off any and all words.

Chips = Crisps
Cigarettes = Fags
Fries = Chips
Cookies = Biscuits
Tired = Knackered
Testicles = Bollocks or Bollox
Trash can = Bin
Sidewalk = Pavement
Traffic Cirle (few and far bewteen out here) - Roundabout
Sedan = Coupe
Truck/Tractor Trailer = Lorry
Condom = Johnnie
Jerk/Off = Wank/er
Gas = Petrol (Short for petroleum)
Fanny = Vagina

And ofcourse we have missed the most obvious one
Football = Soccer

This is the only that really gets me, cause many times I have been asked why we call it football!! For the record, the US is the only country in the world to refer to another sport as football, and the question really should be. Why do you call a game that you only use your feet in for maybe 1% football? Not to mention that US Football is a direct rip of the British game of Rugby, just with pads added a few different rules and a slightly adjusted playing feild.

Bollox can also be used in may different ways, like instead of saying "Oh S**T" you would say "Oh BOLLOX", but it can also mean the babymakers, and you would say "mate I just got kicked in the bollox"

Pissed in the UK means drunk, here it exclusively means to be pissed off. Also in the UK I woudln't use the word infront of a child, but here it seems fine.

As getting drunk is now the major past time in the UK, we also have numerous other words for it , plastered, mullered, wankered, wasted, twatted, pissed, mashed, f**ked up, blotto, smashed etc..

Also in the UK, due to WWII we refer to any American as a "Yank". When infact within the US, Yanks, are those only from the north. Apparently you have to be from the north of the Mason Dixie line, which is the old Civil War line between North and South if I am right. Americans, if I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.

We don't have an equivalent to Thanksgiving, and no offence to who ever brought that up, but if you actually think about the reason for the holiday why would we?

Brits, you might find it interesting that in the US they don't have Boxing Day, though they do in Canada. It's a wierd thing, Thanksgiving is always a Thu. and you always get the Fri after off too (this is the biggest shopping day of the year in the US), but you don't get the day after Christmas off. Doesn't make much sense too me.

I think thats plenty for now.

 

[Senshi1]

Nice post, ticklefiend - I learned a lot, thanks! 😀

Also, somebody mentioned the Saints days in the UK. They are:

St. Davids Day - Wales
St. Georges Day - England
St. Patricks Day - Ireland
St. Andrews Day - Scotland (I think)

 

[drummerboy]

I'm suprised no-one has said one of the more distinct one (used especially by the youth - and what i call tf03 all the time!! hehe!):

'Minger' - meaning an ugly, unattractive individual. Especially used when refering to someone's lack of sexual/love attractiveness.

 

[Abaddon1]

Just thought of one that even some of the Brits might not get. "Wehay!" (Pronounced Way-ey) - A Northern/Geordie term used as either a greeting or to express shock

 

[Senshi1]

Just thought of one that even some of the Brits might not get. "Wehay!" (Pronounced Way-ey) - A Northern/Geordie term used as either a greeting or to express shock

We don't use it down here, but we've been made aware of it by shows like "Bo' Selecta". 😛

Speaking of which, another expression of surprise I love: "Fookin' Nora!" (or "bloody Nora", depending on the company you're in).

 

[sgtfrantz]

"getting in" = "making out"

 

[Cbarton]

If I remember right from English lit class 25 years ago, the term "bloody' was a profane interjection refering to the blood of Christ. That was a foot-note in one of the texts we ready anyway. How it got from "the blood of Christ" to it's meaning now it did not explain...