US - UK Dictionary [Archive] - Orlando Villas - Florida Discussion Forums and Guide

orlandobabe

08-03-2002, 15:44

For me the big American-English language problem is not so much the odd words that we use that are different

-it's the way we both phrase things.

I think the English say things in a very long winded kind of way-and the Americans use a shorter version-so that if you get into a shop and say to someone-who quite possibly doesn't have English as their first language-american or otherwise
'Excuse me-can you tell me where you keep your travel cots please?
for example.

This caused huge mayhem at KMart on one occasion-and I left feeling quite frustrated and with no travel cot!

I now try to keep it short and snappy-but old habits die hard.

Orlandobabe

steph_goodrum

08-03-2002, 16:17

John & Sarah
Re your keyboard differences in US. Does the computer not come with a "character map". Using windows if you go to Start - Programs - accessories - character map. It tells you all the keystrokes needed to produce certain characters. My daughter uses it often as she is studying both French and German so needs all the various accents and funny letters (ß is one you can't really replicate any other way).
Might not work on your your computer but you never know.

Babblin Boo

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

08-03-2002, 16:22

Hi Steph

We ended up specifying the Keyboard language as English (UK) which worked well, even if we did have to remember that the labels on the keyboard buttons were not always what was produced when pressed e.g. the button labelled # now produced the correct £.

I came unstuck when at our MC's house as they were having the same problem. They have a PC running Windows XP and try as I might, I could not find the place to change the keyboard language!

John & Sarah

John & Sarah Rooke
Orlando Villas

MMFAN

09-03-2002, 03:53

A friend of mine who is a Brit tells me that sometimes speaking British has definite advantages down in Florida. On a recent vacation [holiday], his rental [hire] car was hit on the windshield [windscreen] and the hood [bonnet] by a coconut [that's OK, right?]. Fearing that he might need a report for the insurance company, he called the police and asked what how to report the damaged bonnet. They told him to stay right there, and within 5 minutes a police car was at the scene. When he asked the officer if they always responded so quickly to minor accidents, his red-faced response was "Well, actually we had no idea what a bonnet was so we thought we'd better check it out"

blott

09-03-2002, 23:24

Oh dear! Things are quite complicated but I usually try to reply to US enquiries in American and UK in English (sorry, everyone, I mean British!), if I can tell where they originated. Usually, the dates give it away. Things do go wrong though, on occasion.

I've had a family book twice now, once last year and now this year. Trouble is, they're not on the internet and don't have a fax so we either have to snail mail (takes a long time) or telephone. We had awful problems trying to understand each other and it felt like we were both foreigners! I was trying to explain how to send a deposit check and told her who to make it out (payable) to and I even spelt the name and address, very slowly. This had to be repeated more than once and her baby grandson kept interrupting, so you can imagine it was quite a long phone call. The check duly arrived with a rather strange address (thank you Consignia!) and made out to a completely different person but I sent it to our bank anyway and it worked! I didn't have the heart to send it back and ask her (somehow!) to change it!

I always thought I communicated with Americans quite well but this family was from Virginia so I don't know if that explained the problem (MMFAN, you would probably know). I just wished I could do sign language to explain to her better via a videophone! <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Blott

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

09-03-2002, 23:50

We've been to Virginia a few times (it's beautiful - especially in the fall) and it's probably the most British of any of the US States.

If you get chance, visit Williamsburg - it's where the English first landed in the US and they re-enact things as if it was 300 years ago - fantastic! They take it so seriously, that if you ask a costumed character about TV they will ask you what TV is because they have never heard of it <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>.

John & Sarah Rooke
Orlando Villas

porky

11-03-2002, 14:34

Please, if you need a rubber for the children, be sure to ask for an eraser. It will save you a lot of embaressment as a rubber is a condom.

Reminds me of the Jasper Carrot joke about the Australian brand of cellotape - Durex!

A tap in America is called a faucet.

Jacqui

MMFAN

12-03-2002, 05:17

Blott, I travel to the U.K. frequently (I love London) and have only minimal problem understanding British accents, so it's probably not you. Since Virginia is a Southern state, alot of people have an accent that is difficult for other Americans to understand, never mind Brits. They also have a hard time understanding people without that accent. Now Florida is in the South also, but it is filled with people that moved there from New York and New Jersey and other Northern states.

By the way, I agree, Colonial Williamsburg is very good.

blott

12-03-2002, 16:02

Thanks MMFAN - it's comforting to know that I'm not the only one! I understand Floridian very well but this accent was something else.

Blott

blott

15-03-2002, 18:45

A few more

sidewalk = pavement
pavement = road
median = centre of road divider
gas pedal = accelerator
muffler = exhaust

Blott

chris

16-03-2002, 15:04

When we had our foosball table delivered, the delivery man said he could not drive down the 417 as he had a 'tractor' on the back. I thought why is he driving around with a tractor as well? Turns out that's another name for articulated lorry.

Had a job not to giggle at Disney when the security man asked to look inside my fanny-pack (bum bag).

MMFAN

16-03-2002, 20:02

Chris: Isn't tractor easier than articulated lorry? The full term is tractor-trailer, which never really made any sense to me. A tractor without a trailer is a bobtail. Don't get that either.

I wouldn't make too much fun of fanny pack, bum bag sounds really strange too.

:):)

blott

16-03-2002, 20:25

In UK a tractor is something you use in farming (with implement attachments) to plough/plow(?) and carry hay around with massive rear wheels and small front wheels (don't know what I'm describing in US terminology), not something attached to a lorry. An articulated lorry is usually called an 'artic' in UK for short (or even just a lorry).

I expect bum bag does sound a bit odd but, err, don't know quite how to put this, fanny means something entirely different in the UK! <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Blott

imported_n/a

16-03-2002, 23:56

My 8 year old "I live and breathe Nicklodeon" daugther tells me that "hiney" means bottom (or butt or fanny).

fiona

17-03-2002, 04:21

I can't say I care for bum bag, but anyone asking to look in my fanny bag would get a very tart response.

Fiona

bonnie

29-05-2002, 23:35

Blott, no more than two weeks ago I was looking for a rental for clients and a women who returned my call had the toughest British accent I could not understand her for anything, i felt terrible but I just could not understand any thing she said. She even asked for me three times before It actually dawned on me it was Bonnie she was saying. I didn't rent from her because of the language barrior we had . On the other hand the man I rented from for myself Roger was very easy to talk to and understandable. I am a NewYorker and didn;t realize I HAD any accent until the first time to Florida and a man asked if we were from NY we said yes....how could you know that?? His reply was your accent! We all laughed and said we don;t have an accent.....you do! Bonnie

bonnie

29-05-2002, 23:38

Also just to let you know Fanny in Africa means the female body part. A bum bag here would mean a homeless person's bags. Bonnie

blott

30-05-2002, 13:45

Bonnie

Fanny means exactly the same in UK as in Africa then. :)

Blott

bonnie

31-05-2002, 17:03

I think from now on I may use another word for fanny then!!!! Hinney, bottom, or maybe I'll just stick to BUTT. Bonnie

caroline

25-09-2002, 01:19

We came unstuck in Home Depot when we wanted to buy some rawl plugs (we were hanging pictures) after a very graphic demonstration of exactly what we intended to do with our rawl plugs!! the bemused assistant exclaimed "OH - you mean plastic anchors!" .........so now we know:)

Caroline

MMFAN

27-09-2002, 02:01

I take it from a recent posting in another forum that being called a "prat" is not a good thing?

Is a "prat" "cheeky"?

[8D]

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

27-09-2002, 02:05

You are right MMFAN - it's not something you'd like to be called.

It's probably politely described as being 'foolish' or 'silly'.

fiona

27-09-2002, 02:16

It rhymes with banker and begins with a w!!!!!!!![:0][:I]

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

27-09-2002, 02:23

Our bad word filter on the forum nearly got that one Fiona [:I]

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

15-12-2002, 15:31

Perhaps it is just me with a bee in my bonnet but I detest the verb to deplane or deplaning. I'm afraid I always DISEMBARK.

Sarah

MMFAN

15-12-2002, 17:05

Please explain the British relationship and proper context for the following words:

--Rent or rental
--Hire

Do you "rent" my villa or do you "hire" my villa. I know you "hire" a car, but is it from a car rental agency or a car "hiring" agency. Do I say "thank you for renting my villa" or is it "thank you for hiring my villa"?

And finally if you "hire" a car, do you "sack" the car instead of returning it?:D

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

15-12-2002, 17:26

Stuart:

Rent is only used when talking about property in general, thus you rent a house but hire a car or hire a video. Thus "thank you for renting my villa" is the way to go.

"Sack" is normally used to refer to what you do as an employer when you wish to terminate someones employment - you "give them the sack" (or boot, or give them their cards). UK guests would "return" a hire car.

Hope that helps.

MMFAN

15-12-2002, 17:50

Thanks John and Sarah. I've got it now.

Regards,

Stuart

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

03-01-2003, 18:58

I think that the US for fringe is bangs...I saw it once on a Riki Lake show when at home with 'flu so could have got it all wrong.

Sarah

MMFAN

04-01-2003, 00:02

quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk

I think that the US for fringe is bangs...I saw it once on a Riki Lake show when at home with 'flu so could have got it all wrong.

Sarah

Are you talking about the hair that hangs over your forehead?

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

04-01-2003, 00:21

That's the one MMFAN.

MMFAN

04-01-2003, 19:11

That would be the same then. I can't really justify the word "bangs", but "fringe" sounds only marginally more logical.

MMFAN

31-01-2003, 02:37

From a recent posting I see a new entry:

"Takes the biscuit" ====> "Takes the cake" (at least the US one rhymes)

wendy

05-02-2003, 20:17

Well with all these "mistakes" being made, never ask for a rubber to rub them out. You'll get something very different, and probably some very funny looks. I'll leave you to work that one out!

brianthebare

14-02-2003, 16:34

I must remember to tell my daughter Sarah about the bum-bag translation. She will surely giggle if she is asked for it to be checked out!!

Thanks all for this v useful information.

Regards,
Brian.

Rushton50

09-04-2003, 04:33

more important ones here.

chips = crisps
silverware = cutlery
billfold = wallet
pocket book = handbag
cash register = till

Anabella

02-05-2003, 04:26

hi!
My main lenguage is spanish so I dont know if I am making a mistake here but dont you brits use lift for what americans use elevator?

Anabella

blott

02-05-2003, 07:25

We certainly do Anabella.

Kissyme

02-05-2003, 16:34

Once had a very strange 10 minutes in a shop when I asked for some napkins (serviettes) the shop assistant (young man about 17)looked very shy and with head down took me to the feminine hygene Isle !!! I thanked him and then decided to look for myself Its easy to forget that we all have different ways of saying the same thing.

sjd

03-05-2003, 06:58

Oh - I just had to say how much I loved reading this page. I laughed out loud. The same language with so many differences. I love it.
My dear friend just moved back to Australia after living in England two years and then upstate New York for two years. She was in one of our stores, and her three year old needed to urinate. She asked the clerk where the toilets were. And he gave her directions to the toilets. Right there in the middle of the aisle. Ready for purchase. She went to ask another clerk and they escorted her right back to the same place. Finally she was trying not to get upset, her son had to go *BAD* and she said "where can he pee!" The clerk was embarrassed. Oh, the bathroom. She was so flustered. They escorted her to our bathrooms. You'd NEVER bathe in those places. Why DO we call them that[:I]

mikewj

14-05-2003, 01:45

Returning, briefly, to the....erm....delicate predicament of the fanny/bum bag, we took my mother-in-law (presumabley translates correctly whichever side of the Atlantic you hale from) to Florida last November.

Whilst strapping her bum bag around her waist, I warned her that with heightened security levels, the guards would want to perform searches of bags and things.

Imagine her face (she's 68) when a security guard approached her with a baton in his hand asking if he could take a look in her fanny ! [:I]

bonnie

25-07-2003, 21:14

Now thats's funny! By the way we also rent cars and rent videos here we don't hire them. We hire bands, and caterers, and lawyers. Some palsce accross the states say things differnetly as well. Here in upstate NY we have soda, Boston area they have Pop. Here we have sidewalks, in Texas cement walks. Here pocket books, Texas Purses. I can't think of them all right now but there are many differences.

blott

26-07-2003, 02:37

Bonnie, if you have so many different names for things actually within the US, I'm not sure we really stand much chance of getting our translations right do we? ;)

janny

26-07-2003, 03:13

over here we pay the bill with a cheque-over there we pay the check with a bill[?]

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

26-07-2003, 03:20

Just in case you unearth some holiday read thriller/killer books in your villa, don't forget that a John Doe is an unidentified male dead body and Jane Doe female. I guess if you can't tell what gender it is a J. Doe. Lets hope it is only in novels that anyone should encounter one.

Sarah

sammibabe

26-07-2003, 13:52

Reading this has reminded me of the second trip (and made a giggle again) and went to Kennedy - long time ago and nothing like it is now. There was a burger van for lunch and they had burger and chips which we thought sounded good (I think that was all you could have!) but as you have probably guessed it was burger and a packet of crisps. Same trip hubby ordered a beer not realising that is lager.

MTP

28-07-2003, 05:32

The second post that says that a cot is a crib, we were caught out by the reciprocal of this in our first trip with child to the States. We had flown in to Boston, driven about an hour north, found somewhere to stay and when I was in reception arranging the room (at this stage our 16 month old daughter had been awake for 16 hours!) I asked for a cot for the room. No problem, they started arranging a folding bed. A spare/folding/camp bed is called a cot bed and would have beeen no use to our daughter. Don't be caught out by this one when you are tired and travelling with a frazzled child!

Another one to remember is that cutlery is often referred to as silverware.

One thing that I also find fascinating is the love of sports statistics. I was always very interested in American Football, but when I was over at camp and since then I have been amazed by the fascination with statistics to the Nth degree for sports.

bonnie

28-07-2003, 21:16

Blott, I believe your so right. Too many to keep track of!

chrizzy100

28-07-2003, 22:06

quote:Originally posted by bonnie

Blott, I believe your so right. Too many to keep track of!

My sons getting an American accent.....I'm sure by the time he's 20....you'll think he was born here......

Les H

27-08-2003, 05:39

My Wife always embarreses me when we are in Florida, she's a smoker and will insist on saying things like "I'm just popping outside for a quick fag" or "I'm desperate for a fag" or "where's my fags".

Usually within earshot of the locals unfortunately. What must they be thinking

Les

chris

28-08-2003, 12:54

I stated to an enquirer that the party must consist of either a family group or they (group of 8)must not be single sex (as all male and all female groups of students can be a bit of a handful).
The reply came back 'none of us in the group are single sex', the mind boggles - what are they then hermaphrodite[?]

Bamboo Benny

29-08-2003, 18:06

I made the mistake of asking "can I ponce a fag ?" when out in a Florida nightclub recently.......I almost got my face smashed in by this big bloke!!!

Do not say this if you have run out of ciggies !!!

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

19-09-2003, 20:36

We have just brought an American book. The first page begins....

"If you had your druthers, what would your life be like?"

According to an online dictionry druthers means choice or preference; right or chance to choose.

Is "druthers" common parlance in the US?

sarah

dhussey2

27-09-2003, 19:49

I always know when it's a UK inquiry (enquiry) when I see the dates. The British will put arrival at 24 May 2004 while (whilst) the Americans will put arrival at May 24, 2004.

Even more confusing is when they just use numberical dates, such as 3/10/2004. I have learnt that if this is a UK enquiry, this is for October and not March. For Americans, this would mean an inquiry for March 10.

Dianne

dhussey2

27-09-2003, 19:54

Oops, sorry Sarah. No, druthers is not a word commonly used in the US. Only avid readers or people with extensive vocabulary would know what the word meant if they read it.

The same is true with the word hence. It is not commonly uses. My English Professor told us how he once used it in a software programming manual and was scolded by the editor.

In the US, people prefer to write and read without what they call all the B.S. (Bull...) They always say, why don't you speak in plain English? And that's the way it is.

I hope this answered your question. :)

Dianne

chrisj

27-09-2003, 22:59

mind you what is plain english, im a born and bread cockney, and i work all over
england and have real problems when i go up north. local dialec is a dam nightmare
for me, and for the locals.

Or it might just be me

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

27-09-2003, 23:54

Thanks Diane,

It was a US textbook that we bought. I have to admit to being one of those people that loves words, crosswords, puzzels etc. Druthers does have a certain ring to it and you never know it may remain in my grey matter and prove useful one day.

Sarah

MTP

28-09-2003, 01:15

Another word used commonly in the UK that causes confusion in the US (in my experience) is fortnight.

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 01:46

And how long exactly is a "fortnight"? Another word I see you all commonly use is "queue". What does that mean? [:p]

chrisj

28-09-2003, 01:51

a queue is when you line up behind each other, a fortnight is two weeks

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 01:56

I always find when talking to American's on the phone, if you have to recite a long number such as 100345 I would say the 00 as 'double zero'. This seems to fox (confuse) all the American's I have done this to - you have to say 'zero zero' then they understand what you mean.

I had a call from our US mortgage broker on Friday afternoon in the office and immediately lapsed into American speak to the great amusement of all my colleagues. They were wondering what the word I pronounced dee-pot was until I explained it was depot! If you pronounce it the UK way it throws most American's so you learn very quickly to say the words as they do - zed very quickly becomes zee etc etc :D

All part of the rich and varied tapestry of owning a villa in the USA and I for one would not change it one bit :D;):D

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 02:17

Thanks, Chris for the translation. I just got such a kick out of reading this thread. It reminds me of the differences in the vocabulary of the southeast part of the US. My mother was from South Carolina, and I was raised in NY. Needless to say, there were often translation problems with my cousins. Even worse, I would pick up odd words and bring them back to NY. No one in NY, or CT, knows what a spigot is (outdoor faucet) and no one in SC knows what a stoop is (concrete steps leading to your front door). I also tend to talk too fast for my southern relatives. I have to make a conscious effort to slow my speech when I visit them!

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 02:29

There's another one Teresa - faucet = tap :D

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 02:39

Ah, yes, but we do get "tap water" out of the faucet! :D

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 02:43

LOL - I never knew that - isn't it wierd how language develops in different areas :D

chrisj

28-09-2003, 02:52

Teresa

We have the same problem in england, I know John and Sarah are from up north, and like i
said earlier I work all over the uk, and the 'funnies' i have got into would make you
scream at times.

I think its funny and laugh, When I first went to America, in a shop I found some beef jerky
but it was called beef jerker, now I wont explain what that meant to me, but needless to say
it was rude and i mean very rude. Not even sure if John/Sarah would understand that one as
it was a london saying at the time, but i just fell about laughing and the man behind the
counter thought i was mad

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 03:25

We'd understand that one Chris although I don't think I'd like to explain the meaning here [:I][:I][:I]

chrisj

28-09-2003, 03:36

nor would I, but at the time I was with my friend who lives in Orlando and her face was
a picture

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 03:40

chrisj

28-09-2003, 03:49

I was very polite with the explanation though

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 04:09

Another thing I notice--you always say "the 192". We usually just refer to a highway by it's name or number, or use the designation "I-4" for Interstate 4, or "US 192", or just say Route 192. I thought this was odd at first, but I guess I've gotten used to reading it in all these posts!

chrisj

28-09-2003, 04:16

Its these little odd things that make it more fun, the thing that always throws me is that
in England we always say turn left or turn right, but you say head north or south etc, I then
ask what way is north is it left or right

chrizzy100

28-09-2003, 04:32

quote:Originally posted by MTP

Another word used commonly in the UK that causes confusion in the US (in my experience) is fortnight.

I've given up using fortnight over here....:(

We saw the American version of Coupling over here the other day....it is real bad......I love the English show and watched it again last night a repeat of a repeat...and still found it funny.....

chrizzy100

28-09-2003, 04:35

quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout

Thanks, Chris for the translation. I just got such a kick out of reading this thread. It reminds me of the differences in the vocabulary of the southeast part of the US. My mother was from South Carolina, and I was raised in NY. Needless to say, there were often translation problems with my cousins. Even worse, I would pick up odd words and bring them back to NY. No one in NY, or CT, knows what a spigot is (outdoor faucet) and no one in SC knows what a stoop is (concrete steps leading to your front door). I also tend to talk too fast for my southern relatives. I have to make a conscious effort to slow my speech when I visit them!

People from England have a upperhand because we have so many American TV shows in the UK...where as like Coupling it has to be redone in American for the USA TV... when really most Americans would love the real Brit shows.....

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 19:50

We do get a couple of the British shows on our satellite dish. We get the BBC station, and some others on the comedy network. One of my favorites to compare is "Whose line is it Anyway". They used many of the same comedians, but for the American version it is greatly "cleaned up". I do have to make sure my kids are not in the room while watching the British version! Still funny, although we don't always get all of the jokes!

kaysvacationvilla

28-09-2003, 20:43

I am in the US and usually do not have a hard time understanding the different expressions. My daughter recently traveled with the People To People Ambassador program to England and France and the leaders made sure that the kids called their fanny pak a bum bag due to the fact that the leaders said it is considered a swear in Europe.

Kay

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 20:59

Not so much a swear word as a part of a lady's anatomy it is not polite to talk about [:I][:I][:I]

chrizzy100

28-09-2003, 21:17

quote:Originally posted by kaysvacationvilla

I am in the US and usually do not have a hard time understanding the different expressions. My daughter recently traveled with the People To People Ambassador program to England and France and the leaders made sure that the kids called their fanny pak a bum bag due to the fact that the leaders said it is considered a swear in Europe.

Kay

My son had the same trouble learning to not ask for a rubber in class...:D

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 21:24

Reminds me of someone I know who got some strange looks because he said "I'm dying for a fag" in a NY nightclub (fag = cigarette for those who don't know) :D

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 21:47

quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk

Reminds me of someone I know who got some strange looks because he said "I'm dying for a fag" in a NY nightclub (fag = cigarette for those who don't know) :D

LOL--Wow, that could really get you into trouble, especially in NY! Did he get any offers?!?

chrisj

28-09-2003, 22:08

hehehe that happened to me in New York, I knew you couldnt smoke in public, so asked a taxi to take
me to a bar where I could have a fag, yep you guessed it we ended up in a gay bar.

chrizzy100

28-09-2003, 22:16

quote:Originally posted by chrisj

hehehe that happened to me in New York, I knew you couldnt smoke in public, so asked a taxi to take
me to a bar where I could have a fag, yep you guessed it we ended up in a gay bar.

Are there any pictures of the look on your face when you got there....cus that would be priceless....:D;)

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 22:26

quote:Originally posted by chrisj

hehehe that happened to me in New York, I knew you couldnt smoke in public, so asked a taxi to take
me to a bar where I could have a fag, yep you guessed it we ended up in a gay bar.

LOL--that is too funny! Maybe you should travel with an American translator! ;)

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

28-09-2003, 23:11

I think the offers he got were not the kind of ones he was expecting [:I][:I][:I]

quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout
LOL--Wow, that could really get you into trouble, especially in NY! Did he get any offers?!?

chrisj

29-09-2003, 00:51

Chrizzy

No but I do have some when I was 40 and we went to Brighton for a long weekend and for once
I had quite a lot to drink and as we were all walking I went into this pub and everyone else
stayed outside, They noticed it was a gay bar, but me being under the influence just wandered
in.

Within a few minutes I came running out as some bloke at the bar kept pinching my bum, and they
were waiting outside and took a few piccies as I came running out

ctgirlscout

29-09-2003, 06:50

John--

Here's another one for you--

Water closet=half bath

Took me a while to figure out what w.c. meant on some of the listing forms!

asbaum

29-09-2003, 11:16

Don't tell an American Villa owner that the power and lights went out and you needed to use a torch to get around in the dark!!

A torch to us is "fire at the end of a wooden stick" and not the "flashlight", that we call it, and what you had meant.

I can follow this forum because I can read. There is no doubt that if these threads were in "voice messages" with British and American accents we'd all have a harder time understanding each other with our many different dialects and accents.

The US is so large of a country with so many diverse dialects and accents which affect the way English is spoken that I have a hard time understanding people from certain parts of this country. Especially, those with heavy local accents in New Orleans, the Deep South, New York, New Jersey and New England.

Consider this link:

http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/askncela/20natlang.htm

which asks and discusses "How many indigenous American languages are spoken in the United States? By how many speakers?"

The site lists 155 indigenous American languages which are still spoken in the United States and over 361,978 speakers of indigenous American languages.

Now consider this link:

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_in_the_United_States

which makes the claim that The United States federal government has no formally established official language. In some states, English, French, Spanish or Hawaiian are official. In 2000, the census bureau printed the standard census questionnaires in six languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Primary Language at Home (2000)
English 82.105%
Spanish or Spanglish 10.710%
Chinese 0.771%
French (incl. Patois, Cajun) 0.627%
German 0.527%
Tagalog 0.467%
Vietnamese 0.385%
Italian 0.384%
Korean 0.341%
Russian 0.269%
Polish 0.254%
Arabic 0.234%
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole 0.215%
Japanese 0.182%
French Creole 0.173%
Other Indic languages 0.167%
African languages 0.160%
Other Asian languages 0.152%
Greek 0.139%
Other Indo-European languages 0.125%
Hindi 0.121%
Other Pacific Island languages 0.120%
Persian 0.119%
Other Slavic languages 0.115%
Urdu 0.100%
Other West Germanic languages 0.096%
Gujarati 0.090%
Serbo-Croatian 0.089%
Other Native North American languages 0.078%
Armenian 0.077%
Hebrew 0.074%
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian 0.069%
Yiddish 0.068%
Navajo 0.068%
Miao, Hmong 0.064%
Scandinavian languages 0.062%
Laotian 0.057%
Other and unspecified languages 0.055%
Thai 0.046%
Hungarian 0.045%

And to not leave you Brits out, here is a link that discusses the British English, and it's dialects:

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English

it notes, Outside the south east there are, in England alone, at least seven families of accents easily distinguished by natives:

West Country (South West England)
East Anglian
Birmingham, Black Country and other industrial Midland accents
Liverpool (Scouse)
Manchester and other east Lancashire accents
Yorkshire
Newcastle (Geordie) and other north-east England accents

And on a final note, read this quickly and out loud:

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteers are in the rghit pclaes.

The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but rthahter the wrod as a wlohe.

chrisj

29-09-2003, 13:13

Arnie

Those are great facts, one thing males me laugh is me being a Brit. Always tell people
im English, Think its similar to calling a texan an american

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 13:37

WC = toilet (restrooms)

What's a half bath? (I've got visions of someone trying to take a bath in a toilet now ;))!

quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout

John--

Here's another one for you--

Water closet=half bath

Took me a while to figure out what w.c. meant on some of the listing forms!

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 13:40

Very interesting - I actually read the post properly almost without realising the middle letters of the words are jumbled up - goes to show you read what you expect to see and the first and late letters of a word are just there to confirm your expectations - fascinating :D:D:D

quote:Originally posted by asbaum
Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but rthahter the wrod as a wlohe.

chrisj

29-09-2003, 14:41

Ive read a book about this, very interesting its all to do with the mind etc

ctgirlscout

29-09-2003, 18:20

quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk

WC = toilet (restrooms)

What's a half bath? (I've got visions of someone trying to take a bath in a toilet now ;))!

We also have 3/4 baths that you can only shower in! :D

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 18:36

I think it was just the way you said it originally - you said WC = half bath wheras WC actually means toilet (rather than the room the toilet is in). If you follow me ;).

quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout

quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk

WC = toilet (restrooms)

What's a half bath? (I've got visions of someone trying to take a bath in a toilet now ;))!

We also have 3/4 baths that you can only shower in! :D

chrizzy100

29-09-2003, 19:03

quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk

WC = toilet (restrooms)

What's a half bath? (I've got visions of someone trying to take a bath in a toilet now ;))!

quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout

John--

Here's another one for you--

Water closet=half bath

Took me a while to figure out what w.c. meant on some of the listing forms!

Here on the Cape a half bath is a wc... sink and small shower....

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 19:10

That's another one for the dictionary then as I would class a wc as a half bath...in the UK a WC means a small room with a toilet and perhaps a small hand basin for washing your hands.

chrizzy100

29-09-2003, 19:53

quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk

That's another one for the dictionary then as I would class a wc as a half bath...in the UK a WC means a small room with a toilet and perhaps a small hand basin for washing your hands.

Sorry I meant to type....toilet sink and small shower..is a half bath..not wc....we have one bathroom and a small WC here with just a toilet and hand basin....I don't know what that is called in the States....I need to wake up before I type in the mornings....:D

asbaum

29-09-2003, 21:35

ChrisJ

Sorry about the "Brit" call, but there you ago, I thought that was "politially correct".

So, straighten me out about this (so that I don't inadvertantly offend).

What is the subset here? All English are Brits but all Brits are not English?

In your example, all Texans are Americans but not all Americans are Texans, I get (probably because I live here).

So I did a little googling and found this post:

http://www.britainusa.com/faq/xq/asp/SID.273/qx/showfaq.htm

for all the other Americans on this forum (who may need to be brought up to speed as do I on our friends overseas):

------- post begin ---------
What is the difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain?

The United Kingdom is made up of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain, on the other hand, comprises only England, Scotland and Wales. The term ‘Britain’ is used informally to refer to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
------- post end ---------

So now, let me see if I got this right.

If you say you are British you could be from England, Scotland, Wales but not Northern Ireland as British refers to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, true? Or am I mistaken about this and British refers to Northern Ireland too as noted in the above post "the term ‘Britain’ is used informally to refer to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"?

And if you say you are from the UK then you are from either England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

But if you say your are English then you are from England, right Chris? And if you say your are Scottish then you are from Scottland, etc.

This sometimes gets confusing here too, especially with younger children. They forget that America really inlcudes North, Central and South America too. And in reality people from Mexico are Americans, although they aren't from North America and therefore not from the US. But they are indeed from the "Americas" as are we here in the US. As our Canadians, Guatemalans, etc.

Arnie

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 22:36

You are right with just about all of that Arnie apart from:

Technically someone from N Ireland is not British as British is just England, Scotland and Wales (hence the term United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

In N Ireland it sadly comes down to whether you are Protestant or Catholic - the Protestants would say they are British (more correctly they would probably say they are from the UK) and the Cathloics would say they are Irish (as in the Republic Of Ireland).

Sorry if I've made any mass generalisations about the Northern Irish here but the above is in general true.

fiona

29-09-2003, 23:12

We class ourselves as British as I am Scottish and Chris is English! However many Scots and Welsh find it offensive to be regarded as a Brit. Many families will be split as ours are, but on the whole the Americans don't seem to understand the concept of Wales and Scotland. Though I am often asked if I am Irish - my colouring (it's the freckles!!).

chrizzy100

29-09-2003, 23:30

quote:Originally posted by fiona

We class ourselves as British as I am Scottish and Chris is English! However many Scots and Welsh find it offensive to be regarded as a Brit. Many families will be split as ours are, but on the whole the Americans don't seem to understand the concept of Wales and Scotland. Though I am often asked if I am Irish - my colouring (it's the freckles!!).

My daughter works in a shop over here.....and she is always asked if shes Irish....

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 23:36

I don't know if it's our nothern UK accents but we used to get asked by American's if we were from Australia when I used to go to Florida as a child in the early 80's. Not sure why they thought this!

chrisj

30-09-2003, 02:18

Your right, Im english, and was born in england. Its just something im proud of and
im afraid PC (political correctness) seems to have made a mess of it all.

Dont get me wrong, Theres nothing wrong with the Scots, Welsh, Irish etc. Just we are
all different and because we live on the same bit of land we get called british, which
I suppose we are in a way.

Even in england its the same, John and Sarah are northerners and they would call me a southerner
or in my case im a londoner otherwise known as a cockney. When im asked where im from I always
say London,England

And i wasnt offended in anyway.

Even in the UK, we have different words etc for the same things, I find it all funny

asbaum

30-09-2003, 10:56

When my wife and I were dating we had a change to go to Germany to visit her relatives. Then we went off on our own to travel throughout Germany, Bavaria, and Switzerland. My wife could speak German but I spoke only English. And everytime I spoke English, I was asked if we were visiting from England. Which I thought was strange as I know I didn't have an "English accent". To me I could tell someone from England versus the US. But I guess to some in these countries, English sounded, uh, English.

I'd say we were from America and people would then just gave us this nasty look and cold shoulder. It turns out it was 1980 and then President Reagan was shoving balistic missle into Europe to the disdain of everyone. I soon learned to say, "Oh yes we are visting from England - and we were then treated like royalty!"

So, here 24 years later, I openly apologize to all you citizens of England as I borrowed your good name in exchange for a smile and good cheer.

So I guess it really doesn't matter where you are from, it seems to matter more where people think you are from before in determining how you are treated. But it shouldn't matter where you are from but how you respect and treat others that should determine "who you really are" and how you should be treated accordingly!

chrisj

30-09-2003, 13:19

quote:Originally posted by asbaum

But it shouldn't matter where you are from but how you respect and treat others that should determine "who you really are" and how you should be treated accordingly!

Very wise and true words

donnapit

18-12-2003, 23:01

I was explaining to my neighbour, who hails from New York originally (don't know if that makes a difference)that I wanted to make my villa homely. Now to me that means warm and inviting. To her it meant ugly, so no wonder she gave me a very strange look when I said it!

She told me that to make something warm and inviting would be to make it homey.

foreplay

24-01-2004, 21:43

As a Yank that frequents the UK often, I am still trying to assimilate some of the differences in our language. Here are a few that I find unusual:

Hob - In the US that is a range, cooktop, or stove.
Power shower- I still don't understand that one.
Free - in UK it means available, in the US it means "no charge"
Sort - (as in sort out) US= figure out, settle, or place into separate piles
Proper - real, genuine, valid, correct.
Ring-up - call on the telephone
Car Park - parking lot, driveway
Potty- UK= going a bit daft or crazy US= a loo for children

24-01-2004, 22:00

Hi Foreplay

The differences certainly make life more interesting, especially when people look at you strangely when you make a remark!!!!

I remember being somewhere in the mid west of the US and the waitress serving us kept asking what words we used in the UK for different things. She came over to the table all excited and asked what we called mashed potatoe, I felt quite disappointed having to tell her it was the same[8D].

Shirley

caroline

24-01-2004, 23:38

quote:Originally posted by foreplay

As a Yank that frequents the UK often, I am still trying to assimilate some of the differences in our language. Here are a few that I find unusual:

Hob - In the US that is a range, cooktop, or stove.
Power shower- I still don't understand that one.
Free - in UK it means available, in the US it means "no charge"
Sort - (as in sort out) US= figure out, settle, or place into separate piles
Proper - real, genuine, valid, correct.
Ring-up - call on the telephone
Car Park - parking lot, driveway
Potty- UK= going a bit daft or crazy US= a loo for children

Hi Foreplay as you frequent the UK quite often I'm surprised you picked that particular username!! - does it mean something different in the US ??[:I]

foreplay

25-01-2004, 02:36

Well, Yes and No. It is a bit of a play on words, but it is also my auto license plate number too. It all has to do with my penchant (read that-obsession) for golf. It also raises a few eyebrows until the golf connection is made. Hopefully I am not offending anyone with that name, it is all very innocent, really. If it is offensive to anyone, I will remove it, post haste.

caseyd

25-01-2004, 15:32

I am guessing that "ressies" are reservations, right? It makes sense as a shortcut, but I've never heard it used by Americans, only Brits.

chrisj

25-01-2004, 21:53

ive never heard the expression ressies, but then I finally found our what rents meant
this morning when I aksed my daughter. Its short for parents according to her

bellaepovera

25-01-2004, 22:13

Ive never heard anyone use the word HOB before. Power shower??? And I thought the word FREE was world wide for not paying and receiving for nothing.

tinkerbell

25-01-2004, 23:53

Rents wow! Thats a good one!

I say ressies, but thats an aussie thing I picked up from down under! I know what a hob is, but I never say it!

Potty is also a childs loo here in the Uk! It's quite funny when you consider that we desrcibe people as potty too!

chrisj

26-01-2004, 00:15

You have to laugh at al this,

Mind you like ive said before even in England we have the same problems. Im from London and
work up north and have problems with the language

firsttimer

02-02-2004, 19:45

Power shower: a shower (bath not rain) with built in extra pressure- can be quite ferocious as opposed to a gravity powered gentle shower.

I once, on a camping holiday had problems when I needed a new bulb for my torch. I eventually found one but it was a push in one rather than screw in so I had to buy a new flashlight.

fiona

02-02-2004, 23:00

Hob is usually the top of the cooker and is when the cooker is built in rather than freestanding, so you can have them not all on top of each other if you get what I mean!

A power shower relates to the force of water - and is exactly as the words say! Never heard ressies myself, prezzies yes, referring to presents, usually christmas ones!

chrizzy100

29-03-2004, 06:42

Before I get into trouble again..I thought I'd best post some slang words about homes....

Edward Scissorhands........homes that look mostly the same....clean streets.....maybe the homes are painted bright colours.....middle class American homes......people out cutting lawns on a Sunday.....

Stepford.....Small town America.....clean.....rich people.....the American dream homes......New England homes in a sunny setting.....

Banjo county.......no real roads.......no street light...well you can guess we all sing the song from deliverance while going through a street like that......

Most of them are terms I've picked up from builders and kids here in the USA......
So I hope no-one gets uppy if I use any of those terms.....I'm not being nasty.....it just things I've picked up over the last few years.....if its upset anyone....it could be because people don't use those terms where you live........

:D:D:D

bellaepovera

29-03-2004, 13:09

Never heard of Banjo county..we use to call that description either hick town or boon docks!! Now that one is cute:)

29-03-2004, 13:17

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrizzy100
Before I get into trouble again..I thought I'd best post some slang words about homes....

Edward Scissorhands........homes that look mostly the same....clean streets.....maybe the homes are painted bright colours.....middle class American homes......people out cutting lawns on a Sunday.....

Stepford.....Small town America.....clean.....rich people.....the American dream homes......New England homes in a sunny setting.....

Banjo county.......no real roads.......no street light...well you can guess we all sing the song from deliverance while going through a street like that......

Most of them are terms I've picked up from builders and kids here in the USA......
So I hope no-one gets uppy if I use any of those terms.....I'm not being nasty.....it just things I've picked up over the last few years.....if its upset anyone....it could be because people don't use those terms where you live........

:D:D:D
[/quote]

Glad for the explanation of Edward Scissor Hands, would never have understood what that meant [8D][8D][8D]

ctgirlscout

29-03-2004, 18:44

Never heard the term "Edward Scissor Hands". We always called them "cookie cutter houses".

chrizzy100

29-03-2004, 20:15

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by bellaepovera
Never heard of Banjo county..we use to call that description either hick town or boon docks!! Now that one is cute:)
[/quote]

I only heard of Boon docks this last few weeks after watching the Boon Dock Saints.....is is a Boston thing...or used all over the USA......??

I think we picked up Banjo county on one of our road trips around the USA....my daughter uses it all the time.......

chrizzy100

29-03-2004, 20:17

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by SG
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrizzy100
Before I get into trouble again..I thought I'd best post some slang words about homes....

Edward Scissorhands........homes that look mostly the same....clean streets.....maybe the homes are painted bright colours.....middle class American homes......people out cutting lawns on a Sunday.....

Stepford.....Small town America.....clean.....rich people.....the American dream homes......New England homes in a sunny setting.....

Banjo county.......no real roads.......no street light...well you can guess we all sing the song from deliverance while going through a street like that......

Most of them are terms I've picked up from builders and kids here in the USA......
So I hope no-one gets uppy if I use any of those terms.....I'm not being nasty.....it just things I've picked up over the last few years.....if its upset anyone....it could be because people don't use those terms where you live........

:D:D:D
[/quote]

Glad for the explanation of Edward Scissor Hands, would never have understood what that meant [8D][8D][8D]
[/quote]

My son came home from school with that one ......we were looking for a new home on the Cape...we drove down this street and my son goes ..I can't live in a scissorhands home.....I'd never seen the film so I never know what he was on about.....but its seems all the kids call the new homes going up around here by that name.......

chrizzy100

29-03-2004, 20:20

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout
Never heard the term "Edward Scissor Hands". We always called them "cookie cutter houses".
[/quote]

My neigbour calls them that....it always remind me of moms apple pie and stuff.....LOL!

bellaepovera

30-03-2004, 01:32

You got a point there..I dont think its that on my part as Ive been away for over 20 years so not around the new generation to hear all the new stuff. I still hear some people say "Dude" which is a word that was used in the 60s..

Ana

30-03-2004, 02:16

Are UK chips still French Fries? Wasn't there talk just under a year or so ago of renaming them Freedom Fries???

chrisj

30-03-2004, 02:49

No the americans called them freedom fries, not us, we still call them french fries or Chips

ctgirlscout

30-03-2004, 02:56

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by bellaepovera
You got a point there..I dont think its that on my part as Ive been away for over 20 years so not around the new generation to hear all the new stuff. I still hear some people say "Dude" which is a word that was used in the 60s..
[/quote]

"Dude" is a term that has come back around. All the kids say it now. My teenage son slipped up recently and called his dad "Dude". It was rather amusing to see my husband's reaction!

mikewj

05-05-2004, 20:04

Didn't Dude become popular again after That Seventies Show and Dude Where's My Car ??

I remember standing in line waiting for the front row of the Ice Dragon in IOA a couple of years ago and three American kids behind us were talking. All I can remember about the conversation is that virtually every other word was Dude.

Ray&Sarah

05-05-2004, 23:06

Heres a funny story told to us by a young american girl that we were chatting to in Disney. She said she had been to England for her university years and had gone out to a bar with some English friends. Some music came on the jukebox and she said to one of the boys in her group, "Oh the Shag, i'm really good at shagging, i've won prizes at it". She said that all the boys in the group looked at her wide eyed in amazement and it was only later when one of her room-mates explained to her what it actually meant here. She said she was so embarrassed but was more careful what she said in future. Made us laugh anyway!:D

No offense meant.[msnsmile]

chrisj

06-05-2004, 12:28

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

ctgirlscout

06-05-2004, 16:34

I guess I shouldn't ask what "shag" means!

chrisj

06-05-2004, 16:44

From memory it was a dance (I think)

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

06-05-2004, 17:16

LOL - I assume you mean the "rude" meaning of it?

Let's just say it's something two consenting adults can do which sometimes results in a baby [msnembarrased]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout
I guess I shouldn't ask what "shag" means!
[/quote]

blott

06-05-2004, 18:22

It's also a bird... http://www.nzbirds.com/Kawau.html

chrizzy100

06-05-2004, 18:45

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout
I guess I shouldn't ask what "shag" means!
[/quote]

You've not watch 'Austin Powers'..........[?][?][?]

Malcolm

07-06-2004, 16:41

OK my American friends. What is the difference between a purse and a pocket book?

ctgirlscout

08-06-2004, 00:25

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Malcolm
OK my American friends. What is the difference between a purse and a pocket book?
[/quote]

There is no difference. The words can be interchanged.

Malcolm

08-06-2004, 03:40

Silverware and flatware?

ctgirlscout

08-06-2004, 03:56

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Malcolm
Silverware and flatware?
[/quote]

The same. ;) We do use silverware as a generic term, even if the pieces are not silver. Usually they are just silver in color.

kaysvacationvilla

08-06-2004, 04:45

I use the term pocket book and my daughter uses the term purse.

bellaepovera

08-06-2004, 13:17

I always thought the pocket book was the wallet...sounds like it should be..

Malcolm

08-06-2004, 16:34

Thanks for that.

Kaysvacationvilla, is it perhaps a generation thing?

ctgirlscout

08-06-2004, 16:44

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by bellaepovera
I always thought the pocket book was the wallet...sounds like it should be..
[/quote]

The term originally came from the billfold style wallet that men carry because it opened like a book and fit in their pocket. How it evolved into refering to a woman's purse is beyond me!

blott

08-06-2004, 16:58

Wonder how it got from being called a handbag in the UK but a purse in the UK is something you keep coins in?

MMFAN

08-06-2004, 17:26

Help needed: An upcoming Brit guest wants to know if I can provide a "Z" bed for a youngster. Is that a folding bed?

chrisj

08-06-2004, 17:42

Thats what I would call it, but im from London :D

ctgirlscout

08-06-2004, 17:59

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
Wonder how it got from being called a handbag in the UK but a purse in the UK is something you keep coins in?
[/quote]

Some people also use the term "handbag" here, but it is not as common. There are also coin purses, but they are similar to wallets that you would carry in your pocketbook or purse. Is anyone confused yet?

blott

08-06-2004, 18:32

A Z bed is a folding bed - sometimes used for kids if they want to keep the lounge clear and not use the sofabed but make sure they don't have too many people... ;)

Teresa - it reminds me of the intro to Soap when they went through the previous story line as in 'Confused? You will be'! :D

chrizzy100

08-06-2004, 19:35

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MMFAN
Help needed: An upcoming Brit guest wants to know if I can provide a "Z" bed for a youngster. Is that a folding bed?
[/quote]

I've not heard that for ages.....its called a Z bed I think because of the way it folds down.....a lot of the time with you in it......or is that just if you come home drunk from a nighclub...[msnembarrased][msnembarrased][msnembarrased]

Ray&Sarah

08-06-2004, 22:25

Reminds me of the fold up beds that we used to have when I was growing up. Drunk or not you had too watch out in case they tried to fold you up with them.:D

sunseeker

12-06-2004, 03:45

we still have a z bed at home, it gets lots of use when our daughter has friends to stay. just to remind our american friends that the
"z" is pronounced zed and not zee :D:D:D

Dave

tezz7628

15-06-2004, 19:39

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by hayter
Heres a funny story told to us by a young american girl that we were chatting to in Disney. She said she had been to England for her university years and had gone out to a bar with some English friends. Some music came on the jukebox and she said to one of the boys in her group, "Oh the Shag, i'm really good at shagging, i've won prizes at it". She said that all the boys in the group looked at her wide eyed in amazement and it was only later when one of her room-mates explained to her what it actually meant here. She said she was so embarrassed but was more careful what she said in future. Made us laugh anyway!:D

No offense meant.[msnsmile]
[/quote]

just checking through the forum to see if this had been mentioned

you should have seen my aunts face when somebody asked if she wanted one

my sister knew what it meant

then explaining it to my english cousin's american wife when she came over!!!!!

E. Cosgrove

15-06-2004, 23:19

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but there is a woman on one of the many home shopping channels advertising something that is going to give me great buns!!!!!
Pardon me for asking but how is a peice of elastic round my legs going to improve my bakery skills???
Liz :D:D:D:D

Kiddie001

16-09-2004, 18:36

havent been yet, but my two boys (10 & 12) are dying to get there to ask for a "fanny-pack" (bum-bag apparantly!):D

we are off on 18th October:)

LiesaAnna

17-09-2004, 00:40

we were asking for a friends daughter, a bikini for obviously swimming/sunbathing in, they tried to sell us tiny briefs/knickers:)

tuzanne

17-09-2004, 02:13

It is really annoying that when ever we sell a successful show to the americans they always want to record it again with american actors and script. I think that is why the US can seem to be very insular to the British and the rest of the world. Someone mentioned the show Coupling earlier on. I just loved this show and thought it was very like a British version of the very successful american show Friends but with British humour. I loved both shows as they were so why change either. How would the americans like it if we decided that Rachel, Joey, Ross etc had to have British accents and come from London instead of New York for us to find it funny. It is through watching shows from other countries that we find out how other people live.

As for the man from New York not knowing he had an accent, how stange is that. The NY accent is the one that is the most recognisable to me of all the accents, apart from one from the deep south.

Sue

tuzanne

17-09-2004, 02:21

What about purse instead of handbag, elevator instead of lift, flatware instead of cutlery, comforters instead of bedspreads, linens instead of sheets.

I once made an american girl look very puzzles when I said that I was going to the loo. For the US forum readers that is slang for bathroom.

Also we once went to a so called 'English Pub' where they had a dart board. A young couple of lads asked if we would play with them. We agree and they were very upset when we started reducing the score with each throw. They said that how could you play a game where the aim was to have less of a score rather than more. It obviously went against their whole philosophy.

Sue

bellaepovera

17-09-2004, 13:39

They also play that way in the states in the newer version..Here in Italy they play also going downward..Also here when dealing cards they go counter clockwise which I found real hard to get use to.
I never realized I also had an accent as everyone always tells me ohhh your from the mid west i can tell by your accent!!
Now I am told I have an Italian touch to the way I talk as I tend to add Osss and Asss to the ending of some of my words..Beat that!!I dont even notice.

moonbeam

12-05-2005, 18:00

lol.....just spent a most enjoyable 1/2 hour reading this whilst having lunch at my desk. co-workers must think I am mad as i keep giggling at some of the replies.
[msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2]

florida gold

06-07-2005, 16:03

I have another one. Ask for Tomato Sauce and you get a glass of tomato juice. Should ask for Ketchup. I think it is funny when you are asked what part of England you are from say, London, and the American say I have a friend who lives there do you know them.

Pat

ctgirlscout

06-07-2005, 17:13

I don't know about Florida, but in most of the US, tomato sauce would equate to spaghetti sauce, i.e. Ragu. Of course, I have known a lot of southerners to subsitute tomato sauce with ketchup on pasta!

Ray&Sarah

06-07-2005, 21:47

My son asked for tomato sauce in Orlando and was given a bowl of mushed up tomatoes.[msnsmile2]

ctgirlscout

06-07-2005, 22:45

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
My son asked for tomato sauce in Orlando and was given a bowl of mushed up tomatoes.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

That certainly wouldn't be what I was expecting! [msnscared]

Ray&Sarah

07-07-2005, 00:12

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
My son asked for tomato sauce in Orlando and was given a bowl of mushed up tomatoes.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

That certainly wouldn't be what I was expecting! [msnscared]
[/quote]

Nor us Teresa but it did make him smile.[msnsmile2]

kezza5222

17-01-2006, 23:21

oh gosh, im not taking a bumbag now! i would DIE of embarrisment!
kerry

mistert

18-01-2006, 20:38

Ah - the good old fanny-pack! Still causes much ammusement to my three daughters - and they're all in their 20's now. Sad really!

The 1st time we went to FL was a Christmas and I had to explain (even in the Downtown Disney Store) what Christmas Crackers were. Got a lot of blank looks and offers of nut crackers.
I did actually see some this year in the Kitchen shop in Premium Outlets Mall - but it was November.

flyrr100

13-08-2007, 17:23

When my sister was here in Florida she was constantly getting into a confuzed state!
She kept on talking about her Mobile. And her People Carrier. Turned out it was her Cel and her Mini Van!
Her daughter, with her trendy London accent, mentioned a 'Fong'...? After some questioning she ment a thong!
Being a Londoner myself I'm trying to change soccer to football. But It's getting very negative responses from the locals! "Football", I argue, "is a game where a BALL is kicked by a FOOT. Therefore, FootBall!" "No" they argue. "Football is our game and you Brits can play your girls game. soccer, but dont mess with our game!" This after they all secretly send their kids out on a Saturday morning to play soccer!

sunseeker

14-08-2007, 00:52

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100
When my sister was here in Florida she was constantly getting into a confuzed state!
She kept on talking about her Mobile. And her People Carrier. Turned out it was her Cel and her Mini Van!
Her daughter, with her trendy London accent, mentioned a 'Fong'...? After some questioning she ment a thong!
Being a Londoner myself I'm trying to change soccer to football. But It's getting very negative responses from the locals! "Football", I argue, "is a game where a BALL is kicked by a FOOT. Therefore, FootBall!" "No" they argue. "Football is our game and you Brits can play your girls game. soccer, but dont mess with our game!" This after they all secretly send their kids out on a Saturday morning to play soccer!

[/quote]

jeff just remind them who invented the game, and then tell them we also have a game similar to American football, rugby, and no girlie pads either [msnwink]

Dave

bvrlyfs

07-06-2008, 21:16

I think there are several of US citizens on the forums. I know of several from Westridge Development, including us.

Blott you will find almost every state in the US have their own accent and even we have trouble with some of them. Where we live they use a lot of the Canadian slang.

Tessa Childs

03-11-2009, 22:30

My Mother used to get very annoyed at hearing Americans pronounce place names as they are spelt, Derby and Leicester being the ones that spring to mind. She would say they were English Lords and should be pronounced as they were originally. Even Princess Diana's Brother gave in on that one! I then reminded her that we pronounced castle differently from each other and that rather put paid to her point. She was from Hull and I'm from London.

For the Americans here, many English would pronounce the words Darby, Lester and a Londoner would be more likely to say carsul where a Yorkshire person would say castle

Lyn

04-11-2009, 01:54

I am from Leicester and say Lester but a lot of people say Licester, we also prenounce Belvoir as Beaver, not being from London I would argue that if there is not an R in it don't say it ie Bath - Barth, castle - carsul except of course for tomato.[msnembarrased] Back to the american pronunciations, when in Rome, I say tomato, Deepo ext.

Jill

04-11-2009, 13:51

My son's latest girlfiend is from Yorkshire and being from the south often do not understand her odd pronunciations and lack of understanding of how to pronounce her vowels, eg Bath so she has now given us a book on how to speak Yorkshhire! Not the wisest way of impressing your boyfriend's parents!

sunseeker

06-11-2009, 01:06

If carsul is good enough for the Queen then its good enough for me.

Dave

Dads_Taxi

08-11-2009, 03:35

Odd pronunciations!!

Just face up to it, you Southerners (English Southerners) put extra "R"s into so many words - Grarss, Barth (or more frequently, Barff), the list goes on. Please don't accuse us Northerners of a lack of understanding.

Now, let's get back to the main topic.... let's find some more amusing American words to take the mickey out of, and leave the inaccuracies of Southern English pronunciation out of it.

Lyn

16-01-2010, 01:10

Can anyone tell me is cornflour, cornstarch? Do they have plain flour or is it called something else?

Clare R

16-01-2010, 02:54

Cornflour and Cornstarch are the same thing if you want to make a white sauce for instance.

Can't help on the flour question, never got that deep into cooking!!

ctgirlscout

16-01-2010, 04:04

I've never heard of cornflour, so I did a search and found this definition on a recipe website:

"A powdery flour made of finely ground cornmeal, NOT to be confused with cornstarch. The exception is in British recipes where the term "cornflour" is used synonymously with the U.S. word cornstarch."

We do have plain flour. It's found in the baking aisle of any supermarket.

Beverley

17-01-2010, 04:21

Yes cornflour and cornstarch are the same thing and work in the same way.

Lyn

17-01-2010, 18:54

Thanks for that, because we are going for a month I thought we would save some some money by doing our own meals.

Tonish

09-04-2010, 22:38

Time. Can someone explain the American version?

For example, if I am asked the time and it is 2.50, I would say ten to three. For 4.20 I would say twenty past four. This always seems to get me a strange look when I'm in the States. I think i'm supposed to say ten off three and twenty after four, but I just can't bring myself to do it - and I'm not even sure it's right anyway.

lafifille

10-04-2010, 20:04

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Tonish
Time. Can someone explain the American version?

For example, if I am asked the time and it is 2.50, I would say ten to three. For 4.20 I would say twenty past four. This always seems to get me a strange look when I'm in the States. I think i'm supposed to say ten off three and twenty after four, but I just can't bring myself to do it - and I'm not even sure it's right anyway.
[/quote]

2.50 : two fifty
4.20 : four twenty
5.30 : five thirty
and so on...

I've never heard someone in the US say "ten off three" nor "twenty after four", but it might be I never paid attention....

DLB-GOUROCK

10-04-2010, 20:14

I agree with Tonish, they have their own way of telling the time and I have heard the ten of three before and I'm confused too.

Katys Grandad

10-04-2010, 23:01

On TV you do hear "five before the hour" or "twenty after the hour" because of course there are 4 time zones in the US. The one that always confuses me is when a TV programme is advertised starting at "Seven Eight Central" which I've always taken to mean 7 EST and 8 CST although I'm still not certain about that!

Tonish

10-04-2011, 22:15

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
On TV you do hear "five before the hour" or "twenty after the hour" because of course there are 4 time zones in the US. The one that always confuses me is when a TV programme is advertised starting at "Seven Eight Central" which I've always taken to mean 7 EST and 8 CST although I'm still not certain about that!
[/quote]

I've always assumed that was what it meant, but why stop at that? Why not mention the west coast time as well, or is the programming completely different there? Puzzling.

Jill

10-04-2011, 23:27

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Tonish
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
On TV you do hear "five before the hour" or "twenty after the hour" because of course there are 4 time zones in the US. The one that always confuses me is when a TV programme is advertised starting at "Seven Eight Central" which I've always taken to mean 7 EST and 8 CST although I'm still not certain about that!
[/quote]

I've always assumed that was what it meant, but why stop at that? Why not mention the west coast time as well, or is the programming completely different there? Puzzling.

Not sure if this is correct from our son or just a wind up (as boys will do to parents).

He used to be at University of North Carolina and was told by the others that it was because part of Tennessee and a couple of other states have two time zones and so they were making sure that everyone knew what time the programme started.

[/quote]

Lyn

11-04-2011, 01:49

Just had a look at time zones and several states seem to be in two seperate time zones, including the top left hand corner of Florida

dynomike red

12-04-2011, 22:31

I played in the MISL back in the 90S for a team called Cleveland Crunch and on my first day of training i was asked " do you have your own soccer cleats" did not have a clue what he was on about untill he pointed to my Football boots[msnsmile2]
so Soccer cleats = Football boots
Mike

bargainqueen

13-04-2011, 10:36

I have been buying 2 year diaries from Dollartree, a month over 2 pages. I've given a few to friends and they requested that I buy some more on my recent trip. I was having trouble finding them so asked an assistant who looked at me as though I had two heads. Later in the trip I found them in the same store and realised that they are called 2 year Planner.

Diary = Planner

Sniff

13-04-2011, 13:46

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lafifille
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Tonish
Time. Can someone explain the American version?

For example, if I am asked the time and it is 2.50, I would say ten to three. For 4.20 I would say twenty past four. This always seems to get me a strange look when I'm in the States. I think i'm supposed to say ten off three and twenty after four, but I just can't bring myself to do it - and I'm not even sure it's right anyway.
[/quote]

2.50 : two fifty
4.20 : four twenty
5.30 : five thirty
and so on...

I've never heard someone in the US say "ten off three" nor "twenty after four", but it might be I never paid attention....
[/quote]
A bit late, but I only just read this..

You want to try living in Germany, where their equivalent of "half three" actually means "halfway through the third hour" ie 2:30, and NOT "half past three" ie 3:30 as most Brits would assume. It's no wonder I arrived late for most events :D