British Words Not Often Used In The USA

[luv2teach77 41]

fanny pack

pouch-like bag that ties or snaps around the wearer's waist (UK: bum bag). See also fanny in List of words having different meanings in British and American English and note fanny is vulgar in UK.

OMG this had me in stitches!!! LOL

I remember trying to explain to Debs what a fanny fart was !!... Until I explained what a fanny was back in the UK she didn't understand why I didn't just call it a fart !!

I think both thise lists are pretty funny but that the list of British words is funnier than the american version.

I'm glad that people are finding the lists as amusing as me

Mark

[slim 1,514]

I've watched Snatch countless times, and that's really helped my English/English translation skills. That, and almost all foreigners that I've met that speak English tend to use words from "the Queen's English" mixed in with words from Hollywood.

I'm still waiting on the Pikey/English/English translation guide. (If you put on the subtitiles, sometimes even the subtitles say "he wants to get a caravan.... ????..... ????...."

[JAYKE 0]

These are pretty good, but there's one that I deal with all the time that didn't make the cut.

People here in the US think my British hubby can't tell time.

When someone tells him it's "quarter of" or "ten of", he looks at me and says "Is that the same as quarter to or quarter past?

I don't think he'll ever get his head around it.

[luvaLimey 0]

Ahahahahaha!

That's great!

Once, when we were having a conversation while out for dinner, he stopped in the middle of it and said "you would think we both spoke the same language." becuase we were just having so much trouble understanding each other at that point due to the differences in American vs British english. It doesn't make it any easier that he sometimes uses rhyming slang, or that sometimes I'll use regional sayings from back home that don't make it into the movies or imported TV shows.

Edited July 7, 2006 by luvaLimey

[ghallett 0]

The list is great. I'm going to print it out and carry it around with me I think.

Susie and I were listening to radio 1 last week on Sirius radio when an advert came on for "Diggerland". I tried to explain that a digger is a front-and-back shoveler, or a JCB or a...................

totally lost her.

[ChristinaM 0]

We have a great book called "Divided by a Common Language". It's well worth the read...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Has anyone noticed how ironic it is that whilst US TV networks are so prissy when it comes to censoring bad language from their programming, but they will still broadcast British slang terms.

If anyone saw the last season of The Apprentice - the British guy (who went on to win) got away with not only saying "bollocks" on air but calling another contestant a "wanker".

[Mand 1]

I've watched Snatch countless times, and that's really helped my English/English translation skills. That, and almost all foreigners that I've met that speak English tend to use words from "the Queen's English" mixed in with words from Hollywood.

I'm still waiting on the Pikey/English/English translation guide. (If you put on the subtitiles, sometimes even the subtitles say "he wants to get a caravan.... ????..... ????...."

...for his ma!

A lot of Irish people can understand most of what Brad Pitt says in that movie, cos we talk pretty fast here, but some of it still makes us go "wha' da hell??"

[Ban Hammer 12,878]

Has anyone noticed how ironic it is that whilst US TV networks are so prissy when it comes to censoring bad language from their programming, but they will still broadcast British slang terms.

If anyone saw the last season of The Apprentice - the British guy (who went on to win) got away with not only saying "bollocks" on air but calling another contestant a "wanker".

good point - we need more british censors

[irishgirl73 0]

Has anyone noticed how ironic it is that whilst US TV networks are so prissy when it comes to censoring bad language from their programming, but they will still broadcast British slang terms.

If anyone saw the last season of The Apprentice - the British guy (who went on to win) got away with not only saying "bollocks" on air but calling another contestant a "wanker".

good point - we need more british censors

that happens a lot on American television-they have no idea what some of those terms mean. I think it is funny

[Reba 2]

and it seems perfectly ok to swear in a foreign language, but not American English. I often wonder what the heck the censors are thinking when they go thru bleeping some stuff and not others. I've seen TV shows where characters go on and on swearing in Italian, or Chinese or or or, and yet an American saying azzhole gets bleeped.

Edited August 10, 2006 by Reba

[Euro 3]

#######/cockle

affectionate term used in Northern England, similar to love or darling. "Are you alright, #######?"

Whoa, you British are something else.

(I'm going to ask my husband tonight, "Are you alright, #######?" Hopefully I'll be looking at his face when I say it)

Ya have to say it like this............."heyup #######"(silent H) or "heyup mi old cocker"

My HUbby's favourites are "oi" & "maungy" ........he also likes to say.........."bloody adverts AGAIN!!!" summat i say alot!!