MrScorpio
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Wed Apr-07-10 11:36 PM
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The US and Britain are definitely two nations separated by a common language |
XemaSab
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Wed Apr-07-10 11:39 PM
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Fanny Hill that much better. :D
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proteus_lives
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Thu Apr-08-10 01:41 AM
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2. Now that can lead to some painful confusion. |
Bucky
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Thu Apr-08-10 10:51 AM
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3. I had a client once tell me of a terrible embarrassment while marketing fanny packs there in the 80s |
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On the other hand, they think of "shag" as a useful synonym
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Kutjara
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Thu Apr-08-10 10:55 AM
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4. A British friend visited me a few years ago. |
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We were having breakfast at a cafe in Santa Monica, where he was bemoaning the ban on public smoking. "This is ridiculous. I can't start the day without a fag in my mouth," he exclaimed loudly.
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sarge43
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Thu Apr-08-10 11:26 AM
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as in "I'll knock you up this evening."
Bloke: To make a telephone call
Yank: To impregnate
It's a moment.
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Kutjara
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Thu Apr-08-10 11:55 AM
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7. Actually, "knock up" in the UK is the equivalent of "wake up." |
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As in, "I'll knock you up at 7am."
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sarge43
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Thu Apr-08-10 11:57 AM
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8. My mistake. Thanks for the correction. |
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Still it makes for a Yank double take
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Kutjara
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Thu Apr-08-10 04:52 PM
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11. Definitely. Makes for a useful double entendre in certain circumstances as well. |
sarge43
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Thu Apr-08-10 05:16 PM
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14. Indeed. Memories........ n/t |
Tikki
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Thu Apr-08-10 11:41 AM
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6. Well hello there, I'm randy....Hello, I am Randy... |
KamaAina
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Thu Apr-08-10 01:13 PM
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9. I think I'll step out back and have myself a fag |
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that's a "cigarette" to you bloody Yanks. :P
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Call Me Wesley
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Thu Apr-08-10 02:03 PM
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10. Smoking a fag I rolled from my baccy, being pissed, |
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walking on the pavement, smelling the petrol as the trolly runs by, what a pain in the arse. I wonder if there's anything good on the telly tonight. Oh, American Idol! Bloody hell! Blow me!
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Kutjara
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Thu Apr-08-10 04:57 PM
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12. The one I've found causes the most confusion is "half." |
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We Brits say "half two" when we mean 2:30. I had to modify this habit when I came to the States. I'd say "half four" and people would look at me blankly, then say, "so what's that, 2?" as if I was setting them a math problem.
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Skittles
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Thu Apr-08-10 05:09 PM
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13. I grew up in both countries |
pokerfan
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Thu Apr-08-10 05:21 PM
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15. I've spent some time over there |
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London and Coventry mostly. It's not too bad unless you run into some Cockney rhyming slang, which I never did. From the first episode of Band of Brothers:
Hoobler: Holy shit! Brit: Nah, it's alright mate, we're Tommies not Boche. Hoobler: Is all this real? Brit: Yeah, yeah. Well some of it's from the Germans something these toes knocked up. For you lads actually, so you can get your mince pies on some of this Jerry clobber, if you know what I mean? Hoobler: Not really. Hey mate, you got a Luger? I'm dying to get my hands on a real Luger. Brit: Yeah, go on then, quick butchers, yeah? Hoobler: Boy she sure is a doozy. Brit: Yeah it's pukka innit? Hoobler: What? Brit: Hey? Hoobler (walking away): Hey Petty! Brit: Here, mate! You're having a bath if you think you're half-inching that. Hoobler: Oh yeah, sorry. Well good luck. Brit: You too mate.
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LeftishBrit
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Thu Apr-08-10 06:51 PM
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16. The American song 'Hallelujah I'm a Bum' has never quite taken on here... |
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One of my funnier experiences on DU was being on a thread where one poster disagreed with the rest of us on how certain terms should be used, and ended up telling us, 'You all deserve to be bonked with the dictionary!' In British English, 'bonk' has a meaning that I don't think he intended!
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Lionel Mandrake
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Fri Apr-09-10 01:51 AM
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17. "Subway to Underground" |
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That's what the sign said in London. Being American, I had no idea what it meant.
A little research revealed the following:
American "subway" = British "underground"
British "subway" = American "pedestrian tunnel"
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Odin2005
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Sat Apr-10-10 11:44 PM
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18. Apparently in the UK "mad" is only used to mean "crazy", never to mean "angry". |
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That could cause some trouble.
Oh, and why the F do the Brits call a stroller a "pram"? WTF does "pram" mean?
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Tuesday Afternoon
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Sun Apr-11-10 12:01 AM
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elleng
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Sat Apr-10-10 11:48 PM
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19. Yes, one of the best things about us! |
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Mon May 13th 2024, 09:39 AM
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