Brits, Aussies, & Kiwis: Thoughts on Americanisms

[modest mouse]

The vast majority of posters here are American, but a significant contingent of folks from Britain, Australia, and New Zealand post regularly. This group adds much needed variation and consists of some of the most interesting people on the board.

Obviously the commonality is English as a primary language, but its not all the same. Most Americans know phrases unique to each country as they have developed into signature phrases.

But what do those of you who post from these locales notice about American word usage? What phrases prick your ears or make you laugh? Are there phrases that correlate to ones you use in your homeland?

(Note: Canadians were excluded because there is already sucha cross pollination between Canada and the US, as far as media, that the languages no longer exist as separately.)

 

[Guest]

What ah' ya' aksing me 'bout?

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

I used the expression 'getting the turtle's head' on Ginny's rimming thread which was obviously not understood by some Americans!

 

[bluespoke]

I used the expression 'getting the turtle's head' on Ginny's rimming thread which was obviously not understood by some Americans!

Nor at least one Brit!!

 

[Guest]

I used the expression 'getting the turtle's head' on Ginny's rimming thread which was obviously not understood by some Americans!

Does it mean getting wood?

If so, the American are unimaginative bunch.

 

[Starblayde]

Does it mean getting wood?

If so, the American are unimaginative bunch.

no no no.

to be frank, a turtle's head is little bit o poo stickin out of your arse.


and dont ask me how i know that, I know some fucked up people at Uni.

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

Getting the turtles head - so desperate for a shit that the 'turtle's head' pops out. Not what you want when rimming!



(serves you right for asking!)

 

[Guest]

Ack!

 

[Starblayde]

Ack!

told you!

 

[RastaPope]

 

[Starblayde]

I'm not even gonna click that

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

I also think it's funny when American TV shows inappropriatly use British words...

In Rugrats one of the characters (Susie's brother) is talking about losing a tooth: "and then the little bugger came out."

And then there was the scene in Angel when Wesley hands Angel a pink crash helmet and tells him 'Don't be a wanker' How many americans (other than lit users) know what a wanker is?

 

[swagman]

Getting the turtles head - so desperate for a shit that the 'turtle's head' pops out. Not what you want when rimming!



(serves you right for asking!)

or as one bloke I used to work with used to say (in broad lancashire accent)

"I have to rush....I'm TC (touchin cloth)"

 

[Starblayde]

And then there was the scene in Angel when Wesley hands Angel a pink crash helmet and tells him 'Don't be a wanker' How many americans (other than lit users) know what a wanker is?

That was hugely funny.

or when Giles asks if anyone wants a 'cup of tchae'. (pronouned 'char' and is chinese for tea)....

Or on the simpsons in 'trash of the titans' when Mr Burns calls U2 'wankers' for throwing the spoon at him

 

[Guest]

It's a laugh when Daphnie in Freiser speak with psudo-Manchester accent and her brother speaks with very bad Cockney accent.

 

[Starblayde]

It's a laugh when Daphnie in Freiser speak with psudo-Manchester accent and her brother speaks with very bad Cockney accent.

It doesn't get worse than Dick Van Dyke in 'Mary Poppins'

 

[Guest]

I've never watched Mary Poppins. I can only imagin.

I like Diagnostic Murder, though.

 

[Sebastian Sanders]

"He is pissed" has a different meaning in America. In America is means "he is very angry", rather than "he is very drunk".

Non-Americans say "I could not care less" and it means, "I really don't care- in fact I could not care less about something in my life". Sometimes, I see Americans saying "I could care less", which doesn't make any sense at all - as if it has lost its original meaning.

Hey, I had no idea Americans didn't say "wanker". I guess I assumed it was just that they didn't really say it on TV. It never occurred to me that they didn't use this expression.

 

[Starblayde]

"He is pissed" has a different meaning in America. In America is means "he is very angry", rather than "he is very drunk".

But in Britain, at least, you can still be "pissed off", which has the same meaning

 

[Guest]

Americans don't get the back-hand V-sign either.

Which originated in Anglo-French war where the French used to cut off English Archers' fingers when captured.

 

[Starblayde]

Americans don't get the back-hand V-sign either.

Which originated in Anglo-French war where the French used to cut off English Archers' fingers when captured.

That's proper history, that is

 

[Guest]

That's proper history, that is

Sorry, I wasn't sure if it was the 100 years war or not.

But you can guess the time-frame from the use of the word ''archers''.

 

[p_p_man]

One of my stories here at Lit I wrote using...

a lot of English slang.

Words like 'geezer' 'dossing down', crappy flat', 'khazi', 'fat cove', words and phrases like that.

Apart from scoring the lowest I've ever had on Lit the only feedaback I had read something like this:

"HORRIBLE!! The WORST story I've EVER read!! I didn't understand a FUCKING word of it"...



ppman

ps: If you want to read it...

"Oh Fucking Hell"

Gay Male Section

ppm

 

[Starblayde]

Sorry, I wasn't sure if it was the 100 years war or not.

But you can guess the time-frame from the use of the word ''archers''.

There have been many, many Anglo-French wars.

From the time of the kick-ass English Longbowman, Agincourt, Henry V and all that. 1415 was it? ahh i have no idea

 

[Starblayde]

Re: One of my stories here at Lit I wrote using...

a lot of English slang.

Words like '.. 'khazi', ...

"HORRIBLE!! The WORST story I've EVER read!! I didn't understand a FUCKING word of it"...

You know the Ford Ka?

If the bring out a Special Edition you'd be sitting in a Ka-se.....