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-   -   English Colloquialism (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=48587)

  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:36 PM
    Curlyben
    English Colloquialism
    English colloquialism or What On Earth Are Those Darn Brits Talking About Now aka What the feck are you on

    Calling all septics,
    Do you need access to an American/British dictionary.
    Well now's your chance to learn something.

    With the influx of Brits to the boards I think its time we explained exactly what we are talking about.

    So post your queries here and a jolly Brit will be along to straighten you out and explain.







    Inspired by Allheart and Valinors_sorrow, cheers ducks, it's all Geoff's fault really.
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:38 PM
    valinors_sorrow
    Okay, what's with all the bloody stuff? :eek: Let's just get that out of the way right off! LOL

    And how universal is TA for thank you and how did that get started?

    And hatstand? Now there's a really doosie! Oh gawd, am I even getting it right? I mean we just call 'em mental and let it go at that! LOL
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:39 PM
    Curlyben
    Bloody - A mild oath, used as an intensifier.
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:42 PM
    Allheart
    Okay, what did my friendly brit mean when he said, "Sorry, I cocked that all up"... I didn't agree nor disagree, I just politely shook my head.. Was that okay to do? LOL
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:47 PM
    Curlyben
    "I cocked that all up" - to make a mess off/messed up

    The version I prefer it "Total Balls Up" or "Tits Up" (TU) ;)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:48 PM
    Allheart
    Wait one minute... I just read that... what about Val and my Cheer ducks? Give me that dictionary :):)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:51 PM
    Capuchin
    Ta I'm sure is just the lazy man's thank you, it's pretty much universal in england.

    If something is hatstand, it's rather insane. I don't know how that got started.
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:55 PM
    Allheart
    I shouldn't be pleased when I am referred to as "cheeky" should I? Hmmm
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:57 PM
    Curlyben
    Cheeky, well it depends on the context.
    It can be both good and bad either funny or "taking the piss" - "Are you messing with me"
  • Dec 14, 2006, 02:59 PM
    Allheart
    It was all in good fun, surely not in "taking the piss", yikes, I sure hope not :)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:09 PM
    Geoffersonairplane
    Err, confused, what is this thread about? :confused:
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:11 PM
    Curlyben
    Geoff about bloody time you dragged your sorry arse off the sofa and taught the septics how to speak proper ;)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:13 PM
    J_9
    Septic? In medicine it means that you are really very very sick.
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:14 PM
    Allheart
    You could start with "septics"

    Ta
    (Quick to learn :)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:15 PM
    RickJ
    Oh my... loving all of this I am.

    I have some questions for my friend from across the big pond:

    1. On one of my favorite shows, Braianiac, they have a part called "I Can Do Science Me". I understand it basically means "I can do science"... but is the Me added at the end a normal Brit thing?

    2. "Weedy". Am I correct to remember that this means what we'd call "Whimpy:?...that is, slight of size or musculature; not necessarily derogatory but more observational?

    3. "Bloke". Does that mean "just any old guy"?

    ... more to come no doubt...
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:15 PM
    wizzkid89
    I have never heard of cheer ducks/taking a piss/ hatstand, but I knew bloody. Most of these things are just context problems, except for the one's I listed. It's amazing how we can both technically speak the same language, but they both can be so different. I prefer to speak ebonics, forsizzle my nizzle, I'm rolling fat and looking to go dumb
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:17 PM
    Allheart
    What actually are in "bangers"? Are they any good?
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:22 PM
    Capuchin
    Bloke = Guy, yep.
    Weedy = like a weed, scrawny etc
    "I can do science me" is funny because it's completely grammatically incorrect, but they're trying to be a scientist... or at least its meant to be funny :)
    Cheers means thanks... and ducks it just another word for people... strange one that one...

    Bangers are either very old cars, that go bang when the accelerate. Or just plain sausages - nothing special, just another word for them.

    This is fun.
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:24 PM
    J_9
    So what happened to SEPTICS? Does that mean we are poisonous?
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:26 PM
    Allheart
    "mobile" is our cell phone... right ?

    And if I were to say I need to take a little "nappie"... doesn't that mean diapers?

    But I still do need clarification on "spetics"... do I say "ta" or... no "ta" ? :)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:26 PM
    Curlyben
    Here goes then
    Rick;
    1/The me on the end is a gramaticl joke, similar to "Use correct grammer like what I does"
    2/Weedy/whimpy pretty interchangeable to a point
    Weedy - weakling (physical)
    Whimpy - weakling (mental)

    Allheart;
    Septics - Septic Tanks - Yanks - Americans
    Its rhyming slang, get it
    ;)

    Mobile - cell

    Catching on fast
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:26 PM
    J_9
    Why do you call it a loo not a bathroom or restroom?
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:29 PM
    Allheart
    I got it... however, we may have a "falling out" over it :)... Just kiddn. (ish)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:31 PM
    Curlyben
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by J_9
    Why do you call it a loo not a bathroom or restroom?

    A loo is a toilet.
    A bathroom contains a bath and sometimes the loo as well and a restroom is somewhere with a big soft sofa, cold beer and a telly ;)
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:34 PM
    Capuchin
    Yes, it's a mobile phone, I've never heard a little nappie - I assume it's a nap. Nappy means diaper tthough, yes.

    Septics Curly is workign on I think :)

    Damn, my internet is slow, :|
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:40 PM
    J_9
    A restroom contains a sofa, I thought that was a living room.
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:43 PM
    Curlyben
    LOL rest as in to lie down ;)

    Retstroom isn't used in English
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:46 PM
    wizzkid89
    I knew the loo was a toilet, but I didn't know that you had a completely different definition for a restroom, crazy.

    Now... the wanker=f word in America right?
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:46 PM
    Allheart
    LOL okay... yes, rest is to lie down because you are "snackered" is that right?
    But how did a loo become a toilet?

    And one from our side... um... it's a "cigarette" over here.. okay?
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:47 PM
    J_9
    And a fag = a cigarette :rolleyes:
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:48 PM
    wizzkid89
    I think I got this one, loo, in reference to Waterloo, where the french took a big dump on Napoleon, am I right?
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:50 PM
    Curlyben
    To Wank - masturbate
    Not snackered but knackered - very tierd

    Fag is a ciggie as well as a gay man


    Spot on Wizz
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:50 PM
    Allheart
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Curlyben
    To Wank - masturbate
    not snackered but knackered - very tierd


    Thanks... I was somewhat close :)

    You have any for us?
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:52 PM
    wizzkid89
    I thought wanker was like an a.s.s. h.o.l.e. or the f word, mainly because I have a friend who lives in England(wales) and that's what he said...
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:52 PM
    valinors_sorrow
    Wanker is someone into, ermm, pocket billiards? We seps have our own versions of goofy terms!
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:54 PM
    Capuchin
    As CurlyBen only touched on it...

    Knackered comes from when horses went to the Knacker's Yard at the end of their working life to get cut up for meat and glue... they got Knackered... It's actually evolved to mean "to be tired from sexual intercourse"... although most people say it to mean any kind of tired.
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:55 PM
    valinors_sorrow
    Football is soccer
    Chips are crisps
    Trunk of car is boot or is that the hood?
    And the terms for desserts are all screwed up!
    Puddings are often not sweet or pudding like
    Cakes are not cakes nor cookies cookies
    However I believe a twinkie is still that 'round the world so there's hope yet!
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:55 PM
    wizzkid89
    ... what about the loo
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:56 PM
    Capuchin
    A wanker isn't actually someone who masturbates... it pretty much does mean a.s.s.h.o.l.e
  • Dec 14, 2006, 03:57 PM
    wizzkid89
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Capuchin
    A wanker isnt actually someone who masturbates... it pretty much does mean a.s.s.h.o.l.e


    Yeah that's what I thought, because I know from personal experience I have been called a wanker and if it meant masturbation, that insult wouldn't have made sense... still the question of the loo looms...

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