Americanisms

[Jimlaad43]

Tempting, tempting

Also, soft drink is referred to as fizzy in our household.

I agree, it is a fizzy drink, where you either go for the brand name or list the fruit and then end it in -ade.
(We also like to call it *Fsshht*, as that is the noise it makes when you open it.)

 

[Jimlaad43]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/6043777/Top_10_most_annoying_Americanisms/

 

[W3H5]

Thank the Lord I'm not the only person who reads the Telegraph.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Thank the Lord I'm not the only person who reads the Telegraph.

I only googled 'Americanisms'. We get The Times or the Daily Mail.


Just heard on the TV an American pronounce this stuff

'Carmel'.
I think you are missing out the a in the middle. CARAMEL

 

[Roush_fan_99]

That link is great, I even spent quite some time reading the comments which were quite good too

The annoying thing with "happy holidays" is is we are forced now days to say that instead of merry christmas in schools, now, I understand trying not offend anyone but it goes as far as changing lyrics to christmas songs. Some kids decided to sing Felíz Navidad to the school and the school made them change "merry christmas" to "happy holidays" BUT THEY WERE STILL ALLOWED TO SAY "FELÍZ NAVIDAD" without changing it, and it still means merry christmas in spanish, so, where is the purpose to this whole conservative approach if people still say merry christmas just in other languages? The way I see it, is that it's a song, so leave it.

Just heard on the TV an American pronounce this stuff 'Carmel'.
I think you are missing out the a in the middle. CARAMEL

the one's who just go with the herd do.....(probably another americanism), the others who are bright enough to realize 'a' is very rarely if at all silent, wonder how the rest of the world says it and fix it

 

[Jimlaad43]

go with the herd do.....(probably another americanism)

So much so, I have no idea what you are trying to say. (Please translate).

 

[Roush_fan_99]

So much so, I have no idea what you are trying to say. (Please translate).

Following the crowd, or doing what the majority does, it only takes one idiot to make a crowd stupid, and if everyone follows, they look just as dumb

 

[Kylehnat]

The annoying thing with "happy holidays" is is we are forced now days to say that instead of merry christmas

Get yer dag-gum Christmas trees out of my airport!

I don't have a problem with "Happy Holidays", since there are many holidays in December + New Years...kinda covers all the bases. Still, I don't know why people get so offended in this country over silly things like "Merry Christmas".

 

[Pupik]

This may be slightly off-topic, but generally the courteous thing to do in America is to allow people out of an elevator BEFORE entering it. Same thing with a bus, tram, train, et al, you politely allow those to get off or out before getting entering.

I was wondering if this was more of a universal thing, or is it typically "every man for himself" elsewhere? After all, it's logically easier to find a seat or spot to stand when there's less people on board.

Still, I don't know why people get so offended in this country over silly things like "Merry Christmas".

That's because you really have to be a bit of an ingrate to be offended by that...I've met Moslems who aren't offended by that phrase (yes, they'll even call others on Christmas Day and wish others in return), let alone I've only met one Jew out of all my family that's ever taken the time to correct someone else (which honestly lacks tact, just be nice in return).

You could always wish a Happy Hanukkah in return, if you think they're purposefully being an ignorant snob, but I haven't the heart to do so.

 

[Famine]

This may be slightly off-topic, but generally the courteous thing to do in America is to allow people out of an elevator BEFORE entering it. Same thing with a bus, tram, train, et al, you politely allow those to get off or out before getting entering.

I was wondering if this was more of a universal thing, or is it typically "every man for himself" elsewhere? After all, it's logically easier to find a seat or spot to stand when there's less people on board.

I shall explain, by medium of quotes:

allow people out of an elevator BEFORE entering it. Same thing with a bus, tram, train, et al, you politely allow those to get off or out before getting entering.

"every man for himself"

Impatience and rudeness is the norm and the logic of allowing people off the packed transportation device before getting yourself onto it and causing an obstruction is lost on impatient and rude people.

That's because you really have to be a bit of an ingrate to be offended by that...I've met Moslems who aren't offended by that phrase (yes, they'll even call others on Christmas Day and wish others in return), let alone I've only met one Jew out of all my family that's ever taken the time to correct someone else (which honestly lacks tact, just be nice in return).

You could always wish a Happy Hanukkah in return, if you think they're purposefully being an ignorant snob, but I haven't the heart to do so.

I've settled on Yuletide Greetings (typically only wishing Merry Christmas on those who do so first). It reflects the nature of the original celebration, is popular culture enough already to be accepted without suspicion (unlike "Winterval" and, in the UK, "Happy Holidays") due to being part of many traditional Christmas songs and foods and, being thoroughly non-secular, either completely inoffensive or uniformly offensive.

 

[Kylehnat]

I've settled on Yuletide Greetings

I feel like I'd have to wear a tophat and monocle to say that in public.

 

[Famine]

You mean... you don't already?

Tch! Colonials.

 

[Jimlaad43]

In my opinion, this Motorsport Americanism is an atrocity.

Ovals and NASCAR.
I don't see the point really. They only seem to survive in North America.
Brooklands, Montlhery oval and the Monza oval are disused as tracks, and other European Ovals like Rockingham and Lausitzring are more famous as road circuits than the ovals.
Are there any Aussies who know if Calder Park oval is used often, or SOuth Africans who can say the same about Phakisa?

 

[W3H5]

This may be slightly off-topic, but generally the courteous thing to do in America is to allow people out of an elevator BEFORE entering it. Same thing with a bus, tram, train, et al, you politely allow those to get off or out before getting entering.

If this bugs you, don't ever come to China. I rage on a daily basis about this. If I don't get out, how do they expect to get in? Baffled!

In my opinion, this Motorsport Americanism is an atrocity.
Ovals and NASCAR.

I'm not 'Merican and I used to stay up until the we hours to watch NASCAR on Channel 5.

 

[Jimlaad43]

I'm not 'Merican and I used to stay up until the we hours to watch NASCAR on Channel 5.

I never said you HAD to be American to like NASCAR.

 

[Driving Park]

This may be slightly off-topic, but generally the courteous thing to do in America is to allow people out of an elevator BEFORE entering it.

People who don't do this annoy me to no end. They just stand right in front of the door of the elevator and expect you to move so they can get in, BEFORE you get out. It happens all the time in my university and I generally can't help but have a less than flattering view on people that do this, because they're the same kinds of people who refuse to wait for anything, including pedestrians, red lights etc. Somewhere in this forum on a thread like this someone said "you will wait, you thoughtless cur." I couldn't say it better myself.

 

[W3H5]

Simple answer, or what I do at least, don't let them. Stand as the doors open right in the middle and anyone who attempts to get in give a firm shoulder to. They'll think twice before being so inconsiderate again.

 

[Jubby]

Just heard on the TV an American pronounce this stuff

'Carmel'.
I think you are missing out the a in the middle. CARAMEL

It actually depends on where you live in the country. I've heard it both ways.

Same thing with pecan. The a transforms from a long-a to a short-a depending on where you reside.

I've always been fascinated by some of the americanisms, and now I'm trying to learn other countries' -isms.

 

[Liquid]

I've always been fascinated by some of the americanisms, and now I'm trying to learn other countries' -isms.

Then may I introduce you to the word butty, (pl. butties). You may know this word as 'sandwich', a word I never, ever use except in work.

 

[Jubby]

Then may I introduce you to the word butty, (pl. butties). You may know this word as 'sandwich', a word I never, ever use except in work.

If I said that at work, I'd be in the HR office for sexual harassment... even though it has no such connotation. Someone would take that as a pointing at someone's rear-end! I'd have to use it outside of work.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Then may I introduce you to the word butty, (pl. butties). You may know this word as 'sandwich', a word I never, ever use except in work.

A buttie is one slice of bread, a sandwich is two.

 

[Liquid]

I don't know people who have just one slice of bread. That's just toaster fodder.

A buttie is a buttie is a buttie. Generally not used by people from the south except for 'bacon buttie'. But it sounds weird when they say it.

[/Accent Bias].

---
On topic:

I find the pronunciation of pah-sta to be mildly infuriating.

 

[mattythedog]

This may be slightly off-topic, but generally the courteous thing to do in America is to allow people out of an elevator BEFORE entering it. Same thing with a bus, tram, train, et al, you politely allow those to get off or out before getting entering.

I was wondering if this was more of a universal thing, or is it typically "every man for himself" elsewhere? After all, it's logically easier to find a seat or spot to stand when there's less people on board.

In my experience people are usually fine with letting people off the *insert mode of transport here*, and the buses I use have two sets of doors, an "in door" and an "out door", solves a lot of problems.

 

[Pupik]

If this bugs you, don't ever come to China. I rage on a daily basis about this. If I don't get out, how do they expect to get in? Baffled!

I have noted that people who probably haven't lived in America for very long, tend to do this. Airport busses and elevators tend to rat out the non-locals in this way.

Kids do this occassionally, but they're kids...my daughter ran full steam towards an open elevator last week, and I stopped her. Made total sense to her.

Some times the F.U.I.Gotmine attitude needs to be stopped, as what happened to a couple who physically barged their way off the airplane two months back as soon as it reached the jetway. We just landed at my home airport, so I wasn't in a terrific rush (after all, there may be others trying to get a connecting flight). Said couple was stopped by a very large man's body, who was stretching, who asked "are you running to catch your next flight?" When they said no, he stuck his sizable arm out and said, "excuse me, you aren't the only people on this plane". A couple of people cheered.

Generally, people are actually genteel and permit women, children, and the elderly off the plane first, as long as they're in the row in front or just one row behind them. Occassionally, there's a few people who barge in all sorts of directions, which is really rude. Yes, that's why you should check your luggage if you're running late...sorry if your bag is now 28 rows behind you. Just wait your turn, and yes...nearly everyone who lands in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson is catching a connecting flight.

 

[Kylehnat]

I ran over a couple people on the escalator at Hartsfield because I had to run 1/4 mile to my connecting flight. American or not, I wanted to get home that day .

 

[Pupik]

I ran over a couple people on the escalator at Hartsfield because I had to run 1/4 mile to my connecting flight. American or not, I wanted to get home that day .

Oh, once you're off the plane there, you're definitely going to get brushed aside at a place that serves just a shade under a quarter million people per day. Still, the couple of times I've had to run inside an airport, I make sure to dodge the women, children, elderly, and clueless (they'll wander aimlessly). Usually the "suicide lane" is open for passing.

Had to run from D33 to the tram, then run to A3, nearly out of breath, to catch a flight there in December. 35-minute layovers are bad for my health...but occassionally part of the job.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

In my opinion, this Motorsport Americanism is an atrocity.

Ovals and NASCAR.
I don't see the point really. They only seem to survive in North America.
Brooklands, Montlhery oval and the Monza oval are disused as tracks, and other European Ovals like Rockingham and Lausitzring are more famous as road circuits than the ovals.
Are there any Aussies who know if Calder Park oval is used often, or SOuth Africans who can say the same about Phakisa?

Okay, let me explain. Although oval racing is viewed as boring, the drivers like it and it requires a huge amount of skill. I enjoy watching drivers working skillfully. Sadly, I believe that the attraction is, to an extent, violent, because people like to see bumping, and, to a lesser extent, crashes. I am glad you didn't say it requires no skill, because it does, but it isn't as entertaining as rally or F1.

 

[Jubby]

I am glad you didn't say it requires no skill, because it does, but it isn't as entertaining as rally or F1.

True about the skill point.

Entertaining?! Watching the leader of an F1 race versus 20th place is like watching a proper drag car versus a stock production car. That's boring. There are all of, what, 8 total contested passes in an entire race?! The most exciting parts of an F1 race is when they exit the pits... maybe someone will get close enough to pass. Or, when they try slicks when the track is still somewhat wet. Please, don't think I'm discounting the skill level provided.

Not kidding though, if you taped all the races from this year and picked 3 times per race at random (not under safety car), I would be willing to bet you would find that the vast majority of the times no two cars would be within 3 seconds of the next position ahead. No parity.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

Okay, let me explain. Although oval racing is viewed as boring, the drivers like it and it requires a huge amount of skill. I enjoy watching drivers working skillfully. Sadly, I believe that the attraction is, to an extent, violent, because people like to see bumping, and, to a lesser extent, crashes. I am glad you didn't say it requires no skill, because it does, but it isn't as entertaining as rally or F1.

Exactly, It's extremely boring to watch if there's no action but at the same time road course is boring to watch from the stands because all you see is the frontstretch and that's it, but now days it's become more of an atmosphere in the stands that draw people out

However in the car it's a blast to do short track 1/4 to 1/2 mile ovals, since it is a little more close quarters and if you mess up one turn it won't particularly mess up the next 3 turns, It's consistently highspeed turns and braking in the entry is an art, to not lose the car altogether or just too much speed and end up being freight trained to the back

In a 50 lap race, I just hang out mid pack for first few laps because there's always that guy who wants to win it on the first lap and takes out the first 4 cars or something, and by the end of the race I'm running in the top 3ish

A lot of that is true for road course too but from the stands people see more of the action, and cautions are always full track and rebunch the field

Edit: I'm not trying to sound biased, it's just that's how a lot of racing is here since the pre 1970's american cars just weren't exactly the most nimble, and it caught on and stuck since the big mile to 2 mile tracks became poplular for showing consistent high speeds (to be honest I'm not a big fan of the large ovals)

 

[Zupplu]

People who don't do this annoy me to no end. They just stand right in front of the door of the elevator and expect you to move so they can get in, BEFORE you get out. It happens all the time in my university and I generally can't help but have a less than flattering view on people that do this, because they're the same kinds of people who refuse to wait for anything, including pedestrians, red lights etc. Somewhere in this forum on a thread like this someone said "you will wait, you thoughtless cur." I couldn't say it better myself.

Thats basicly a given in aus. You wait for an elevator you wait for the people inside to get out then you go in. Anyway australian english is cool, makes a little bit more sense than american english when spelling, just like the metric system. Never the less english spelling is stupid