British Phrases That Baffle The Rest Of The World
- Thread starter imported_rik19
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- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
Lunch and Tea. Breakfast is for wimps.
Danoff
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- Mile High City
Perhaps in time America will celebrate April 19th in the same way?
Funny
[over analysis] Actually, the first Guy Fawkes celebration is of a foiled attempt, not a successful one. And the second one is about a movie where someone is trying to topple an oppressive government and announces a year in advance that he's going to blow up a building to make sure that fair warning was given to get out before it goes off. Neither of those really fit. [/over analysis]
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- Canada
- photonrider
I have never heard of them...
Should you consider yourself lucky? Especially living in a culture of 'class'.
"In America they haven't used it for years …."
- 140
- Melbourne, Australia
When I travelled last year most Americans thought I was Australian 
One which isn't commonplace across Britain is adding 'to' at the end of 'where is it?'. Being from the south west and going to uni in Plymouth I'd say 'where is the bar to?, or where is x to?'. Confused all of the northerners and some of the south easterners right up as they'd never heard it.
One which isn't commonplace across Britain is adding 'to' at the end of 'where is it?'. Being from the south west and going to uni in Plymouth I'd say 'where is the bar to?, or where is x to?'. Confused all of the northerners and some of the south easterners right up as they'd never heard it.
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- Australia
- SpacedustDaddy
Since living in Australia:
Breakfast, lunch & tea= Get something in ya, smoko & beer o'clock
I guess, being from the USA, British sayings that get me are those "Six and sevens and three elevens" sayings. The scene from Austin Powers summed it up. Love that stuff.
Breakfast, lunch & tea= Get something in ya, smoko & beer o'clock
I guess, being from the USA, British sayings that get me are those "Six and sevens and three elevens" sayings. The scene from Austin Powers summed it up. Love that stuff.
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- Bratvegas
- GTP_Liquid
When I travelled last year most Americans thought I was Australian
One which isn't commonplace across Britain is adding 'to' at the end of 'where is it?'. Being from the south west and going to uni in Plymouth I'd say 'where is the bar to?, or where is x to?'. Confused all of the northerners and some of the south easterners right up as they'd never heard it.
"Where to are you from?"
"Where to are you going?"
Where to is it?"
That's very South Welsh. We don't have that up in Gogland.
- 30,026
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
I have to admit to deriving enjoyment out of "half-inch" and the fact that few people know what I'm talking about when I use it.
While he was generally well spoken, when he was either angry or when he got longer in the tooth, my grandfather would revert to more cockney speech.
One incident and phrase that still makes me grin when I think back was having taken about half of a tin of oatmeal cookies my grandmother made into my bedroom one afternoon--it was four or five of less than a dozen. I was doing my homework that evening and I heard a slamming noise in the front of the house, followed by: "Oi!! Who 'alf-inched my damn biscuits!?" I suspect had I been a little younger, belt would have met butt. They weren't his per se, but maybe he expected more to be left.
While he was generally well spoken, when he was either angry or when he got longer in the tooth, my grandfather would revert to more cockney speech.
One incident and phrase that still makes me grin when I think back was having taken about half of a tin of oatmeal cookies my grandmother made into my bedroom one afternoon--it was four or five of less than a dozen. I was doing my homework that evening and I heard a slamming noise in the front of the house, followed by: "Oi!! Who 'alf-inched my damn biscuits!?" I suspect had I been a little younger, belt would have met butt. They weren't his per se, but maybe he expected more to be left.
- 30,051
- Thailand
Despite being cockneys I’ve never heard either of my grandparents use rhyming slang other than in imitation of others.
It’s true the I fear my wife wouldn’t understand 90% of what they’re saying due to their accent, cockney grammar and a lack of pronunciation. Some of my favourites of my grandfather’s include “Boi’ the kittle, Joyce” and “Naaa’days cars is put ‘geva b’ row’b’ts”*. Genuine prols are my grandparents, salt of the earth people lol.
* It’s really hard to express some of the unique cockney phonemes in writing.
It’s true the I fear my wife wouldn’t understand 90% of what they’re saying due to their accent, cockney grammar and a lack of pronunciation. Some of my favourites of my grandfather’s include “Boi’ the kittle, Joyce” and “Naaa’days cars is put ‘geva b’ row’b’ts”*. Genuine prols are my grandparents, salt of the earth people lol.
* It’s really hard to express some of the unique cockney phonemes in writing.
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- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
It was particularly difficult to understand him near the end, before he went quiet. Between speaking softly, hardly moving his lips and, sadly, the dementia...it was bad. I've wondered if on some level he realized nobody understood him and that's why he stopped talking.
Edit: Boy...that did a number on the happy memories.
Edit: Boy...that did a number on the happy memories.
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- TenEightyOne
- TenEightyOne
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- TenEightyOne
- TenEightyOne
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- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
While it doesn't address some of the more peculiar language, I did get a kick out of this bit on the differences between American english and English english:
But then I enjoy that contributor. One of my favorites (or favourites, if you prefer) was one on the completely unrelated subject* of "who" versus "whom."
*Hence the link.
But then I enjoy that contributor. One of my favorites (or favourites, if you prefer) was one on the completely unrelated subject* of "who" versus "whom."
*Hence the link.
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