Britain Vs America

[John Hopkins]

Yeah the first time a guy asked me if I had a fag, my fast wit saved me.... errrr, no I said calmly as I pulled out and lit a ciggy... not really, I never smoked cigs... I just moved further down the bar.  Faggots come from a fire... now almost always called coals.But the meatball version is very good when made right.

My wife and I are really into brit detective shows. We watch all we can find.  I hate the British Wallander, love the Swedish original...

I remember Steptoe and son... or similar it became Sanford and Son here. And A Man About the House became Three's Company.

When my wife was alive we used to watch all the Columbo shows..The funniest tv series with wonderful scriptwriting and double meanings is the British "Coupling" The star is the British captain out of the Pirates of the Carribean films who was going to marry the heroine in the first film.

If you get the chance to watch it, record it and watch it twice so that you understand it, you would have to be dead not to laugh at that..

John.

[John Hopkins]

Do they still say "in the Club" when a girl gets preggers?  Or is that too old of an expression?

As far as I know we still do..

Although these days with obesity it is "Oops sorry love I thought you were in the club"

John.

[DC]

Do they still say "in the Club" when a girl gets preggers?  Or is that too old of an expression?

[chief]

being a sailor, I always liked "aye"... so I knew at least ONE word when I was drinking with my Scottish buddies... ok 4 words... whiskey, pint"a" heavy, aye and pub.

[Troll]

Gotta keep up to date...things change when you're not watching

[John Hopkins]

Everyday Conversation
(British to American)
"Ace"-Cool. Also used to say "the best" as in ace fighter pilot.
"Arse"-Its usage dates back to Chaucer, but its use is somehow more rude than the American's "Ass" as in, "He's an arse," or "I can't be arsed" (bothered). see bum.

"Biggie"-Alternately refers to poop or an erection. Not really, Jobbie is a poop but only in Scotland. An erecrion is refered to as a hard on..

"Brew"-Coffee. or tea, as in having a brew up.
"Grassed-off'-See "chuffed" below. Grassed up is informed on to the police or in school to the teacher, chuffed means delighted.
"Chuffed"-Similar to the US "pissed off." Not a chance
"Cobblers"-Another variation of "bollocks."
"Cracking"-Means the best (the `g' is silent, of course).
"Crumpet"-Attractive woman. also a 1/2" thick pancake made with bread dough which tastes disgusting unless you toast it  and coat it in half a pound of salted butter which transformes it into a feast.
"Cuppa"-Tea, also "char." Brought back from India where it is called chai[/b
"Knock up"-To wake someone up or to make something from available bits and pieces, as in to knock up a play bike.The more common use is to make someone pregnant, as in "she is knocked up" or "up the duff," or "she has a bun in the oven.""
Naff'-Uncool or tattered. Not too sure about this one, it is one of the words gay people brought out of the closet with them.
"Nick"-To steal. Or cut yourself shaving
"Potty"-Not to be found in a toilet, but means crazy or looney.Also a baby's toilet.
"Sad"-Means the same as "naff." It means unhappy, whereas gay means happy.
"Sod's Law"-The British version of Murphy's Law, as in "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."

Machines & Hardware
"Bomb"-Really fast when referring to performance, as in "it goes like a bomb" or expensive if you say something "costs a bomb."
"Jam sandwich"-A police car (as they are white with bright orange stripes along the sides). The word is Jamjar to rhyme with car, police cars used to be called Pandas..

I've corrected a few of them for you so now you have it straight from the horses mouth.

John.

[chief]

Very nice troll, too bad I didn't have that list when I first moved there!

[Troll]

After I discovered Monty Python..about 1964, or so,my whole world changed. Here is a rip that might interest you. As "bikers" we tend to have our own familiar terms, so here are some British versions with an American translation:

Default Ever not have a clue what Luke is saying? Brit-biker slang
stolen from socalsvriders who stole from MCN 9/04

Brit-Biker Slang
by Susan Buck and Dave Searle

MOTORCYCLISTS, BEING THE fringe element that we are, might think that the language of our subculture travels the world as easily as the sun sets over the next horizon. Yet for all the universal themes within the biker world, two "English-speaking" cultures as similar as the United States of America and England are still, as wit Oscar Wilde once famously said, "two countries separated by a common language."
So, before you cross the pond, and "drop a clanger," (make an embarrassing linguistic gaffe), "gen up" (get some information) on the jargon. Then, tune up your best British biker accent and try these handy, but by no means comprehensive, translations:

Everyday Conversation
(British to American)
"Ace"-Cool.
"Arse"-Its usage dates back to Chaucer, but its use is somehow more rude than the American's "Ass" as in, "He's an arse," or "I can't be arsed" (bothered).
"Barmy"-Nuts.
"Bespoke"-Nothing to do with spokes, but means custom-made.
"Biggie"-Alternately refers to poop or an erection.
"Biscuit"-Cookie.
"Bleeding"-An alternative to the ever-popular "Bloody" (see below), as in "not bleeding likely."
"Bloody"-A swear word of great versatility. Used for emphasis, as in "bloody hell" or "not bloody likely."
"Blooming"-A less profane version of bloody, for those who choose not to swear.
"Blow Me"-Not what you might think, but a short version of "blow me down" as in you're so surprised, you could be knocked down with a feather.
"Bob's your uncle"-A wrap-up phrase used at the end of a lengthy explanation as if to say, "and that's it."
"Bodge"-A quick and dirty job, and therefore a "Bodger" is one who performs such sub-par work.
"Bollocks"-Technically means testicles, but also refers to "no good" or "rubbish," as in "he's talking bollocks." However, the phrase "the dog's bollocks" is a superlative, like "the cat's meow" in the US.
"Brew"-Coffee.
"Brill"-Short for "brilliant," which is used in such an offhand fashion that it isn't "brilliant" in the American sense, merely "cool."
"Bum"-A person's rear end, but you can also "bum" (scrounge) around for some thing.
"Braces"-Suspenders.
"Grassed-off'-See "chuffed" below.
"Chuffed"-Similar to the US "pissed off."
"Cobblers"-Another variation of "bollocks."
"Codswollop"-As in a "load of codswallop" similar to baloney or BS.
"Cor"-As in "Cor blimey" a variation of "Gor blimey;" said to be a corruption of the oath "God Blind Me." Also, the phrase "Cor love a duck."
"Cracking"-Means the best (the `g' is silent, of course).
"Crumpet"-Attractive woman.
"Cuppa"-Tea, also "cha."
"Diddle"-To con or rip-off.
"Doddle"-It's a cinch, as in it's a doddle.
"Dodgy"-Something not to be trusted.
"Dog's bollocks"-Great, fantastic.
"Duff'-Junk, trash, useless.
"Fanny"-Important to get right, as Americans consider it a cute term for the female derriere, but to Brits it means the opposite
side of the anatomy.
"***"-Cigarette, or "*** end" (cigarette butt).
"Flyover"-Overpass.
"Full Monty"-Made famous by the movie of the same name, but does not refer to nudity, but simple to "going all out" or "all the way."
"Gobsmacked"-Amazed, as when you smack your gob (mouth) in amazement.
"Goolies"-Another variation of bollocks.
"Gormless"-Clueless, as in "linp's gormless," or a "total gorm."
"Honking"-Throwing up.
"Jolly"-Classic British, it means "very" as in jolly good.
"Hooter"-The horn on your bike or car, or a person's nose.
"Knackered"-Worn out.
"Knock off'-Not to copy something, but to steal it.
"Knock up"-To wake someone up or to make something from available bits and pieces, as in to knock up a play bike.
"Knockers"-Breasts.
"Lorry"-Truck, so of course, the driver is then a "lorry driver."
"Mate"-A friend, as in "me mate."
"Mug"-As in, "Chris' a bit of a mug" meaning gullible.
"Mutt's nuts" or "the Mutt's"-Another variation of dog's bollocks, meaning great.
"Naff'-Uncool or tattered.
"Nick"-To steal.
"Nosh"-Food, as in going out for a good "nosh up."
"Nut"-To head butt, a too common move at soccer riots.
"On yer bike"-A polite way to tell someone to get moving, or to piss off. But there doesn't need to be a bike present.
"Pants"-Crap (the C-word means the same as it does in the US, but is less rude in Britain), as in something is "totally pants."
"Pear shaped"-When something goes "pear shaped" it has gone awry, a disaster.
"Posh"-Fancy, high-class, deluxe.
"Potty"-Not to be found in a toilet, but means crazy or looney.
"Pukka"-Super or super fine. Also, "smashing."
"Quite"-Alone, it means absolutely, as an adjective it means very.
"Randy"-Horny.
"Rodger"-To copulate.
"Rotary"-See roundabout below.
"Roundabout"-Traffic circle. The vehicle already in the roundabout has the right of way. Once mastered, they're fun and make a lot of sense compared to stopping for lights.
"Sad"-Means the same as "naff."
"Sleeping policeman"-A speedbump, typically these are very high in Britain.
"Sod"-Another all-purpose expletive that is less offensive than others. An "old sod" is a bit of a bastard, and to tell someone to "sod off' means get lost.
"Sod's Law"-The British version of Murphy's Law, as in "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."
"Sorted"-To fix a problem, as in get it sorted.
"SWMBO"-She who must be obeyed.
"Stonking or Stonker"-Huge, as in "a stonking wheelie."
"Suss"-To "suss out" something is to have it figured out, or have it "sussed."
"Tool"-A word for penis.
"Wanker"-One who wanks, or masturbates.
"Whinge"-Whine about something. Also, whinger; one who whines.
"Wobbler"-To throw a wobbly, is to throw a tantrum.
"Wonky"-Unstable, or shaky.
"Yonks"-Ages, as in, "blimey, I haven't heard from you in yonks."

Machines & Hardware
"Aluminium"-Note the extra "i," but we'd say aluminum.
"Anchors"-Brakes.
"Articulated lorry"-A tractor/trailer truck.
"Banger"-An old car, or a sausage as in "bangers and mash" (mashed potatoes).
"Barrels"-Cylinders in an engine.
"Bomb"-Really fast when referring to performance, as in "it's a bomb" or expensive if you say something "costs a bomb."
"Bonnet"-The hood of a car.
"Blatting"-Riding or driving fast.
"Boot"-The trunk of a car.
"Bone dome"-Helmet.
"Cans"-Mufflers.
"Car park"-Usually an uncovered parking lot.
"Carburettor"-Carburetor.
"Chair"-Sidecar.
"Cheese-head screw"-A head screw.
"Combination"-Motorcycle with sidecar.
"Crash-hat"-Helmet.
"Diversion"-Detour.
"Duralumin"-A high-strength aluminum alloy, usually not specified in the US (the most common grade is 2024).
"Drophead coupe"-A convertible car.
"Estate car"-A station wagon or specially lengthened sedan.
"Ergal"-Term for an aluminum alloy.
"Fender"-A car's bumper. Are you confused yet?
"Fork Yokes"-Triple clamps.
"Gas"-What you cook with or use to heat a house, not gasoline.
"Gudgeon Pin"-Wrist pin on a piston.
"Grub screw"-Allen-head screw.
"Inconel"-Stainless steel.
"Jam sandwich"-A police car (as they are white with bright orange stripes along the sides).
"Juggernaut"-An 18-wheeler, or any large lorry (truck).
"Jumble"-a swap meet, as in an auto jumble or bike jumble.
"Kit"-One's riding gear.
"Monkey"-Sidecar passenger.
"Motorway"-A major road; freeway.
"Mudguard"-A bike's fender.
"Pavement"-Careful, it's not on the road, but the sidewalk.
"Number plate"-A license plate for the road.
"Parrafin"-Kerosene.
"Petrol"-Gasoline, found in petrol station.
"Prang"-Sounds like bent sheet metal, and refers to a dent in same or accident.
"Run-in"-Break-in, as to break in an engine.
"Panniers"-Saddlebags.
"Perspex"-Clear plastic, as in a perspex windscreen.
"Pillion"-Passenger, also "pillion pad" or seat.
"Propstand"-Kick stand. May also be called a "Jiffy stand."
"Saloon"-A saloon car is a sedan, but a saloon may also be a section of a pub.
"Shooting brake"-A station wagon for the rich, usually a woodie.
"Skid lid"-Helmet.
"Spanner"-Wrench.
"Spares"-Spare parts.
"Sparking plugs"-Sparkplugs.
"Stays"-Braces, as in mudguard stays (fender braces).
"Subway"-An underpass or road crossing, not to be confused with the "Underground" trains.
"Swinging arms"-Swingarm.
"Tappets"-Lifters.
"Tarmac"-Road surface.
"Tick-over"-Idle speed.
"Ton"-100 mph, which used to be a big deal on a motorcycle, as in "doing the ton." Nowadays, a "ton-fifty" might be more impressive. A ton is also 100 points in darts.
"Torch"-Flashlight, but the medieval origins survive.
"Visor"-Faceshield.
"Windscreen"-Windshield.
"Wing"-The fender of a car.

[chief]

Yeah the first time a guy asked me if I had a fag, my fast wit saved me.... errrr, no I said calmly as I pulled out and lit a ciggy... not really, I never smoked cigs... I just moved further down the bar.  Faggots come from a fire... now almost always called coals.But the meatball version is very good when made right.

My wife and I are really into brit detective shows. We watch all we can find.  I hate the British Wallander, love the Swedish original...

I remember Steptoe and son... or similar it became Sanford and Son here. And A Man About the House became Three's Company.

[49Reo]

How about Fawlty Towers? Now THERE is a good oldy from across the pond!

Regards,

[DC]

We didn't send you that old chestnut did we..

The show has been running here for at least 30 years.  I think I have every line of every episode memorized, from watching each at least 100 times.  We get a lot of choice BBC offerings.

[Petemoss]

And "fag" has a entirely different meaning here too. You definitely don't want to be caught smoking one of those, no sir.

[Troll]

Gay meal??? Hmmmmm

[John Hopkins]

That story reminds me of Mrs. Slocombe on "Are You Being Served".   

We didn't send you that old chestnut did we..

Oh and another thing we serve up here is a mixture of raw minced pork, onions or leeks, liver, and sage it half fills a baking dish and the the top is filled with an ice cream scoop to make it easy to cut into large round balls of meat...we don't call it meat balls but it is quite a gay meal beginning with F.

Edit ..you probably don't mince beef, you grind it..

John.

[DC]

In the misty days of long ago, I sat in the garden of an English lady's home with her absolutely magnificent looking, and very blond, daughter and her also very attractive, very upper class, lady, mother. The daughter was sun bathing and, needless, to say I was enjoying myself. We were having a very nice conversation about generalities of life, enjoying some nice whiskey and wine, when the daughter (my age, btw)  asked me if I had seen her .... ahhh... "cat"... Of course, the word she used is one we have ripped from the English language and assigned as a name of female genitalia. Her mother looked at me, glass at half hoist,  laughed loudly and informed her daughter of the Americanized meaning of the term. From that moment on, the daughter would always ask the same question each time I visited, especially in the company of others. Whether or not I answered honestly... is another story.

That story reminds me of Mrs. Slocombe on "Are You Being Served".   

[49Reo]

Never mind, figured it out. (ROTFLMAO)

[49Reo]

LOL ...LOL ...Thank yo Mrs 49Reo!!  ROTFLMAO!

    ??ROTFLMAO???

[chief]

Having lived in the UK with some decades between, I have run across many differences - which I mostly take for granted now. I do have a couple of interesting stories... I will keep it clean, considering this isn't the Pub.

For the first year I lived in Scotland, I never heard a Scot curse... the second year I noticed they cursed every other breath... my American ear finally got the wavelength of the Scottish accent.

I recall a friend telling me of an incident with a family he was visiting in New Zealand. He was describing Thanksgiving and when he got to the part about "stuffing" the turkey, his hosts fell out laughing. He was the brunt of endless jokes at the pub while he was there.

In the misty days of long ago, I sat in the garden of an English lady's home with her absolutely magnificent looking, and very blond, daughter and her also very attractive, very upper class, lady, mother. The daughter was sun bathing and, needless, to say I was enjoying myself. We were having a very nice conversation about generalities of life, enjoying some nice whiskey and wine, when the daughter (my age, btw)  asked me if I had seen her .... ahhh... "cat"... Of course, the word she used is one we have ripped from the English language and assigned as a name of female genitalia. Her mother looked at me, glass at half hoist,  laughed loudly and informed her daughter of the Americanized meaning of the term. From that moment on, the daughter would always ask the same question each time I visited, especially in the company of others. Whether or not I answered honestly... is another story.

Times change. With television and movies, most of these little differences in language and meaning are recognized on both sides of the pond. Some things are still pretty well confined... I think all Brits would know what bubble and squeak is... most Americans will have to look it up. I run across a new one every now and again.

[chief]

Yep, the British propensity to use force to fill ship's crews was one of the reasons for the War of 1812. They liked to stop American ships at sea and use impressment to fill any vacancies on their warships. It was primarily used to fill slots in the Navy... they didn't have conscription.

Saxon Britain depended upon Thanes (noblemen, landowners - all land belonged to the crown) and their capability of raising armies when needed. Most of Harold Godwinson's (Harold II, last of the Saxon kings) army on that day in 1066 when William the Bastard invaded at Hastings was made up of armies raised by his Thanes.  Harold did have his own force, they ended up being the last on the field that day.

[John Hopkins]

So I guess suspenders, neck ties, belts, and bras will be on their way out too.....suspenders, belts, and neckties could feasibly (if you are a politician) be considered a weapon with which to strangle someone............and some bras, (please forgive me here ladies, my fingers know not what they type)some bras, could be used as slingshots of lethal caliber...... and (uh-oh) so could rolling pins wielded  OW! by OW! housewives whose husbands' OW! fingers know OW! not what they OW!-OW! OW! type!!

Oh yeah thats another one suspenders are what women use to hold stockings up, a suspender belt is worn around the waist with small straps hanging down with clips to hold stockings up...

Men used to wear braces to hold their trousers (pants) up.

I will be passing a collection plate around later in this thread because I understand that you are used to paying for education..

John.

[John Hopkins]

You know King Louis XIV in the late 1600's banned pointed knives to control street violence... of course it didn't work, but these blunt knives turned into table knives. History repeats itself... at least whenever politicians start thinking they are kings and we are serfs.

I suppose that you do know the word serf is French for slave..until the 18th century when you bought land in Britain you got the village and farmworkers thrown in, in fact as a landowner it was your duty to provide workers for the army and navy..

pressgangs used to hunt in the seaside towns for men to capture to crew their ships which is one of the main reasons why seaside vacations did not become popular until very late in British history.

John.

[DriftinGirl]

So I guess suspenders, neck ties, belts, and bras will be on their way out too.....suspenders, belts, and neckties could feasibly (if you are a politician) be considered a weapon with which to strangle someone............and some bras, (please forgive me here ladies, my fingers know not what they type)some bras, could be used as slingshots of lethal caliber...... and (uh-oh) so could rolling pins wielded  OW! by OW! housewives whose husbands' OW! fingers know OW! not what they OW!-OW! OW! type!!

LOL ...LOL ...Thank yo Mrs 49Reo!!  ROTFLMAO!

[Petemoss]

More fellowship=less crime.

http://world.time.com/2012/12/20/the-swiss-difference-a-gun-culture-that-works/

[chief]

Back in 2009, Scotland wanted to ban airguns... fortunately they didn't have the power at the time. The UK decided to "monitor" air gun laws.

[chief]

You know King Louis XIV in the late 1600's banned pointed knives to control street violence... of course it didn't work, but these blunt knives turned into table knives. History repeats itself... at least whenever politicians start thinking they are kings and we are serfs.