UK sayings that arent in common use in the US

[Alex & Rachel 78]

'Shattered' and 'knackered' are two that I have had to explain, although my husband caught the gist of what I was trying to say.

'It's all gone pear-shaped' is one he'd never heard before and couldn't figure out.

[wexford65 0]

I lived in Ireland for twelve years before heading to the US.

Believe me some of the sayings there totally mystify many here.

Ossified or banjaxed = drunk (bladdered too but I think I heard that in the UK too)

you're a gas man = you're funny

that yoke over there = that thing (a bit like that thingamajig in the UK)

that's grand = that's fine

and many more that I can't really post here!

I also absolutely love the fact that the Irish change a single letter in a cuss word and it is now absolutely fine to use in polite company.

#######, shite jayzus and so on...

'Shattered' and 'knackered' are two that I have had to explain, although my husband caught the gist of what I was trying to say.

'It's all gone pear-shaped' is one he'd never heard before and couldn't figure out.

[kayandnigel 0]

Nigel says Its pissing out of the heavens when its raining

And looper and nutter for someone that is crazy and according to him thats all Americans

[thatbritishlass 2]

Nigel says Its pissing out of the heavens when its raining

And looper and nutter for someone that is crazy and according to him thats all Americans

LOVE this topic!

Before me and the fella met and I was working at Disney the first time round, I spent most of my time educating the Americans in 'Brit-isms', they couldn't get enough of it. My personal favourite was 'pulling' - meaning making out with someone - which I was informed generally refers to a distinctly more intimate and personal activity in the US!! I try and avoid saying it now when I'm over there, even though when I say 'making out' I just feel silly, lol

Knackered is another classic. Pissed as drunk rather than angry (although I use both meanings, which confuses the hell out of the boy). Cashpoint. As a Yorkshire lass, I tend to get a lot of blank looks when using the terms 'nowt' (nothing) and 'owt' (anything).

But I do have my uses - my fiancé thanked me 2 days ago for being British cos it meant he was actually able to understand most of the new Harry Potter film

J

[Nina~ 431]

Ummm....

I'm afraid to say I lowered the tone a bit this evening, but at least I taught my husband a new brit-ism in the process.

We had a very very very late lunch at a nice restaurant by the river here. There was a dodgy covers band playing a little way off in the distance. The sound of the intro to "Sweet Caroline" came drifting over in our direction.

I commented to the Husband that we were in far too nice a setting for anyone to start singing along with the less, um, salubrious lyrics I've heard yelled by drunken lads in pubs many, many a time in the UK. (To the "touching me, touching you" bit).

Suffice to say that the Husband was thoroughly confused, had no idea what I was talking about, and I had to sit there and get him to Google the expression "touching cloth" on his iPhone before he knew what I was talking about.

Chalk that up as one of those "just forget I ever opened my mouth" moments!

Oh gross!!! My curiosity got the better of me and I just looked up "touching cloth".. you brits are a funny lot j/k

[wexford65 0]

I can beat the cashpoint one.

I asked my wife where our nearest hole in the wall was. She stared at me and said she didn't know but if there was one I needed to fix it!!

[cdneh 3,112]

Well...I have multiple problems with this.

I am Canadian...> cndeh = canadian eh

I lived in the UK for a time, and spent 16 years in Enzed. Given me a few expressions my new my family here haven't stuck before.

Crook, magic, and sweet just yesterday.

[featherB 1]

Ummm....

I'm afraid to say I lowered the tone a bit this evening, but at least I taught my husband a new brit-ism in the process.

We had a very very very late lunch at a nice restaurant by the river here. There was a dodgy covers band playing a little way off in the distance. The sound of the intro to "Sweet Caroline" came drifting over in our direction.

I commented to the Husband that we were in far too nice a setting for anyone to start singing along with the less, um, salubrious lyrics I've heard yelled by drunken lads in pubs many, many a time in the UK. (To the "touching me, touching you" bit).

Suffice to say that the Husband was thoroughly confused, had no idea what I was talking about, and I had to sit there and get him to Google the expression "touching cloth" on his iPhone before he knew what I was talking about.

Chalk that up as one of those "just forget I ever opened my mouth" moments!

Oh gross!!! My curiosity got the better of me and I just looked up "touching cloth".. you brits are a funny lot j/k

I'm sorry!! I have to say that is something I would NEVER say (eeewwww!!!!!) except for the fact that I heard that song playing, remembered hearing many, erm, really witty people singing along with their "alternative" lyrics and felt compelled to ask the husband if that delightful expression exists over here as well. I wish I'd never asked, when he had no clue what I was talking about and I had to explain!!

[thatbritishlass 2]

I can beat the cashpoint one.

I asked my wife where our nearest hole in the wall was. She stared at me and said she didn't know but if there was one I needed to fix it!!

I forgot about hole in the wall!! The best expression ever and I am starting my own campaign to get it accepted into American lingo

Words for something good that amuse my other half - ace, class, mint, brill, brillo pads (I think that one might just be me )

'sod off' always amused my American friends too. They did understand '#######' though from Pirates of the Caribbean.....

[featherB 1]

Last thought. I saw a commercial a few weeks back here in FL that took the mickey out of the Brits. When they used the word wanker in it I nearly choked. I don't think Americans realize how surprising that would be in the UK. I think the context was one guy calling another a wanker. I think they think it is like calling someone a sod or something.

There's an "English" pub not far from here where the bar staff all wear kilts ( ) and t-shirts that say "Bollocks!" and "Wanker!" on the back. First time I walked in there I, too, nearly choked!

[Gemmie 142]

Minge!

Maybe that's just me..

[JeremyR 8]

This is a great thread

Bollocks is my favourite mild expletive and I had to explain it to my wife. I used this Youtube, probably one of my favourite ads of all time:

And then she understood it The funny thing is, BBC America's censoring and bleeping is obviously done by Americans. They beep out James May saying '#######' on Top Gear but leave 'Bollocks' and '#######' in other shows. It's funny. I'm sure I heard Wanker get by without a bleep not too long ago

My wife has picked up a few Britishisms over the past few years, just a minute ago she came in here and said she'd found the source of the smell in the fridge and that she'd thrown it in the bin. We'll have her speaking Queen's English soon enough

I'll have to explain to my mother that she mustn't ever say she's "just nipping out for some fags" when she's over here...

[TracyTN 237]

Hubby called someone a 'plonker' at a hockey game - now all our hockey peeps use it in their everyday vernacular.

[rebeccajo 14]

Snogging...................

[featherB 1]

Snogging...................

... is a great word!

And Gemmie... there's a sweet shop here called Minge's. (I think it's "Peter Minge's & Son", but the sign just says "Minge's"). I have a photo of the shop sign somewhere, must dig it out and post it sometime! I couldn't quite believe it the first time I saw that place - had to walk home and grab my camera!