Kawasaki Concours Forum
Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: B.D.F. on February 28, 2018, 11:08:23 AM
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And now for a fun category: the differences between English and English as used primarily in the UK and US. It seems we have enough UK members to make this fun, along with some from other English- speaking countries (more or less) such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and maybe parts of Canada (eh?).
I am an American but had a very good friend who was English and we taught each other how to speak correctly.... or tried to do so. :-) So I am a little versed in the different versions.
There are several different ways the language is different too, sometimes the same word means something different, sometimes the combination of words means something in one country and either nothing or makes no sense in the other country, and some things just sound 'odd' when spoken in the 'wrong' country's version.
1) Mean. In the US, the word means mistreating something or someone as in 'that guy is mean with his dog', meaning he beats, does not care for or otherwise misbehaves toward his dog. In the UK it means 'cheap', such as 'that guy is so mean I am shivering in his living room!'.
2) "Spit the dummy". A UK phrase that needs explaining twice in the US: first, the word 'dummy' in this case means a baby's pacifier, not a stupid person. So the expression refers to someone who will not be pacified, such as when an infant will not take the pacifier but instead spits it out. It would mean having a temper tantrum in the US.
3) UK: 'That man was injured and so I took him to hospital'. In the US, it sounds like a sentence from a 2 year old who forgot 'the' or 'a' before hospital. Same thing with 'that is good value for money' which in the US would become 'that is a good value for the money'.
I believe Mike kicked this whole thing off by asking what Americans would think 'moving house' means, in another thread.
Brian
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this is as good time as any to point out that the USA is the only place inthe world to write the date as MMDDYYY
Pretty much the rest of the world (whether civilized or not and with the exception of some tiny African country some Asian country or another that use both) uses either DDMMYYY or YYYYMMDD
(http://www.sharetheexperience.co.uk/Images/dates.jpg)
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1) Mean. In the US, the word means mistreating something or someone as in 'that guy is mean with his dog', meaning he beats, does not care for or otherwise misbehaves toward his dog. In the UK it means 'cheap', such as 'that guy is so mean I am shivering in his living room!'.
It can also have the same meaning as in the US.
Eg "that guy is mean to his dog" has a completely different meaning to "that guy is mean with his dog" .
That said the former could also mean the same as the latter depending on how it's said and what he context leading up to the statement is.
Less ambiguity is contained in the phrase "that guy is mean towards his dog"
2) "Spit the dummy". A UK phrase that needs explaining twice in the US: first, the word 'dummy' in this case means a baby's pacifier, not a stupid person. So the expression refers to someone who will not be pacified, such as when an infant will not take the pacifier but instead spits it out. It would mean having a temper tantrum in the US.
You can also call someone a dummy without it it meaning they're an idiot.
3) UK: 'That man was injured and so I took him to hospital'. In the US, it sounds like a sentence from a 2 year old who forgot 'the' or 'a' before hospital. Same thing with 'that is good value for money' which in the US would become 'that is a good value for the money'.
Nope I would say "That man was injured so I took him to A&E"
That said if the man was going in for an appointment I would say "I took him to the hospital for his appointment" but more likely I would say (speaking to someone locally)
" I took him into Bolton Hospital" (Yes Bolton is a place name still :p) or
" I took him to Wigan General" (Wigan being anther place name)
I believe Mike kicked this whole thing off by asking what Americans would think 'moving house' means, in another thread.
Brian
That's right, blame me again :P
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Nope I would say "That man was injured so I took him to A&E"
O.k., what does A&E stand for? Ambulance & Emergency, Alcohol & Enema, etc. :) Arts & Entertainment (television network) is probably the most commonly known A&E in the U.S.
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O.k., what does A&E stand for? Ambulance & Emergency, Alcohol & Enema, etc. :) Arts & Entertainment (television network) is probably the most commonly known A&E in the U.S.
Accident & Emergency
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Probably alcohol and enema. Their health care is "free" so they probably have to make a hospital visit painful in other ways. We just overcharge for the service and so do not need the enema.....
Brian
O.k., what does A&E stand for? Ambulance & Emergency, Alcohol & Enema, etc. :) Arts & Entertainment (television network) is probably the most commonly known A&E in the U.S.
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Where they may apply a 'plaster' to cover a cut or wound. Here in the US, we use plaster to cover our walls and ceilings, and a bandage to cover a wound (although we often call the small, self- adhesive bandages "Band Aids" after a common brand name of such bandages).
I believe you call, or used to call vacuuming the rug 'Hoovering' after the Hoover brand of vacuum. See if an American walked in an Aunt Bessie said 'Come on in Lad, I am just finishing up Hoovering', said American would watch intently to try and discover just what 'Hoovering' might be and whether or not he / she really wanted to watch Aunt Bessie actually doing it.
:rotflmao:
Brian
Accident & Emergency
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Technically it's not free as it is paid for by General Taxation & National Insurance contributions.
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/nhs-in-a-nutshell/how-nhs-funded (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/nhs-in-a-nutshell/how-nhs-funded)
Also more common now is being sent a bill after being involved in a road accident (although in theory you can claim back via your motor insurance.
http://www.trafficaccidentadvice.co.uk/who-pays-for-hospital-treatment-after-accident.html (http://www.trafficaccidentadvice.co.uk/who-pays-for-hospital-treatment-after-accident.html)
Probably alcohol and enema. Their health care is "free" so they probably have to make a hospital visit painful in other ways. We just overcharge for the service and so do not need the enema.....
Brian
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True, we Americans do write our dates oddly. After working for a German firm, I now always write dates as '28 Feb 2018' because no one in the US or Germany can be confused by that and there are no month names in either language that the first three letters will not distinguish. Because agreeing to meet a German on, say, 2/7/18 may well result in a miss by half or a year. :-) And one of you will be cold while at that appointment while the other will be hot.
The Germans also have another form of specifying dates that they refer to as 'KW', which once translated, means calendar week. German calender's have each week numbered and so will often specify something such as a trip this way: Brian will be at our facility in Germany on KW 36 through KW 39. This confounds Americans not because of the language but because our calendars are NOT marked with which 'calendar weeks' and so we have to find a German calendar or look it up online.
I believe the best system is the one the Chinese (and perhaps others) use, which is YYYY/MM/DD/Hour/Minute/Second/second decimals. This system cannot be confused and can be lengthened and shortened with no modification needed. One can specify the year or the microsecond of an event with one unchanged system.
Brian
this is as good time as any to point out that the USA is the only place inthe world to write the date as MMDDYYY
Pretty much the rest of the world (whether civilized or not and with the exception of some tiny African country some Asian country or another that use both) uses either DDMMYYY or YYYYMMDD
(http://www.sharetheexperience.co.uk/Images/dates.jpg)
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Liberals, cover your ears: Nothing is ever free, but we humans just love to mask or forget that fact entirely. OK Liberals, you can listen now. I told Mike that in America, the government is going to pass legislation that will force clouds to rain money down on everyone.
Brian
Technically it's not free as it is paid for by General Taxation & National Insurance contributions.
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/nhs-in-a-nutshell/how-nhs-funded (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/nhs-in-a-nutshell/how-nhs-funded)
Also more common now is being sent a bill after being involved in a road accident (although in theory you can claim back via your motor insurance.
http://www.trafficaccidentadvice.co.uk/who-pays-for-hospital-treatment-after-accident.html (http://www.trafficaccidentadvice.co.uk/who-pays-for-hospital-treatment-after-accident.html)
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oddly enough we use plaster on the walls & ceilings as well :)
BandAid, elastoplast or just sticky plaster for minor cuts .
Yes to hoover around is as common as to use a biro or to google for something although just for good measure you may say "Can you get the Dyson out I'm just going to hoover around"
Which is subtly different from "Pass me the Hoover (note capitalized) so i can vacuum up"
It's the same as the difference between
conservative & Conservative
constitution & Constitution
labour & Labour
I'm sure there are plenty more examples :)
Where they may apply a 'plaster' to cover a cut or wound. Here in the US, we use plaster to cover our walls and ceilings, and a bandage to cover a wound (although we often call the small, self- adhesive bandages "Band Aids" after a common brand name of such bandages).
I believe you call, or used to call vacuuming the rug 'Hoovering' after the Hoover brand of vacuum. See if an American walked in an Aunt Bessie said 'Come on in Lad, I am just finishing up Hoovering', said American would watch intently to try and discover just what 'Hoovering' might be and whether or not he / she really wanted to watch Aunt Bessie actually doing it.
:rotflmao:
Brian
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is that liberals or Liberals ?
Liberals, cover your ears: Nothing is ever free, but we humans just love to mask or forget that fact entirely. OK Liberals, you can listen now. I told Mike that in America, the government is going to pass legislation that will force clouds to rain money down on everyone.
Brian
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yyyymmddhhmm is how I suffix any reports I write in the filename
eg
gtr1400_clutch_failure_analysis_201802282002.xlsx
If autogenerated from something (say an scheduled SQL report) I will usually code it to include the seconds as well
BTW have you ever noticed that when you quote somones post that the date is displayed in Unix Time ?
eg
1519847792
instead of
02/28/2018 @ 8:05pm (UTC)
I believe the best system is the one the Chinese (and perhaps others) use, which is YYYY/MM/DD/Hour/Minute/Second/second decimals. This system cannot be confused and can be lengthened and shortened with no modification needed. One can specify the year or the microsecond of an event with one unchanged system.
Brian
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The guy in the office next to me is from the UK and we do this a lot. Some of the more obvious ones are:
elevator lift
cigarette fag
doofus numpty
tire tyre
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The guy in the office next to me is from the UK and we do this a lot. Some of the more obvious ones are:
elevator lift
cigarette fag
doofus numpty
tire tyre
At least the last one is pronounced the same, pity about the incorrect spelling over there ;)
Which given you like shortening or simplifying words that are otherwise the same makes it all the stranger why you would use "elevator" instead of "lift" .
As for smoking you're just as likely to say " I'm going outside for a crafty puff" as "I'm going outside for a sly fag" .
Then again you might pop out for a rollie
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what about "have" & "take"
eg I would probably use.
"I'm going to have a bath" or "I'm going to have a nap"
I believe the Americans are more likely to use
"I'm going to take a bath" or "I'm going to take a nap"
That said I'm more likely to say "I'm going to take a dump" then "I'm going to have a dump"
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trousers v pants is a good one as well.
Which then gets confusing as Mancs (ie people originally from Manchester) tend to use pants when they mean trousers.
For the rest of us pants are (generally) mens underwear, ie your Y fronts or your shreddies (not to be confused with the breakfast cereal)
I say generally as you can have cycling or jogging pants ie lycra leggings, which aren't underwear (although they have been known to have the knickers(womens underwear) showing through them ;)
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on a roll here lol
I think I'm right in saying that your side of the nd you don't generally have the concept of a fortnight?
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torch or flashlight?
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Possible alternative for both sides of the pond: "I'm going to dump, bathe and then nap."
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Possible alternative for both sides of the pond: "I'm going to dump, bathe and then nap."
or if you're getting ready to go out
"**** , shave & shower"
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and of course your latest President is hilarious as "trump" over here means to fart ;D
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I believe the best system is the one the Chinese (and perhaps others) use, which is YYYY/MM/DD/Hour/Minute/Second/second decimals. This system cannot be confused and can be lengthened and shortened with no modification needed. One can specify the year or the microsecond of an event with one unchanged system.
Bingo. And it can be sorted correctly and easily. It is called ISO 8601, normally just called "ISO dates"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601
YYYY/MM/DD/etc is the only logical way to write and store dates (and dates with times). So PLEASE let me know when you have changed everyone to use it. I find it amusing that only China and Japan use it [exclusively]. Meanwhile, I have to keep using the stupid MM/DD/YYYY so people know what the hell I am saying. Although I have dated things the right way (ISO) and it does seem that many people understand it, as long as the day is > 12. 2018-01-02 is ambiguous (especially to DD-MM-YYYY countries), but 2018-02-27 is not.
BTW- I think DD/MM/YYYY is just as stupid, maybe even more so than MM/DD/YYYY.
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is that liberals or Liberals ?
Or libourals? :)
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Bingo. And it can be sorted correctly and easily. It is called ISO 8601, normally just called "ISO dates"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601)
YYYY/MM/DD/etc is the only logical way to write and store dates (and dates with times). So PLEASE let me know when you have changed everyone to use it. I find it amusing that only China and Japan use it [exclusively]. Meanwhile, I have to keep using the stupid MM/DD/YYYY so people know what the hell I am saying. Although I have dated things the right way (ISO) and it does seem that many people understand it, as long as the day is > 12. 2018-01-02 is ambiguous (especially to DD-MM-YYYY countries), but 2018-02-27 is not.
BTW- I think DD/MM/YYYY is just as stupid, maybe even more so than MM/DD/YYYY.
This is an interesting read
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/10/americans-write-dates-differently-practically-everyone-else-relates-data-storage-holy-wars-soft-boiled-eggs/ (http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/10/americans-write-dates-differently-practically-everyone-else-relates-data-storage-holy-wars-soft-boiled-eggs/)
Extract:
Although we find it normal, our month-first arrangement to the rest of the world makes little sense, being what one commentator has called middle-endian (computer speak for bass-ackwards).
Endian refers to the organization of binary data storage whereby the most significant byte (8-bit unit of data) is typically stored first (in the smallest address, on the left) or last (in the largest address, on the right). If stored first, it is referred to as “big endian” and last, it is called little-endian.
When it comes to bytes of numbers, the first (left) digit is usually the most significant and will have the greatest value (e.g., if you had a numeric number 1,234, the “1” represents 1000 – by far the largest value in the number). This is the same with dates, where the year, which represents 12 months and 365 days, has the greatest “value,” and the day, the lowest.
In putting dates into bytes, in the big-endian format it would be written as YYYY/MM/DD, while in the little-endian format, it would read DD/MM/YYYY. By putting the month first, we’ve screwed this orderly system up by putting the middle value on an end (middle-endian) – and annoyed a large portion of the planet in the process.
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Actually, now that you mention it, either one works here. I think I would tend toward 'take' but using 'have' would not raise any eyebrows.
TMI referring to the last reference. ;)
Brian
what about "have" & "take"
eg I would probably use.
"I'm going to have a bath" or "I'm going to have a nap"
I believe the Americans are more likely to use
"I'm going to take a bath" or "I'm going to take a nap"
That said I'm more likely to say "I'm going to take a dump" then "I'm going to have a dump"
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The YYYY/MM/DD thing is understandable to me but only if used in that fashion; the first time I ran into it, the year was shortened to two numbers as in YY/MM/DD and I was a while figuring out what the hell was going on. Neither the American nor the western European methods seemed to work correctly.
On a slightly different note, 7:00 o'clock only happens one per day in Germany too and our AM/PM system confuses them as well as our date notation. Then again, their clocks confuse me as well.
Brian
Bingo. And it can be sorted correctly and easily. It is called ISO 8601, normally just called "ISO dates"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601
YYYY/MM/DD/etc is the only logical way to write and store dates (and dates with times). So PLEASE let me know when you have changed everyone to use it. I find it amusing that only China and Japan use it [exclusively]. Meanwhile, I have to keep using the stupid MM/DD/YYYY so people know what the hell I am saying. Although I have dated things the right way (ISO) and it does seem that many people understand it, as long as the day is > 12. 2018-01-02 is ambiguous (especially to DD-MM-YYYY countries), but 2018-02-27 is not.
BTW- I think DD/MM/YYYY is just as stupid, maybe even more so than MM/DD/YYYY.
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I think it is bizarre that Brits have such a huge aversion to the letter "Z" (that is Zeeeee, not Zed!!!) while holding on to all those extra "u"'s. I mean, "-ize" is one of the most purposeful use of Z, and without it, there isn't much left, well maybe "-zation"
categorize your colors
normalize your flavorings
sexualize that humor
industrialize your armor production
compartmentalize that behavior
Of course, English is a pretty insane language, anyway. At least it is very descriptive, rich, and colorful.
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I pronounce 'been' as 'bean'. Gave my friends in high school (US) lots of mirth. I pronounce 'herb' as 'herb' not 'erb'. Words I picked up early as a kid in England.
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Gave my friends in high school (US) lots of mirth.
... when they really wanted frankincense ... OK, gold.
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Bangers and Mash.
Perfectly understandable.
Oh, and "take the jug handle" in NJ, which is also crystal clear to this bloke from CO.
Rotary, traffic circle, roundabout, .... dafuk.
Rick
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Bangers and Mash.
Perfectly understandable.
Oh, and "take the jug handle" in NJ, which is also crystal clear to this bloke from CO.
Rotary, traffic circle, roundabout, .... dafuk.
Rick
Mythbusters tested this a while back and proved that the roundabout was more efficient than the 4 way stop junction and better than a Policeman on duty
Roundabouts win with 460 vehicles going through the intersection during the 15 minutes. All way stop signs had 385 vehicles go through in the 15 minutes and the traffic cop had 289 vehicles go through. Roundabouts also have a safety advantage with less severe crashes.
http://www.mikeontraffic.com/4-way-stop-vs-roundabout/ (http://www.mikeontraffic.com/4-way-stop-vs-roundabout/)
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Mythbusters tested this a while back and proved that the roundabout was more efficient than the 4 way stop junction and better than a Policeman on duty...
I was referring to the different naming conventions as you travel USA ;)
I have no doubt they are efficient, I've driven in EU! :)
In USA, you'll run into several types at a roundabout/rotary/circle/island.
1) Those that are petrified of a rotary (10%)
1a) Those that have no idea what lane markings are for. (10%)
2) Those that drive what many of us call "Big Dick Flash-mobiles", who are so large/rich they think rules don't apply to them. (10%)
3) Drivers that think they're the only ones on the road. See #2.
4) Normal drivers that know what a rotary is, and how to merge into one (70%)
:)
Rick
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I was referring to the different naming conventions as you travel USA ;)
I have no doubt they are efficient, I've driven in EU! :)
In USA, you'll run into several types at a roundabout/rotary/circle/island.
1) Those that are petrified of a rotary (10%)
1a) Those that have no idea what lane markings are for. (10%)
2) Those that drive what many of us call "Big Dick Flash-mobiles", who are so large/rich they think rules don't apply to them. (10%)
3) Drivers that think they're the only ones on the road. See #2.
4) Normal drivers that know what a rotary is, and how to merge into one (70%)
:)
Rick
ahhhhh got you :)
Hmmm wonder what the 70% would make of the "magic roundabours"
https://www.wired.com/2016/08/brilliant-sorcery-englands-7-circle-magic-roundabout/ (https://www.wired.com/2016/08/brilliant-sorcery-englands-7-circle-magic-roundabout/)
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Wow, I was born near there!
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ahhhhh got you :)
Hmmm wonder what the 70% would make of the "magic roundabours"
https://www.wired.com/2016/08/brilliant-sorcery-englands-7-circle-magic-roundabout/ (https://www.wired.com/2016/08/brilliant-sorcery-englands-7-circle-magic-roundabout/)
I don't know about that 7 circle insanity but we do see more and more roundabouts here in the US. They are definitely way better than a 4 way stop and in many cases better than a light IMO.
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Yeah, well the Dutch love the things (BTW- Americans usually call them rotaries but 'roundabout' is gaining ground apparently). In The Netherlands, one can see 3,4 sometimes even 6 or 7 different rotaries standing in one place!
They claim it is the only way to have cross traffic flow without having to interrupt either road with an actual stop. And I guess that is true enough, at least in theory. They are showing up more and more here in the Northeast US and while they may eventually be efficient, right now the two wrecked cars and the LEO cruiser with all the flashing lights really slows traffic down to a crawl. :-(
Brian
Mythbusters tested this a while back and proved that the roundabout was more efficient than the 4 way stop junction and better than a Policeman on duty
Roundabouts win with 460 vehicles going through the intersection during the 15 minutes. All way stop signs had 385 vehicles go through in the 15 minutes and the traffic cop had 289 vehicles go through. Roundabouts also have a safety advantage with less severe crashes.
http://www.mikeontraffic.com/4-way-stop-vs-roundabout/ (http://www.mikeontraffic.com/4-way-stop-vs-roundabout/)
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I've always called them roundabouts. Never called them rotaries.
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In USA, you'll run into several types at a roundabout/rotary/circle/island.
...........
4) Normal drivers that know what a rotary is, and how to merge into one (70%)
You may be a bit optimistic in some of those numbers, I'd put #4 around 50% and adjust the others up a bit.
Hmmm wonder what the 70% would make of the "magic roundabours"
https://www.wired.com/2016/08/brilliant-sorcery-englands-7-circle-magic-roundabout/ (https://www.wired.com/2016/08/brilliant-sorcery-englands-7-circle-magic-roundabout/)
:yikes: :o :o :o ??? at least 90%.
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Yeah but you say 'whilst' too, which is not even a word so.....
I think a lot of the US calls them roundabouts also but here in beautiful, downtown New England we calls 'em rotaries. But hey, we measure our mileage in furlongs per hogshead too so it might be us that is off on this one.
Brian
I've always called them roundabouts. Never called them rotaries.
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something not mentioned so far relates to buildings and where you enter them from street level.
Now we quite logically call that "Ground Level" not first floor ;
Although to cause confusion the Heath Hospital in Cardiff has an Upper Ground floor, a ground floor and a lower ground floor plus a basement and floors 1 to 4 (not 1 through 4)
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and why do you insist on calling the liquid fuel used in vehicles "gas"?
A gas powered car is on that runs on something like hydrogen or even LPG :)
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Yeah, you call the second floor the first floor. Sorry Mike but I have to call you 'wrong' on this one. If you have a two floor house, and remove the first floor, are you not left with (gets out calculator and......) zero floors? Where is the first step on the ladder, the second one up? What about a multi- story building, is the 'first' floor on top of the 'other first' floor?
;)
Brian
something not mentioned so far relates to buildings and where you enter them from street level.
Now we quite logically call that "Ground Level" not first floor ;
Although to cause confusion the Heath Hospital in Cardiff has an Upper Ground floor, a ground floor and a lower ground floor plus a basement and floors 1 to 4 (not 1 through 4)
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The lowest floor should be named "Ground / 1".
After all, it does have a floor, which is not just the ground (dirt).
For buildings on a side hill where the actual ground on one side of the bldg is higher or lower than the other by the height of 1 floor (or more), and yet the higher side is the main entrance/front of the building ... I dunno, call the lower level "Floor -1" or since that looks like "Floor dash one", spell it out "Floor Number Negative one".
???
;D
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You're left with a bungalow :)
WHich still has its ground floor as you have taken the first floor away.
Actually many modern lifts/buildings use 0 for the Ground floor rather than G
Nope the second floor is on top of the first floor then the third and so on
Yeah, you call the second floor the first floor. Sorry Mike but I have to call you 'wrong' on this one. If you have a two floor house, and remove the first floor, are you not left with (gets out calculator and......) zero floors? Where is the first step on the ladder, the second one up? What about a multi- story building, is the 'first' floor on top of the 'other first' floor?
;)
Brian
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numbers
7600
is this seventy six hundred or seven thousand six hundred ?
what about 7633?
Also our billion has been devalued. It used to be a million million but more recently we have adopted the US convention of a thousand million. Same goes for a trillion which used to be a million million million
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7600
is this seventy six hundred or seven thousand six hundred ?
Either is universally understood in the U.S.
what about 7633?
Seven thousand six hundred and thirty-three. Seventy six hundred and thirty-three, while technically it works, I don't think many people use it.
Also our billion has been devalued. It used to be a million million but more recently we have adopted the US convention of a thousand million. Same goes for a trillion which used to be a million million million
What?? Where did it go? You lost a million, and nobody is out there looking for it?? :o
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What?? Where did it go? You lost a million, and nobody is out there looking for it?? :o
on the bright side our gallon is still the correct size , 4.54 litres as opposed to 3.78 for the US Gallon :)
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I've always called them roundabouts. Never called them rotaries.
Here, I have never heard them called anything but "traffic circles".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_circle
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something not mentioned so far relates to buildings and where you enter them from street level.
Now we quite logically call that "Ground Level" not first floor ;
Although to cause confusion the Heath Hospital in Cardiff has an Upper Ground floor, a ground floor and a lower ground floor plus a basement and floors 1 to 4 (not 1 through 4)
Again, that is a toss-up. Here, it seems to be an even mix between "ground" and "1". They are typically used interchangeably, with basement being "B" or a number with it indicating a negative floor. Examples:
B, 1, 2
B, G, 2
B3, B2, B1, G, 2, 3
B3, B2, B1, 1, 2, 3
I have almost never seen something like B, G, 1, 2 in the USA (and personally, I would find that very odd and illogical).
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and why do you insist on calling the liquid fuel used in vehicles "gas"?
A gas powered car is on that runs on something like hydrogen or even LPG :)
"Gas" doesn't mean "a gas", in this context, it is just short for "gasoline"
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As already stated, either would do here in the US.
But seeing as you mention million, billion, etc., here is a difference:
In the US, we would call ten million dollars (or tiddlywinks, whatever) "ten million". I have noticed a British to refer to it as 'millions' and so the quote would be "ten millions". In the US, the multiple is already implied once one has gone beyond two (or apparently, the third floor of a UK dwelling, assuming a building with a 'first floor' is a single story place).
And by the way, as you call a rental apartment a 'flat', does that distinguish it from something else? Do Brits. live in round places sometimes? Bent places? Not sure why the word "flat" as a name for a rented dwelling space. ?? Were most of them crooked in the olden' days?
Brian
numbers
7600
is this seventy six hundred or seven thousand six hundred ?
what about 7633?
Also our billion has been devalued. It used to be a million million but more recently we have adopted the US convention of a thousand million. Same goes for a trillion which used to be a million million million
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Nope, I would say "10 million tiddlywinks" however I would also use "millions of tiddlywinks" as an abstract.
Hmmm"flat", good question as to the origin, "apartment" is used in the more upmarket end (some might say pretentious) of the housing stock.
Ah it appears the word "flat" may come from the old english "flett" meaning floor and relates to the living accommodation being all on one level.
Why are "apartments" called that as they aren't "apart" from anything ;)
As already stated, either would do here in the US.
But seeing as you mention million, billion, etc., here is a difference:
In the US, we would call ten million dollars (or tiddlywinks, whatever) "ten million". I have noticed a British to refer to it as 'millions' and so the quote would be "ten millions". In the US, the multiple is already implied once one has gone beyond two (or apparently, the third floor of a UK dwelling, assuming a building with a 'first floor' is a single story place).
And by the way, as you call a rental apartment a 'flat', does that distinguish it from something else? Do Brits. live in round places sometimes? Bent places? Not sure why the word "flat" as a name for a rented dwelling space. ?? Were most of them crooked in the olden' days?
Brian
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"Gas" doesn't mean "a gas", in this context, it is just short for "gasoline"
I know that but there is a potential for confusion :D
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If you told me you filled your car with gas I wouldn't think you farted in your gashole.
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If you told me you filled your car with gas I wouldn't think you farted in your gashole.
or trumped ;)
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I know that but there is a potential for confusion :D
It wouldn't be English without confusion!
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I’m a little late to this discussion, but here on the west coast, we have always called them “roundabouts”. Officially, I think they’re called “traffic circles”. They are popping up more and more often, but some folks still have a hard time getting used to them. (Especially the elderly). I love them.
I suspected they were more efficient than four-way stops, but I also think they cause less wear and tear on your vehicle and save gas (or petrol) by having only to slow down rather than come to a complete stop and start again). So roundabouts are a win-win.
I think part of the problem for local governments in using them more is that they cost more money to build because they take up more space, resulting in more road material, rather than simply putting up stop signs and limit lines.
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Ah it appears the word "flat" may come from the old english "flett" meaning floor and relates to the living accommodation being all on one level.
Why are "apartments" called that as they aren't "apart" from anything ;)
And by the way, as you call a rental apartment a 'flat', does that distinguish it from something else? Do Brits. live in round places sometimes? Bent places? Not sure why the word "flat" as a name for a rented dwelling space. ?? Were most of them crooked in the olden' days?
Some answers: https://www.quora.com/Why-are-apartments-called-Apartments-if-theyre-not-apart (https://www.quora.com/Why-are-apartments-called-Apartments-if-theyre-not-apart)
The term flat is still very much in use here in the states, but localized to mostly Chicago (http://www.architecture.org/architecture-chicago/buildings-of-chicago/building/two-and-three-flats/). It may appear occasionally in other large dense eastern and midwestern cities, but to a lesser extent.
If there is only one apartment on each floor it is often called a flat. The building itself is usually referred to as a "3 flat" or what ever number of floors there are with "flat" at the end. 2 and 3 flats dominate, but sometimes there are 4 flats (http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/JPEG/SANDBOX/2014/whirlcool++1-14-2014-14-19-14.jpg) which usually have a basement flat. "Flat buildings" are usually on inner city narrow lots. Usually if there are multiple apartments on each floor it is referred to as an apartment building. There are of course exceptions where a "flat" floor has been converted (sometimes illegally) to a front and rear "flats" or "studio flats".
In a building with "flats", it is usually assumed that there is no elevator/lift. I'm not sure where the term "walk ups" comes from, I always assumed it was a New York City thing.
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And since nobody has mentioned this yet,
Can we (Americans) please, for the love of God, follow suit with the rest of the world and SWITCH TO THE METRIC SYSTEM? I mean, the English invented the English system and even they use the metric system? Am I right??? Can I get an Amen??
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Yes they cost more to erect and also take up more space but over here many roundabouts have proved to be very lucrative advertising spots :)
I’m a little late to this discussion, but here on the west coast, we have always called them “roundabouts”. Officially, I think they’re called “traffic circles”. They are popping up more and more often, but some folks still have a hard time getting used to them. (Especially the elderly). I love them.
I suspected they were more efficient than four-way stops, but I also think they cause less wear and tear on your vehicle and save gas (or petrol) by having only to slow down rather than come to a complete stop and start again). So roundabouts are a win-win.
I think part of the problem for local governments in using them more is that they cost more money to build because they take up more space, resulting in more road material, rather than simply putting up stop signs and limit lines.
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on the bright side our gallon is still the correct size , 4.54 litres as opposed to 3.78 for the US Gallon :)
I don't understand why you are still messing around with gallons and miles. I thought you were much smarter than us when it comes to imperial vs metric. Not sure what's worse, completely on the imperial system or having both.
-
And since nobody has mentioned this yet,
Can we (Americans) please, for the love of God, follow suit with the rest of the world and SWITCH TO THE METRIC SYSTEM? I mean, the English invented the English system and even they use the metric system? Am I right??? Can I get an Amen??
Actually we use a mixture.
Food is sold in metric so is petrol (or gasoline) but distances on the roads are astill shown in miles and the count down markers to motorway turnoffs are in yards.
That said there are location boards every 500m on motorways giving your distance from the start of the motorway (and whichlane you are in A/B depending on direction) in kilometres.
Beer is still sold in pints in pubs although bottles & cans are metric
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Yeah, and a plumber asking for a 'torch' is not confusing?
:-)
On the 'gas' thing, yep, we get confused all the time. Sometimes someone's wife will say something such as 'I need gas', and the husband misunderstands her meaning.....
Brian
I know that but there is a potential for confusion :D
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No, I mean in some statements such as when Goldfinger is asked how much he wants and replies 'Ten millions' and similar. There are time when the word is used as the noun and it is pluralized in UK English; that is never done in the US when the subject itself is the world 'million'.
I would have to find a specific example to highlight the difference.
Brian
Nope, I would say "10 million tiddlywinks" however I would also use "millions of tiddlywinks" as an abstract.
Hmmm"flat", good question as to the origin, "apartment" is used in the more upmarket end (some might say pretentious) of the housing stock.
Ah it appears the word "flat" may come from the old english "flett" meaning floor and relates to the living accommodation being all on one level.
Why are "apartments" called that as they aren't "apart" from anything ;)
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Yeah, the worst of all possible worlds- multiple systems all combined. 'Say, how many miles per liter does that vehicle get'?
And 'stones': what you use to reference a human's weight. I believe it is 14 pounds (not money pounds but weight pounds). But it is only used for people weighing, right? So let's see: if you bought some cable capable of use to 10,000 Newtons, then hang an elevator (lift) car from it that weighs 2,000 kilograms, then fill it with 20 people who weigh an average of 18 stone (or is it 'stones')..... Good stuff! :rotflmao:
Brian
Actually we use a mixture.
Food is sold in metric so is petrol (or gasoline) but distances on the roads are astill shown in miles and the count down markers to motorway turnoffs are in yards.
That said there are location boards every 500m on motorways giving your distance from the start of the motorway (and whichlane you are in A/B depending on direction) in kilometres.
Beer is still sold in pints in pubs although bottles & cans are metric
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Didn't NASA crash a lander into Mars because someone used the metric system and someone else didn't?
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Well this seems to be the appropriate time, so I'm just going to throw a wrench into the works:
(https://d28idop5uo5klu.cloudfront.net/images/photos/000/149/196/original/Whitworth_wrench_s.jpg)
;D
-
And since nobody has mentioned this yet,
Can we (Americans) please, for the love of God, follow suit with the rest of the world and SWITCH TO THE METRIC SYSTEM? I mean, the English invented the English system and even they use the metric system? Am I right??? Can I get an Amen??
No.
Well this seems to be the appropriate time, so I'm just going to throw a wrench into the works:
(https://d28idop5uo5klu.cloudfront.net/images/photos/000/149/196/original/Whitworth_wrench_s.jpg)
;D
:thumbs:
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Yes they cost more to erect and also take up more space but over here many roundabouts have proved to be very lucrative advertising spots :)
Yes, that's just what we need with the idiot drivers over here. They can't negotiate a circle and then have them try to read something at the same time. Lovely.
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Yes, that's just what we need with the idiot drivers over here. They can't negotiate a circle and then have them try to read something at the same time. Lovely.
I like traffic circles. Generally, you only have to just yield to your left when entering. So you don't have to stop, and don't have to play the "4 way stop game" which is so annoying when it is busy. It prevents cars from blowing straight through stop signs, a major cause of accidents. They are also nice looking, and create a great place to put a monument or landscaping focus. But traffic circles do take up a lot of space, their major downfall.
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Just make them smaller. It's not rocket science.
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Here is a classic ,ZZ top in one of their songs sing "she has hair down to her fanny"
Different instantiations:
Dictionary
fanny
fanny
ˈfani/Submit
noun
1.
BRITISH,AUSTRALIAN,vulgar slang
a woman's genitals.
2.
NORTH AMERICAN,informal
a person's buttocks.
verbBRITISHinformal
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Just make them smaller. It's not rocket science.
We call them " mini roundabouts" :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkWsVauzwTw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkWsVauzwTw)
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We call them " mini roundabouts" :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkWsVauzwTw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkWsVauzwTw)
OK, those are almost silly looking. On the painted one, most of the traffic going straight is not even swerving, much less driving in a circle. Yet the rules still apply and it seems to act mostly like a traffic circle. Still seems better than the dreaded 4-way stop.
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Ok a few more.
Rubbers: something we use to "rub" out mistakes made in pencil.
Faggots: traditionally made from pig's heart, liver and fatty belly meat or bacon minced together, with herbs added for flavouring and sometimes bread crumbs.
Up the duff: pregnant
And I'm sure all you guys can work this grouping out :)
Spending a penny/watering the daffodils/taking a whizz/having a slash
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President Nixon put us (the US) on 'a ten year plan' to go over to the metric system. Somehow I do not think that worked out quite yet.
Not really sure what the resistance is to the metric system in the US other than the usual 'everyone hates everything 'new' '. ?? At least the good news is that we have not done what our esteemed British colleges have done and partially adopted another measuring system and mixed it in with one already in use (and they keep doing that- anybody remember the Wentworth system? ?? ?? ??).
The metric system itself is neither here nor there but it does have two extremely useful aspects that the other systems seem to lack: 1) it is all divisible by 10, not a whole bunch of odd divisions (5280 feet in a mile, 3 feet in a yard, how many yards in a mile? How many in 5/8 of a mile?) and 2) it has only one unit system per measuring type. Meter for length, not inches, feet, yards, miles ad nauseum.
And as an added treat, the various systems cross pretty well in that cubic meter is 1,000 liters. Slick. Quick, how many fluid ounces in a cubic yard (get fresh batteries for your calculator.....).
Brian
And since nobody has mentioned this yet,
Can we (Americans) please, for the love of God, follow suit with the rest of the world and SWITCH TO THE METRIC SYSTEM? I mean, the English invented the English system and even they use the metric system? Am I right??? Can I get an Amen??
-
Yeah, we call them erasers. But we also have a use for the word rubbers, which brings up an interesting question: in the UK, you could actually borrow a rubber, use it and return it to the person you borrowed it from? Would they take it (without 10' long tongs)? Can multiple people use the same rubber?
And on the dishes made with organs, which seem to be both plentiful as well as odd (steak and kidney pie..... not that must draw in a LOT of tourists). This too brings up a question: what do you Brits. do with the part of the animal we colonists call 'meat'? Cut it out of the way in order to get at the kidneys?
NOW this is getting fun! :rotflmao:
Brian
Ok a few more.
Rubbers: something we use to "rub" out mistakes made in pencil.
Faggots: traditionally made from pig's heart, liver and fatty belly meat or bacon minced together, with herbs added for flavouring and sometimes bread crumbs.
<snip>
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Nice Marty, throwing Mike off like that.
Mike- that is a picture of a spanner. There, saved your bacon Marty. ::)
Now the funny thing is that we have spanners in the US as well but they are not wrenches. They are used to tighten and loosen things, often things like gland nuts (Easy Boys!) and they come in two basic flavors: the outside 'hook' style used to grab onto notches cut into the periphery of a nut, and the true 'spanner' which has two protruding pins on the face of the tool that engage with holes in the edge of a round nut. The advantage of the later system is that no extra room around the nut is required to allow for a tool because the spanner grabs onto the face of the nut, not the outside. I have no idea in the world what 'our spanners' are called in the UK. ??
Brian
Well this seems to be the appropriate time, so I'm just going to throw a wrench into the works:
(https://d28idop5uo5klu.cloudfront.net/images/photos/000/149/196/original/Whitworth_wrench_s.jpg)
;D
-
Yeah, we already have really small traffic circles..... and we call them intersections.
Brian
Just make them smaller. It's not rocket science.
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Yeah, self- explanatory. Add to those:
Shedding a tear, having a squirt, etc.
Brian
Ok a few more.
<snip>
Spending a penny/watering the daffodils/taking a whizz/having a slash
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I meant to respond on this and forgot
yes thats more commonly known as a spanner here, a wrench looks more like this
(https://static-content.cromwell.co.uk/images/854_854/g/jeeps/588/ken5882080k_2360k.jpg)
Nice Marty, throwing Mike off like that.
Mike- that is a picture of a spanner. There, saved your bacon Marty. ::)
Now the funny thing is that we have spanners in the US as well but they are not wrenches. They are used to tighten and loosen things, often things like gland nuts (Easy Boys!) and they come in two basic flavors: the outside 'hook' style used to grab onto notches cut into the periphery of a nut, and the true 'spanner' which has two protruding pins on the face of the tool that engage with holes in the edge of a round nut. The advantage of the later system is that no extra room around the nut is required to allow for a tool because the spanner grabs onto the face of the nut, not the outside. I have no idea in the world what 'our spanners' are called in the UK. ??
Brian
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although "having the squirts " is slightly different ;)
Yeah, self- explanatory. Add to those:
Shedding a tear, having a squirt, etc.
Brian
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you forgot to mention black pudding, which I really love especially deep fried in batter :)
Yeah, we call them erasers. But we also have a use for the word rubbers, which brings up an interesting question: in the UK, you could actually borrow a rubber, use it and return it to the person you borrowed it from? Would they take it (without 10' long tongs)? Can multiple people use the same rubber?
And on the dishes made with organs, which seem to be both plentiful as well as odd (steak and kidney pie..... not that must draw in a LOT of tourists). This too brings up a question: what do you Brits. do with the part of the animal we colonists call 'meat'? Cut it out of the way in order to get at the kidneys?
NOW this is getting fun! :rotflmao:
Brian
-
and given that 1 litre of water weighs 1kg then 1 cubic meter of water weighs 1 metric tonne
So a swimming pool measuring 10m x 5m x 3 m deep holds 150 tonnes of water
And as an added treat, the various systems cross pretty well in that cubic meter is 1,000 liters. Slick. Quick, how many fluid ounces in a cubic yard (get fresh batteries for your calculator.....).
Brian
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Interesting- I had no idea what you call that. We call it a 'pipe wrench'.
Brian
I meant to respond on this and forgot
yes thats more commonly known as a spanner here, a wrench looks more like this
(https://static-content.cromwell.co.uk/images/854_854/g/jeeps/588/ken5882080k_2360k.jpg)
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this I would call a "C" spanner
(https://static-content.cromwell.co.uk/images/854_854/g/jeeps/582/btl5822630h.jpg)
Nice Marty, throwing Mike off like that.
Mike- that is a picture of a spanner. There, saved your bacon Marty. ::)
Now the funny thing is that we have spanners in the US as well but they are not wrenches. They are used to tighten and loosen things, often things like gland nuts (Easy Boys!) and they come in two basic flavors: the outside 'hook' style used to grab onto notches cut into the periphery of a nut, and the true 'spanner' which has two protruding pins on the face of the tool that engage with holes in the edge of a round nut. The advantage of the later system is that no extra room around the nut is required to allow for a tool because the spanner grabs onto the face of the nut, not the outside. I have no idea in the world what 'our spanners' are called in the UK. ??
Brian
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Yeah, that unpleasant term (and the associated.... well, you know) works on this side of the pond also.
:-(
Or as my brother has said: "I hate those unorganized -----!". :rotflmao:
Brian
although "having the squirts " is slightly different ;)
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Just a wrench or (and this goes back to the hoover debate) many people refer to them as "stilsons" although pipe wrench is also acceptable.
Whilst these are known as either pipe spanners or pipe pliers
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31TWvxcCllL.jpg)
Interesting- I had no idea what you call that. We call it a 'pipe wrench'.
Brian
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molegrips?
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Well, if we ever meet up for a meal, you are welcome to my share.....
Shiver me timbers. I was really wary of running into blood sausage in Germany to the point where I asked Germans how to find and avoid the stuff. They claimed it was actually quite rare, only showing up at something like Oktoberfest, and even then one would have to ask for it specifically.
Brian (who does not eat blood, organs, fur, skin, horns, beaks or feet)
you forgot to mention black pudding, which I really love especially deep fried in batter :)
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we used to chuck rubbers around the classroom at school which often led to the teacher chucking his duster at you if he caught you !!!
Yeah, we call them erasers. But we also have a use for the word rubbers, which brings up an interesting question: in the UK, you could actually borrow a rubber, use it and return it to the person you borrowed it from? Would they take it (without 10' long tongs)? Can multiple people use the same rubber?
And on the dishes made with organs, which seem to be both plentiful as well as odd (steak and kidney pie..... not that must draw in a LOT of tourists). This too brings up a question: what do you Brits. do with the part of the animal we colonists call 'meat'? Cut it out of the way in order to get at the kidneys?
NOW this is getting fun! :rotflmao:
Brian
-
Yes, it is almost as if someone actually sat down and designed a measuring system. ::)
Maybe we (the we being native English speakers around the world) do not like it because it is a French invention? If so, that is too bad 'cause one can have all the disdain in the world for a group of people and still use their good ideas.
Brian
and given that 1 litre of water weighs 1kg then 1 cubic meter of water weighs 1 metric tonne
So a swimming pool measuring 10m x 5m x 3 m deep holds 150 tonnes of water
-
Yep, that is a 'spanner' in the US. This is the 'pin' type, also just called a 'spanner':
https://www.google.com/search?q=spanner&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_oYeS3NDZAhVF42MKHRpaCKgQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=1070#imgrc=bC-axMlozrjwOM: (https://www.google.com/search?q=spanner&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_oYeS3NDZAhVF42MKHRpaCKgQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=1070#imgrc=bC-axMlozrjwOM:)
Brian
this I would call a "C" spanner
(https://static-content.cromwell.co.uk/images/854_854/g/jeeps/582/btl5822630h.jpg)
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Interesting- I myself have never had cause to use a rubber in a classroom. But if I did, and tossed it around the room, it would lead to more than someone tossing something at me.....
:o
Brian
we used to chuck rubbers around the classroom at school which often led to the teacher chucking his duster at you if he caught you !!!
-
or was it those damned Froggies ;)
http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html (http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html)
Yes, it is almost as if someone actually sat down and designed a measuring system. ::)
Maybe we (the we being native English speakers around the world) do not like it because it is a French invention? If so, that is too bad 'cause one can have all the disdain in the world for a group of people and still use their good ideas.
Brian
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Perhaps 'invent' was a poor choice of words. I really do not know who 'invented' it but I suspect it was more than one person and over a period of time.
Still, it was the French who formed it into a cohesive system and presented a workable system to the world. And it was and is a good system IMO and IME.
OFFTOPIC: funny story: at the tool show (Easy Boys! Machine tools, not the other kind) in Chicago some years ago, I wandered around and found this great pizza place in the outskirts of the city. Hardwood fired ovens and they made both the deep- dish, Chicago style as well as the flat crust, more common, types. So I took two friends to the place, German nationals there for the tool show. They both spoke / read English very well and so had no trouble reading the menu and ordering. But then the pizzas all arrived and they were stunned at the size; both ordered 14" pizzas that no normal human could possibly eat. When the pizzas were delivered both sat there stunned until Dirk say 'Damned American inches!". Too funny.
Brian
or was it those damned Froggies ;)
http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html (http://www.metricationmatters.com/who-invented-the-metric-system.html)
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(and they keep doing that- anybody remember the Wentworth system? ?? ?? ??).
Ahhh, no. I remember the Whitworth ..that was the wrench...er spanner I through in the mix. See the "W"?
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Ahhh, no. I remember the Whitworth ..that was the wrench...er spanner I through in the mix. See the "W"
Whitworth Fine or British Standard Whitworth ;)
(Wentworth is an Aussie TV series set in a womens jail)
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OK, Whitworth, not Wentworth. :D
It was another 'standard' as applied to tools, fasteners and similar. A 1960's English thing I believe but am not sure, might have started earlier. What I do know was that it introduced another complete definition of tools and bolt, screw and nut 'sizes' and it made absolutely no sense in that the wrenches were huge compared with their stated value.
OFFTOPIC: if you want to see something truly impressive regarding 'standards', look up machine taper standards. There are literally dozens and dozens of them and they are all unique and none are interchangeable. No reason or rhyme at all, whatsoever. There are a handful of general guidelines (such as lathe tailstocks are <usually> Morse tapers) but no rules. It is beyond a mess. Another one is wire and gauge sizes..... there are again dozens and dozens of 'standards' in that arena also. Truly, the very best thing about standards is that there are so many of them. ::)
Brian
Ahhh, no. I remember the Whitworth ..that was the wrench...er spanner I through in the mix. See the "W"?
-
Math. It is always 'math' in the US, while it seems to be 'maths' in the UK.
Brian
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That's because its an abbreviated version of "mathematics"
you wouldn't say "Let's do the mathematic" you would say "Let's do the mathematics" , the former doesn't make sense.
But I do agree that "Let's do the math" makes as much sense as "Let's do the maths" and actually the former is starting to become more commonplace & acceptable.
Math. It is always 'math' in the US, while it seems to be 'maths' in the UK.
Brian
-
Pharmacist vs Chemist
Tricky one that.
Yes if I was going to go and collect something from a high street outlet I would probably say "I'm just nipping to the chemists"
However once I get there I would collect my prescription from the pharmacist being the person who works in the chemists that makes up the prescription. They can also issue basic medical advice.
Then again if I was attending hospital as an outpatient I might have to go to the "pharmacy" to pick up a prescription before leaving as inside a hospital they're not known as "chemists"
BTW I presume drugstore/pharmacist is the same sort of thing
-
BTW I presume drugstore/pharmacist is the same sort of thing
A drugstore or pharmacy is the place where a pharmacist works.
-
Was watching a British documentary and tripped over an expression brand- new to me: the number 1,400,000 was expressed by the Brit. narrator as "fourteen hundred, thousand". Really caught me by surprise as I have never heard that before and would never express a number that way; I would say 1.4 million or one- million, four hundred thousand, as would all Americans at least to the best of my knowledge.
Again, the words are the same and make perfect sense, it is just the presentation that is different.
Brian
-
In the movie "Inglorious Bastards", one of the spies was found out when he used the index finger and middle finger to express the number 2. Apparently in Europe, the thumb and index finger is more commonly used. What is common in the UK?
-
In the movie "Inglorious Bastards", one of the spies was found out when he used the index finger and middle finger to express the number 2. Apparently in Europe, the thumb and index finger is more commonly used. What is common in the UK?
Index and middle finger
-
I think it was 'three', and the difference was using or not- using the thumb. The guy gives himself away by signalling three not using his thumb; he signals three with his first three fingers, while a German would use his thumb and first two fingers. Which is all well and fine but I am an American and also use my thumb when indicating "drei". For 'one' and 'two', I use fingers. For 'three', I use two fingers and thumb. For four, I use all four fingers and no thumb. There is only one way I know of to signal five with one hand (and your pants up).
What is interesting in Germany is that people wear their wedding rings on their right hands, as do Orthodox Christians, at least commonly. Germans wear their wedding bands on their left hands to signal engagement but move it to the right hand once actually married. But that seems to be a German rather than European custom and I believe they wear wedding rings on the left hand in the UK as we do in the US.
Brian
In the movie "Inglorious Bastards", one of the spies was found out when he used the index finger and middle finger to express the number 2. Apparently in Europe, the thumb and index finger is more commonly used. What is common in the UK?
-
If asked to indicate 3 I would hold up three fingers as in a boy scout salute.
On the other hand if I was counting up to three whilst displaying I would probably start with my thumb for 1.
Oh and yes, wedding ring traditionally on left, which you guys adopted from us ;)
Which we in turn get from the Romans :D
-
Was watching a British documentary and tripped over an expression brand- new to me: the number 1,400,000 was expressed by the Brit. narrator as "fourteen hundred, thousand". Really caught me by surprise as I have never heard that before and would never express a number that way; I would say 1.4 million or one- million, four hundred thousand, as would all Americans at least to the best of my knowledge.
Again, the words are the same and make perfect sense, it is just the presentation that is different.
Brian
"one-million four hundred thousand" = 5 words = 8 syllables = 33 letters including spaces
"fourteen hundred thousand" = 3 words = 6 syllables = 25 letters including spaces
"1.4 million" = 2 words = 5 syllables = 11 alphanumeric characters including spaces
"1,400,000" = 1 "word" = ? syllables = 9 alphanumeric characters including spaces
If the situation allows for solely numbers, "1,400,000" requires the fewest words and alphanumeric characters, so it saves time, ink, electricity and probably other resources, so I vote that it should be the default. I would pronounce it economically as "one point four million". Nice ... and concise 8)
If the number must consist of all letters/words, then "fourteen hundred thousand" is more economical than "one-million four hundred thousand" for the same reasons.
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Yeah on the wedding ring thing and I have to say, it is quite off- putting to a Colonist to see a woman wearing a gold band on the right hand and nothing on the left hand. ?? ?? ?? Just a bit of kultur shock though.
Brian
If asked to indicate 3 I would hold up three fingers as in a boy scout salute.
On the other hand if I was counting up to three whilst displaying I would probably start with my thumb for 1.
Oh and yes, wedding ring traditionally on left, which you guys adopted from us ;)
Which we in turn get from the Romans :D
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I am not addressing the correctness or incorrectness of either method, merely pointing out that there is a different and it was a bit surprising.
Sort of like the first time one hears "Take him to hospital" from anyone older than four years of age. :-) Or "Good value for money". Both of them need a 'a' or a 'the' in there somewhere to make a sentence..... in the US.
:-)
If someone told me I won a lottery, and it was in the amount of fourteen- hundred thousand dollars, I would tilt my head to the side like a dog who does not understand the statement.
Brian
"one-million four hundred thousand" = 5 words = 8 syllables = 33 letters including spaces
"fourteen hundred thousand" = 3 words = 6 syllables = 25 letters including spaces
"1.4 million" = 2 words = 5 syllables = 11 alphanumeric characters including spaces
"1,400,000" = 1 "word" = ? syllables = 9 alphanumeric characters including spaces
If the situation allows for solely numbers, "1,400,000" requires the fewest words and alphanumeric characters, so it saves time, ink, electricity and probably other resources, so I vote that it should be the default. I would pronounce it economically as "one point four million". Nice ... and concise 8)
If the number must consist of all letters/words, then "fourteen hundred thousand" is more economical than "one-million four hundred thousand" for the same reasons.
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Fourteen hundred thousand makes no sense to me and can't say it's commonplace.
Most people would say one point four million
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If asked to indicate 3 I would hold up three fingers as in a boy scout salute.
On the other hand if I was counting up to three whilst displaying I would probably start with my thumb for 1.
The problem with counting up, starting with the thumb, is that the thumb is needed to hold down the ring and pinky fingers when you get to four. Just a limitation of the hand for most humans. This is why it is most logical to count starting with the index finger, then go through the other three fingers, and finally the thumb.
Anatomy wins, hands-down :)
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Fourteen hundred thousand makes no sense to me and can't say it's commonplace.
Most people would say one point four million
Yep.
Except Europe seems to like to use commas instead of decimal points (1,4 not 1.4) and vice-versa... which makes no sense to me at all... so they would have to say "one comma four million"?
$1.400.000,65 bizarre
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Yep.
Except Europe seems to like to use commas instead of decimal points (1,4 not 1.4) and vice-versa... which makes no sense to me at all... so they would have to say "one comma four million"?
$1.400.000,65 bizarre
Cant speak for Europe but I (along with most Brits I know) would use $1,400,000.65
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The problem with counting up, starting with the thumb, is that the thumb is needed to hold down the ring and pinky fingers when you get to four. Just a limitation of the hand for most humans. This is why it is most logical to count starting with the index finger, then go through the other three fingers, and finally the thumb.
Anatomy wins, hands-down :)
I can count up quite easily on either hand starting with my thumb :)
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I can count up quite easily on either hand starting with my thumb :)
You are wired differently...
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You are wired differently...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVr9i2jgTUU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVr9i2jgTUU)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVr9i2jgTUU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVr9i2jgTUU)
:rotflmao: :thumbs:
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:)
Well, a hell of a lot of people can't do that (including me)
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max, can you give a thumbs up? Now stick your index finger out like you're pointing a gun. Do that three more times and before you know it you'll have counted to five on your fingers. Hope this helps. 8)
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You are wired differently...
I start from the thumb as well.
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:)
Well, a hell of a lot of people can't do that (including me)
Because it's so natural for me I never imagined nobody else could do it :)
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max, can you give a thumbs up? Now stick your index finger out like you're pointing a gun. Do that three more times and before you know it you'll have counted to five on your fingers. Hope this helps. 8)
:finger_fing11: :rotflmao:
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I think it was 'three', and the difference was using or not- using the thumb. The guy gives himself away by signalling three not using his thumb; he signals three with his first three fingers, while a German would use his thumb and first two fingers. Which is all well and fine but I am an American and also use my thumb when indicating "drei". For 'one' and 'two', I use fingers. For 'three', I use two fingers and thumb. For four, I use all four fingers and no thumb. There is only one way I know of to signal five with one hand (and your pants up).
What is interesting in Germany is that people wear their wedding rings on their right hands, as do Orthodox Christians, at least commonly. Germans wear their wedding bands on their left hands to signal engagement but move it to the right hand once actually married. But that seems to be a German rather than European custom and I believe they wear wedding rings on the left hand in the UK as we do in the US.
Brian
Ah yes you are correct, it was 3. The only time I would use the thumb is for 5.
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In the US, the chant 'For he's a jolly good fellow' ends with 'which nobody can deny'. I believe in the UK it is the same except for the end, which is 'and so say all of us'.
I assume we stole that from you so your version would take precedence..... :-)
Brian
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In the US, the chant 'For he's a jolly good fellow' ends with 'which nobody can deny'. I believe in the UK it is the same except for the end, which is 'and so say all of us'.
I assume we stole borrowed that from you so your version would take precedence..... :-)
Brian
We didn't want to get hit with copyright infringement.
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Yeah well, I think they were chucking lead balls at us from Brown Bess's at the time so copyrights were probably not a high priority.
This may be like the aluminum / aluminium thingy where they invented it, we adopted (read: stole) it, then they changed it later while we kept on with the version that worked for 200 years. Not sure where or when the 'jolly good fellow' thingy changed but with any luck, maxtog will put in a link to the solution.
:-)
Brian
We didn't want to get hit with copyright infringement.
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:)
Well, a hell of a lot of people can't do that (including me)
Must be something about us short people. I can barely do it but the third finger doesn't quite extend all the way out and neither does the forth until the pinkie goes out. I also can't make the Scout 3 finger salute as my thumbs (and coincidentally my big toes) seem different from everybody else's as they just don't have the range of motion to get all the way over to the pinkie to hold it down. I hold up three fingers by holding down the index finger with the thumb and extending the last three. Weird, my thumbs and big toes are. I can do the Spock salute, so there's that. 🖖
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max, can you give a thumbs up? Now stick your index finger out like you're pointing a gun. Do that three more times and before you know it you'll have counted to five on your fingers. Hope this helps. 8)
That doesn't work for many (most?) people. The tendons that connect the ring and pinky finger often work partially in tandem without full range of independent motion. You can count to three only and then it is impossible to hold up the ring finger with the pinky still down, it will stick halfway up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TZLAzfyc_0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TZLAzfyc_0)
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Must be something about us short people.
I have a long torso, but short legs/arms. But I doubt standing height has much to do with it.
I also can't make the Scout 3 finger salute as my thumbs (and coincidentally my big toes) seem different from everybody else's as they just don't have the range of motion to get all the way over to the pinkie to hold it down. I hold up three fingers by holding down the index finger with the thumb and extending the last three.
I don't have that limitation. I can easily hold down my pinky with my thumb.
Hey, this thread is turning into "stupid people/human tricks"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plRTqSfJPDc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plRTqSfJPDc)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS9JhqEVLDs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS9JhqEVLDs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OafgpuxSKKo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OafgpuxSKKo)
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C'mon max get that little finger working...
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C'mon max get that little finger working...
ROTFLOL!
:rotflmao:
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Hey, this thread is turning into "stupid people/human tricks"
In an effort to come back from the prestidigital dexterity....
soft drinks such as the Colas etc.
As a generic term we call them "pop" rather than "soda" a;though we do have a variety/flavour of "pop" that is called "american cream soda"
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"soda" or "soft drink" here
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staying on the drinks front, dedicated shops for buying booze (ass opposed to picking up from a general supermarket/corner shop/convenience store
"Liquor Store" vs "Off Licence"
The word "off-licence" comes from the way premises are licensed to sell alcohol over here.
A bar/restaurant/pub would typically have a licence to sell alcohol either fro consumption "on" the premises or in some cases "on" or "off" the premises.
By an elegant extension of that any place that sells alcohol for consumption "off" the premises is an "off licence"
Technically the supermarkets etc have the same licence however an "offy" is usually reserved for referring to a smaller corner shop type place that sell predominantly alcohol , although it may also sell other goods as well.
As a complete contrast I do find the Swedish "Systembolaget " system interesting. When I was over there back in the 90's if you wanted to buy alcohol (over 3.5% by volume) to consume at home you had to go to one of these state run shops, take a ticket, order your booze & pick it up from a window. They were also only open very restricted hours although I believe that has changed slightly recently.
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Just realised the Swedish system is very similar to that in many US States whilst over here it's more like California (I believe) where you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a licence.
If I ran out of JD (for example) I could just nip down to the petrol station around the corner from me (that's open 24/7) and pick up a bottle anytime I want.
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Just realised the Swedish system is very similar to that in many US States whilst over here it's more like California (I believe) where you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a licence.
Assuming we are talking about off-site consumption...
In most (all?) States, you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a license. But you have to define "alcohol". What is available depends on the strength. Beer and wine- just about anywhere. But "hard liquor" is often restricted to "ABC" (alcoholic beverage control) stores.
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Assuming we are talking about off-site consumption...
In most (all?) States, you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a license. But you have to define "alcohol". What is available depends on the strength. Beer and wine- just about anywhere. But "hard liquor" is often restricted to "ABC" (alcoholic beverage control) stores.
Over here you either have a licence to sell alcohol or you don't. As simple as that, although actually getting the correct licence isn't necessarily simple ;)
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Over here you either have a licence to sell alcohol or you don't. As simple as that, although actually getting the correct licence isn't necessarily simple ;)
Oh, getting the license here isn't necessary simple either, but it varies wildly.
But there is some stupid magic "line" between "soft" and "hard" alcohol, as if being 16% is not dangerous and yet 17% needs strict government controls.
Also, I have to correct my earlier posting- it seems that most States do NOT control liquor with ABC stores anymore (mostly State run, anti-capitalist monopolies). They have been slowly going away. Now there are just 17 such States left. The more I researched it, the more complicated it all seems.
http://www.nabca.org/control-state-directory-and-info (http://www.nabca.org/control-state-directory-and-info)
https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/09/liquor_virginia (https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/09/liquor_virginia)
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Oh, getting the license here isn't necessary simple either, but it varies wildly.
But there is some stupid magic "line" between "soft" and "hard" alcohol, as if being 16% is not dangerous and yet 17% needs strict government controls.
Also, I have to correct my earlier posting- it seems that most States do NOT control liquor with ABC stores anymore (mostly State run, anti-capitalist monopolies). They have been slowly going away. Now there are just 17 such States left. The more I researched it, the more complicated it all seems.
http://www.nabca.org/control-state-directory-and-info (http://www.nabca.org/control-state-directory-and-info)
https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/09/liquor_virginia (https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/09/liquor_virginia)
:)
I would imagine the 16% was to keep things like sherry out of the "hard" status mind you that said a 1% ABV Sherry is at the low end of strength for Sherry.
As you say, seems a bit daft. If you're going to have a cut off then the Swedes probably have it right at 3.5% as that's practically a soft drink ;)
There's a thought, can you guys buy beer online and have it delivered ?
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"soda" or "soft drink" here
Depends where you live in the States and even within a state. Where I grew up in southern Va (about 100 or miles from you, Max), we just called them 'drinks'. If I wanted a Coke, I'd go to the 'drink' box and get one.
In VA, liquor is regulated by the State and you have to buy it in ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) stores. You can buy wine and beer in grocery stores and mom and pop shops. In Maryland across the border from me. You buy liquor, beer, and wine in private stores. You can't buy wine and beer in grocery stores (from what I remember).
I do remember going to school in NJ back in the 70's and went hog wild when I discovered bars on every corner. You only see that in the larger cities in most of the state (VA).
Liquor laws such as where you can drink can vary widely in the state and depend on what county you live in. Some counties are 'dry' in that I don't think they sell it at all.
Also remember moving to SC in 1977 and went to a Pizza Hut and wanted to order a beer and couldn't do it.....Sunday beer and alcohol sales were prohibited.
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Also remember moving to SC in 1977 and went to a Pizza Hut and wanted to order a beer and couldn't do it.....Sunday beer and alcohol sales were prohibited.
It was as recently as 2003 that the possibility of dry" Sundays in Wales became a thing of the past
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/3086557.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/3086557.stm)
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Depends where you live in the States and even within a state.
I suppose I should have specified "here" as various in VA (central, SE, N; don't know much about W, SW)
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It varies too wildly to give any kind of overall view on how alcohol is sold in the various states and even counties in the US. When we travel around to different places, we have to ask locals how / where they buy alcohol and define the type (again, it varies all over the place but many places will sell beer and wine in 'regular' food stores but spirits only in liquor stores).
To the best of my knowledge, no, we cannot mail- order any alcoholic beverages, anywhere. Alcohol is somewhat tightly regulated here in the US and being able to mail- order it would lose all control over distribution.
Brian
staying on the drinks front, dedicated shops for buying booze (ass opposed to picking up from a general supermarket/corner shop/convenience store
"Liquor Store" vs "Off Licence"
The word "off-licence" comes from the way premises are licensed to sell alcohol over here.
A bar/restaurant/pub would typically have a licence to sell alcohol either fro consumption "on" the premises or in some cases "on" or "off" the premises.
By an elegant extension of that any place that sells alcohol for consumption "off" the premises is an "off licence"
Technically the supermarkets etc have the same licence however an "offy" is usually reserved for referring to a smaller corner shop type place that sell predominantly alcohol , although it may also sell other goods as well.
As a complete contrast I do find the Swedish "Systembolaget " system interesting. When I was over there back in the 90's if you wanted to buy alcohol (over 3.5% by volume) to consume at home you had to go to one of these state run shops, take a ticket, order your booze & pick it up from a window. They were also only open very restricted hours although I believe that has changed slightly recently.
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What we call that stuff is very regional: here, it is soda. Other places, it is pop and yet other places it is soda pop. The way around all of that is to order a Coke.... :-)
What varies much more is that stuff that is ice cream, milk and syrup all agitated into a creamy liquid. Sometimes called a shake but also called a 'frappe', a 'cabinet' and several other, almost nonsensical names.
Now that I think about it, our regional differences in the names of very common things is probably more diverse than the difference between the US and UK. For example, where I live, we call a 'water fountain' or 'drinking fountain' a 'bubbler'. No [non- local] knows what in the hell that means.
Brian
In an effort to come back from the prestidigital dexterity....
soft drinks such as the Colas etc.
As a generic term we call them "pop" rather than "soda" a;though we do have a variety/flavour of "pop" that is called "american cream soda"
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Seems about right as I couldn't find any of these on Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_3_4?url=search-alias%3Dalcohol&field-keywords=jack+daniels&sprefix=jaxk%2Caps%2C143&crid=3B7ERNNU1I5AC (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_3_4?url=search-alias%3Dalcohol&field-keywords=jack+daniels&sprefix=jaxk%2Caps%2C143&crid=3B7ERNNU1I5AC)
It varies too wildly to give any kind of overall view on how alcohol is sold in the various states and even To the best of my knowledge, no, we cannot mail- order any alcoholic beverages, anywhere. Alcohol is somewhat tightly regulated here in the US and being able to mail- order it would lose all control over distribution.
Brian
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What we call that stuff is very regional: here, it is soda. Other places, it is pop and yet other places it is soda pop. The way around all of that is to order a Coke.... :-)
What varies much more is that stuff that is ice cream, milk and syrup all agitated into a creamy liquid. Sometimes called a shake but also called a 'frappe', a 'cabinet' and several other, almost nonsensical names.
Now that I think about it, our regional differences in the names of very common things is probably more diverse than the difference between the US and UK. For example, where I live, we call a 'water fountain' or 'drinking fountain' a 'bubbler'. No [non- local] knows what in the hell that means.
Hmmm sounds like the makings of a new thread?
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Gotta love regional differences.
Take something as simple as this
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezaIjDaPXpc/VriTL9MztTI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/3ALx7xsLKuA/s1600/tcake.jpg)
Depending on where you are in the UK it could be a bun, bap,teacake,breadcake,muffin,stottie, batch,cob or roll (and I may have missed out some)
What we call that stuff is very regional: here, it is soda. Other places, it is pop and yet other places it is soda pop. The way around all of that is to order a Coke.... :-)
What varies much more is that stuff that is ice cream, milk and syrup all agitated into a creamy liquid. Sometimes called a shake but also called a 'frappe', a 'cabinet' and several other, almost nonsensical names.
Now that I think about it, our regional differences in the names of very common things is probably more diverse than the difference between the US and UK. For example, where I live, we call a 'water fountain' or 'drinking fountain' a 'bubbler'. No [non- local] knows what in the hell that means.
Brian
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Looks like a bun to me..... ?
Brian
Gotta love regional differences.
Take something as simple as this
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezaIjDaPXpc/VriTL9MztTI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/3ALx7xsLKuA/s1600/tcake.jpg)
Depending on where you are in the UK it could be a bun, bap,teacake,breadcake,muffin,stottie, batch,cob or roll (and I may have missed out some)
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:)
Because its soft I would call it a bap whereas if it was crusty I would call it a cob however most people in the part of the world I live would call it a barm while my GF would call it a breadcake
Looks like a bun to me..... ?
Brian
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I don't care what you call it, looks like they would make for some tasty sliders :P
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I don't care what you call it, looks like they would make for some tasty sliders :P
knee slider I presume :)
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knee slider I presume :)
I hear that they can also be used for that (knee pucks). I just never could determine what the correct attachment adhesive would be.
(https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/White-Castle-Sliders-Pin.jpg)
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I hear that they can also be used for that (knee pucks). I just never could determine what the correct attachment adhesive would be.
(http://[url=https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/White-Castle-Sliders-Pin.jpg]https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/White-Castle-Sliders-Pin.jpg[/url])
marmite
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knee slider I presume :)
Ok, but would prefer:
(https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcantlivewithoutdotcom.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F02%2Fsliders.jpg&f=1)
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You had to say it, didn't you? Marmite. Evil, awful stuff. Not as bad as Vegemite but a close second.
Why can't you people just clean out your brewing tanks when you are done making beer? Why do you have to scrap out that, that..... "stuff" and sell it?
Brian
marmite
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Looks like a bun to me..... ?
Yep, because it is larger and cut, it is a bun. Smaller and uncut, it would just be a roll :)
Oh, and your water fountain thing- I have never heard the term "bubbler" before. So yeah, if you said that to me I wouldn't know what you were talking about :)
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I love the stuff
Bit of toast, butter, marmite then add some strong cheddar cheese & pop back under the grill to melt the cheese, nom nom nom
You had to say it, didn't you? Marmite. Evil, awful stuff. Not as bad as Vegemite but a close second.
Why can't you people just clean out your brewing tanks when you are done making beer? Why do you have to scrap out that, that..... "stuff" and sell it?
Brian
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Did someone say Vegemite? I had the distinct displeasure of being introduced to that profoundly nasty delicacy. (
Initiation A social get-together when I made Chief) I was intrigued by Marmite, never had the pleasure of eating it, so I looked it up...
OMG!!! https://www.thekitchn.com/what-is-marmite-and-why-is-it-so-good-240563 (https://www.thekitchn.com/what-is-marmite-and-why-is-it-so-good-240563)
This is chemical warfare I tell you. :doublepuke:
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jelly & jam:
Jam is something (usually fruit based) that you spread on bread & butter
Jelly is something you have with blancmange at children's birthday parties :)
Do you guys have marmalade?
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jelly & jam:
Jam is something (usually fruit based) that you spread on bread & butter
Jelly is something you have with blancmange at children's birthday parties :)
Do you guys have marmalade?
Orange marmalade....
how about preserves? As in strawberry preserves.
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Orange marmalade....
how about preserves? As in strawberry preserves.
Preserves are a type of Jam with a higher fruit content
Im quite partial to lime marmalade :)
---
Jam and preserves are basically the same thing and the terms are often used interchangeably.
Jam is a mixture made of crushed preserved fruit and sugar -- with or without pectin, depending on the pectin content of the fruit. High-pectin fruit will set well once the fruit and sugar have been boiled and pectin is activated. You may need to add pectin to lower-pectin fruit.
The word preserves means fruit that is cooked the same way; the only difference is that the fruit in preserves is often cut into chunks or in some cases whole, whereas jam may have a less chunky texture.
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My brit neighbor in the cubicle next to me just referred to his living room as a "lounge". In US homes we have living rooms, family rooms and dens. But a lounge is something you might find in a hotel lobby.
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My brit neighbor in the cubicle next to me just referred to his living room as a "lounge". In US homes we have living rooms, family rooms and dens. But a lounge is something you might find in a hotel lobby.
At home we use the words interchangeably a lot of the time.
That said a house with only one reception room downstairs (such as mine) is more likely to refer to it as a lounge (ie downstairs I have a lounge,kitchen & utility room)
House with 2 or more reception rooms are likely to refer to it as a living room. (ie a living room, dining room, kitchen, utility room )
But that's not hard and fast
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In this area, we tend to use living room and 'parlor' interchangeable.
Brian
My brit neighbor in the cubicle next to me just referred to his living room as a "lounge". In US homes we have living rooms, family rooms and dens. But a lounge is something you might find in a hotel lobby.
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Earlier when we were discussing "flats" I forgot to mention "front rooms". Because of the narrow shotgun style design front to back of Living Room--> Dining room--> Kitchen, the living room was frequently referred to as the "front room".
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Earlier when we were discussing "flats" I forgot to mention "front rooms". Because of the narrow shotgun style design front to back of Living Room--> Dining room--> Kitchen, the living room was frequently referred to as the "front room".
although when growing up as a kid we referred to the room to the right as you came in as the front room.
The room in front of you was the back room which led onto the kitchen.
But that may just have been a family thing lol
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Preserves are a type of Jam with a higher fruit content
Im quite partial to lime marmalade :)
---
Jam and preserves are basically the same thing and the terms are often used interchangeably.
Jam is a mixture made of crushed preserved fruit and sugar -- with or without pectin, depending on the pectin content of the fruit. High-pectin fruit will set well once the fruit and sugar have been boiled and pectin is activated. You may need to add pectin to lower-pectin fruit.
The word preserves means fruit that is cooked the same way; the only difference is that the fruit in preserves is often cut into chunks or in some cases whole, whereas jam may have a less chunky texture.
I'm eating homemade damson preserves that my mother in law did back in the mid-80's. A vintage batch that's primo would be so thick that you could fill potholes with it. If you were to throw the jar against a brick wall, the glass would break but the contents would retain the shape of the jar! Good stuff! And believe it or not, it's held up over 30 years.
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In this area, we tend to use living room and 'parlor' interchangeable.
Brian
Parlor's are where you go to visit dead people before they're buried...
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....or hookers before they're :censored:.
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Hadn't thought of that one.. :rotflmao:
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couple more that have come to mind for one reason or another.
Injections. We would say we're going for our jabs, I believe you guys refer to them as shots (which I associate with alcohol)
Loosely related ( as it can happen after consuming too much alcohol) is vomiting.
Typically we would say " I'm being sick" or "I've just been sick" however depending on company then you might also "chunder" ,"spew","barf", "make a pavement pizza", "puke", "throw up" or even say " I'm just going to answer/use the big white telephone"
WHat do you guys use?
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This could be a separate thread: Different names for puking!
Typically we’d say “He/She got sick”. But the more colorful terms...
Blowing chunks
Tossing your cookies
Laughing at your shoes
Technicolor yawn
Talking to Ralph on the big white telephone
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Praying to the porcelain god.
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Upchuck
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Let's talk poop.
I'm in the U.S. and I've always heard
Pleasantly: "Use the bathroom" or "Use the restroom"
Less pleasant: "Take a dump", "Take a crap", "Take a s**t" and "Go poop".
A couple alternates: "Negotiating the release of the chocolate hostages." and "Droppin' the kids off at the pool."
What are the alternatives on the other side of the 'pond'. (no pun intended)
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Let's talk poop.
I'm in the U.S. and I've always heard
Pleasantly: "Use the bathroom" or "Use the restroom"
Less pleasant: "Take a dump", "Take a crap", "Take a s**t" and "Go poop".
A couple alternates: "Negotiating the release of the chocolate hostages." and "Droppin' the kids off at the pool."
What are the alternatives on the other side of the 'pond'. (no pun intended)
with the exception of "restroom" (which isnt really a British expression) that pretty much covers it/
Although you may take a visit to the khazi to take a dump or you might just need to spend a penny
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Interesting- I did not know you used that term 'jabs'. I do know it seems to throw UK folk off when we use the term "rubbing alcohol", which is isopropyl alcohol..... or the kind they 'rub' on your arm before inserting the syringe. And yes, the most common term would be getting a 'shot' to mean an injection.
The way you are using the word 'sick' and 'ill' would not work quite right here. We could and occasionally do use the term 'sick' for vomit but it would need helper words such as 'had an upset stomach and finally got sick at 10 o'clock' to make it work. We just use the words 'sick' and 'ill' to men "unwell", not any specific physical act. In fact, usually not at all related: Taking a 'sick day' from work usually means a cold, flu or similar and does not infer vomiting at all.
The idioms for vomit kinda' sorta' explain themselves. I guess the one I would use most, in a crude setting, would be 'blow lunch'. More respectable circumstances would either be 'throw up' or actually vomit to mean vomit. :-)
Brian
couple more that have come to mind for one reason or another.
Injections. We would say we're going for our jabs, I believe you guys refer to them as shots (which I associate with alcohol)
Loosely related ( as it can happen after consuming too much alcohol) is vomiting.
Typically we would say " I'm being sick" or "I've just been sick" however depending on company then you might also "chunder" ,"spew","barf", "make a pavement pizza", "puke", "throw up" or even say " I'm just going to answer/use the big white telephone"
WHat do you guys use?
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'I have to go see a man about a horse' means urinate, 'drop the deuce' is self- explanatory. In the cat's litter box, they are often called "presents" left by the little furry angels. Probably called that because it is almost impossible to believe such a small, cute, cuddly little critter could produce something so obnoxious.
Brian
with the exception of "restroom" (which isnt really a British expression) that pretty much covers it/
Although you may take a visit to the khazi to take a dump or you might just need to spend a penny
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Loosely related ( as it can happen after consuming too much alcohol) is vomiting.
Typically we would say " I'm being sick" or "I've just been sick" however depending on company then you might also "chunder" ,"spew","barf", "make a pavement pizza", "puke", "throw up" or even say " I'm just going to answer/use the big white telephone"
WHat do you guys use?
We have LOTS! I'm going to hurl, I'm going ralph, to blow chunks, after too much alcohol we might worship the white budda, lose your lunch, upchuck...
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volcano puke
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The nurse here would probably just say " I'm just going to swab your arm before giving you your jab" without specifying what she (or he) was using
Interesting- I did not know you used that term 'jabs'. I do know it seems to throw UK folk off when we use the term "rubbing alcohol", which is isopropyl alcohol..... or the kind they 'rub' on your arm before inserting the syringe. And yes, the most common term would be getting a 'shot' to mean an injection.
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WHat do you guys use?
Me? Inject/injection/injected [with a syringe] (but I am not a layperson, who would always say, unfortunately and inaccurately, "shot"). And the flu thing you get is a "flu vaccine" or "flu vaccination" not a "flu shot" (ug). As for vomiting- barf/vomit/throw-up all interchangeably, at least if informal. If formal/polite, "was sick" or "became sick" which isn't very exact or descriptive, but that is the point :)
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Let's talk poop. Less pleasant: "Take a dump", "Take a crap", "Take a s**t"
I would never say such a thing, since nobody is "taking" anything at all, they are "giving". Although I hear such stupid stuff all the time and consider it crass. If being medical, I would say "defecate" if not but still needed to be specific, "BM" or "go/to poo" or something. Generally, I would only say "I need to use the restroom/bathroom."
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drop mud...pinch a loaf
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Me? Inject/injection/injected [with a syringe] (but I am not a layperson, who would always say, unfortunately and inaccurately, "shot"). And the flu thing you get is a "flu vaccine" or "flu vaccination" not a "flu shot" (ug). As for vomiting- barf/vomit/throw-up all interchangeably, at least if informal. If formal/polite, "was sick" or "became sick" which isn't very exact or descriptive, but that is the point :)
now see, we are quite happy with saying " off to get a flu jab" which doesn't mean getting punched in the face by an aggressive bug lol
nb thats bug as in virus etc not bug as in insect
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Right- here they would not say anything about the swabbing. It is 'we', the masses (or is it them asses) who have applied the term 'rubbing' alcohol to the type used before the injection, not the medical community.
And max makes a good point, it would vary quite a bit depending on the setting: a medical person would most likely call it an injection while the great unwashed call it 'a shot'. But back to your original point about this, yes, I believe I had a 'flue jab' would simply not be understood in the US. It makes perfect sense, and is easily as good a word as 'shot', just the difference in how the words are used and applied. Hence the name of this thread :-) We both have the exact same definition of the word 'rubber' in the pure sense, it is in the common usage where it takes a turn.
Brian
The nurse here would probably just say " I'm just going to swab your arm before giving you your jab" without specifying what she (or he) was using
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ahhh rubber .
Actually some people over ere do use it in the same context as that alluded too, ie condoms, although not necessarily on it's own. More likely it would be "rubber johnny" but it all depends.
A rubber is also the bit at the end of a pencil used to undo mistakes before CTRL+Z was invented whilst a "board rubber" is something that your teacher may have launched at you for misbehaving in class.
Oh and of course it's also a variation of the card game bridge.
So at the end of the day you might go out and burn some rubber to go play a rubber. Whilst playing you might need to use a rubber to correct the score before burning some more rubber to go meet your partner and using a rubber to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Right- here they would not say anything about the swabbing. It is 'we', the masses (or is it them asses) who have applied the term 'rubbing' alcohol to the type used before the injection, not the medical community.
And max makes a good point, it would vary quite a bit depending on the setting: a medical person would most likely call it an injection while the great unwashed call it 'a shot'. But back to your original point about this, yes, I believe I had a 'flue jab' would simply not be understood in the US. It makes perfect sense, and is easily as good a word as 'shot', just the difference in how the words are used and applied. Hence the name of this thread :-) We both have the exact same definition of the word 'rubber' in the pure sense, it is in the common usage where it takes a turn.
Brian
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Well as I was dragged up (brought up or Raised) in the midlands in England in the 70's and we called prophylactic a nodda or johnny a rubber as mentioned was a eraser, ahh school physical beatings at school were everyday for one of us :) ahh the good old days :)
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Wow, we're up to 13 pages.
I recently watched Terence Stamp in the movie The Limey.
I can't wait for this thread to turn to rhyming english slang. :o ;D
That ought to leave us colonials (aka Septic Tanks) with their Loaf of Bread up their own Bottle and Glass.
ref:https://londontopia.net/londonism/fun-london/language-top-100-cockney-rhyming-slang-words-and-phrases/ (https://londontopia.net/londonism/fun-london/language-top-100-cockney-rhyming-slang-words-and-phrases/)
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Wow, we're up to 13 pages.
I recently watched Terence Stamp in the movie The Limey.
I can't wait for this thread to turn to rhyming english slang. :o ;D
That ought to leave us colonials (aka Septic Tanks) with their Loaf of Bread up their own Bottle and Glass.
ref:https://londontopia.net/londonism/fun-london/language-top-100-cockney-rhyming-slang-words-and-phrases/ (https://londontopia.net/londonism/fun-london/language-top-100-cockney-rhyming-slang-words-and-phrases/)
side bar:
Terence Stamp is always good but IMHO he was exceptionally good in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
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This brings up another point: what do you (UK) call us (US) casually or in slang? I have heard colonists used with a mostly humorous and a touch of degrading meaning it seems but overall, not unkind.
The only two slang terms I know for a Brit. is 'Limey', which is NOT derogatory but merely slang. And really, I guess it would be an English person because we have other slang terms for the Irish (a 'Mick'). It is based on the fact that Capt. Cook started using limes as provender to prevent scurvy on long ocean voyages (I believe there is still the 'Limehouse' on the Thames where thy were stored or collected ?? ). The other term is 'Jickey', which is derogatory and I personally never use it simply because I do not know what it means.
Just as an aside, I do not know of any American slang terms for other native English speaking country's populations although we often call Australia 'Oz', again I do not know why. But I know of no slang terms for an Australian, New Zealander, South African and similar.
I believe you call a stove a 'cooker'. We call it a stove :-)
Brian
Wow, we're up to 13 pages.
I recently watched Terence Stamp in the movie The Limey.
<snip>
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this is what we more commonly call a stove, generally used for heating/decorative effect rather than cooking.
(http://www.raisstoves.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/GaboWood_sq-600x600.jpg)
Terms for citizens of the US of A ?
Yanks is the most mormal, occasionally might refer to you as "merkins" (& yes , fully aware that has another meaning lol)
The irish are either Micks or Paddies
The Scots are Jock
The Welsh are taffs
Australians are Ozzies (and we're Poms or pommies to them)
New Zealanders are Kiwis
South Africans are just generally rude & obnoxious ;)
Limehouse in London gets its name from the Lime Kilns that used to be there for the potteries and has nothing to do with the citrus fruit of the same name
This brings up another point: what do you (UK) call us (US) casually or in slang? I have heard colonists used with a mostly humorous and a touch of degrading meaning it seems but overall, not unkind.
The only two slang terms I know for a Brit. is 'Limey', which is NOT derogatory but merely slang. And really, I guess it would be an English person because we have other slang terms for the Irish (a 'Mick'). It is based on the fact that Capt. Cook started using limes as provender to prevent scurvy on long ocean voyages (I believe there is still the 'Limehouse' on the Thames where thy were stored or collected ?? ). The other term is 'Jickey', which is derogatory and I personally never use it simply because I do not know what it means.
Just as an aside, I do not know of any American slang terms for other native English speaking country's populations although we often call Australia 'Oz', again I do not know why. But I know of no slang terms for an Australian, New Zealander, South African and similar.
I believe you call a stove a 'cooker'. We call it a stove :-)
Brian
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this is what we more commonly call a stove, generally used for heating/decorative effect rather than cooking. Terms for citizens of the US of A ?
Fireplace. Or more specifically, when it is wood burning and free-standing like that (and usually with sealed doors), we generally call that a "wood burning stove." Here, if you just say "stove", 99.9% of people will assume you are talking about a range/oven (food cooking appliance).
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Fireplace. Or more specifically, when it is wood burning and free-standing like that (and usually with sealed doors), we generally call that a "wood burning stove." Here, if you just say "stove", 99.9% of people will assume you are talking about a range/oven (food cooking appliance).
Nah.
This is a fireplace :)
(and yes it's mine)
(https://lc.zoocdn.com/c1cdc7efe18ec725dcc3331f8d8537cfa707356c.jpg)
However a stove might sit inside a fireplace ;)
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Here, that is a woodstove. Never, ever called just a 'stove' unless is such specific context that it cannot be confused.
And a fireplace is something built into the house with an inside (non- visible) chimney.
Another one: in the US, the grass part of outside is the 'yard', and a garden is a place in the yard reserved for growing flowers or vegetables. Apparently in the UK, 'garden' means yard and I have no idea where you grow vegetables (at a residence, on a farm of course, it would just be 'the field' I assume).
Brian
this is what we more commonly call a stove, generally used for heating/decorative effect rather than cooking.
(http://www.raisstoves.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/GaboWood_sq-600x600.jpg)
<snip>
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you grow vegetables at an allotment (typically rented from your local council) if you don't have a proper garden.
If you do have a garden and you grow vegetables at home you would probably from them in the vegetable plot
My house has a backyard not a garden as its stoneflagged rather than grass (or it would be if it didn't have astroturf out there :)
Here, that is a woodstove. Never, ever called just a 'stove' unless is such specific context that it cannot be confused.
And a fireplace is something built into the house with an inside (non- visible) chimney.
Another one: in the US, the grass part of outside is the 'yard', and a garden is a place in the yard reserved for growing flowers or vegetables. Apparently in the UK, 'garden' means yard and I have no idea where you grow vegetables (at a residence, on a farm of course, it would just be 'the field' I assume).
Brian
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Airplane instead of Aeroplane.
Why?
After all you dont say (or maybe you do?)
airnautics instead of aeronautics
airdynamics instead of aerodynamics
airfoil instead of aerofoil
airnomic instead of aeronomic
airsol instead of aerosol
or my personal favourite Air instead of Aero ;)
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1970/8497/products/aero-mint-jollygrub_1024x1024@2x.jpg)
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Airplane instead of Aeroplane.
Why?
After all you dont say (or maybe you do?)
airnautics instead of aeronautics
airdynamics instead of aerodynamics
airfoil instead of aerofoil
airnomic instead of aeronomic
airsol instead of aerosol
or my personal favourite Air instead of Aero ;)
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1970/8497/products/aero-mint-jollygrub_1024x1024@2x.jpg)
airspace instead of aerospace
Wait, we use both...
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airspace instead of aerospace
Wait, we use both...
but in a different context
Aircraft fly in an airspace whilst they are built by an aerospace company ;)
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Gratuitous diagram
Ok the granularity could be improved by forking the owered branch into types such as piston, jet,rocket, electric, human etc but I couldn't be bothered lol
(http://sharetheexperience.co.uk/Images/aircrafttree.jpg)
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Ran into a new one: apparently in the UK, you call ear muffs 'ear defenders'. Makes sense, just not something that anyone in the US would understand without explanation.
Watched a documentary produced in the UK and actually caught quite a few individual words used in a way that would not be understood in the US also but cannot remember them right now. Almost all of them made sense in the context when they were used except a couple, and those might as well have been in Portuguese. :-)
One area that I find both countries are somewhat odd about is Post or Mail. I believe it would be more normal to use the word 'post' instead of mail in casual conversation in the UK but both countries use both words in different places. We have a US Postal System, with a Post Master that oversees the..... mail. You apparently have 'post' and a post office and so forth but the materials handled by the post offices are sometimes transferred to a ship designated RMS for Royal Mail Service. I also think it is an age thing, at least here in the US too; in the olden days, I believe it was more common for the mailman to be called the postman. Even today everyone would know who a person was talking about using that term but no one really uses that term anymore. And the thing that the mail man (or mail carrier) puts the mail in is the mail box.
Brian
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Most of what you put in that list is correct for normal US usage except we do say 'airfoil'.
Brian
Airplane instead of Aeroplane.
Why?
After all you dont say (or maybe you do?)
airnautics instead of aeronautics
airdynamics instead of aerodynamics
airfoil instead of aerofoil
airnomic instead of aeronomic
airsol instead of aerosol
or my personal favourite Air instead of Aero ;)
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these are ear muffs :)
(https://cdn-images.farfetch-contents.com/anya-hindmarch-yellow-fur-smiley-ear-muffs_12394088_11313040_400.jpg)
Ay yes, we have the mail (generic) or post (used completely interchnageably) delivered either by a postman working for the Royal Mail or , which is becoming more commonplace especially in the business world, by a third party courier, even for letters.
Definitely Postman otherwise it would be Mailman Mike instead of Postman Pat :)
(http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/7674340-3x2-340x227.jpg)
Ran into a new one: apparently in the UK, you call ear muffs 'ear defenders'. Makes sense, just not something that anyone in the US would understand without explanation.
Watched a documentary produced in the UK and actually caught quite a few individual words used in a way that would not be understood in the US also but cannot remember them right now. Almost all of them made sense in the context when they were used except a couple, and those might as well have been in Portuguese. :-)
One area that I find both countries are somewhat odd about is Post or Mail. I believe it would be more normal to use the word 'post' instead of mail in casual conversation in the UK but both countries use both words in different places. We have a US Postal System, with a Post Master that oversees the..... mail. You apparently have 'post' and a post office and so forth but the materials handled by the post offices are sometimes transferred to a ship designated RMS for Royal Mail Service. I also think it is an age thing, at least here in the US too; in the olden days, I believe it was more common for the mailman to be called the postman. Even today everyone would know who a person was talking about using that term but no one really uses that term anymore. And the thing that the mail man (or mail carrier) puts the mail in is the mail box.
Brian
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Ah yes, Postman Pat, standing in front of his mail truck. :-)
Brian
<snip>
Definitely Postman otherwise it would be Mailman Mike instead of Postman Pat :)
(http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/7674340-3x2-340x227.jpg)
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I've joined a multistrada forum that has predominantly UK members, some europers but few Americans. I am starting to talk like a Brit. Kit instead of gear. Sat Nav for GPS. Faf I believe means "pain in the a$$" (which would be ar$e) and then the're mate. That's def. different.
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And now a few moments of silence; it seems we have lost Bob folks.....
:rotflmao:
Brian
I've joined a multistrada forum that has predominantly UK members, some europers but few Americans. I am starting to talk like a Brit. Kit instead of gear. Sat Nav for GPS. Faf I believe means "pain in the a$$" (which would be ar$e) and then the're mate. That's def. different.
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you can't get rid of me that easy ;) still love the C14for two up touring.
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Faf I believe means "pain in the a$$" (which would be ar$e)
Close? : https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/faff (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/faff)
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Definitely Postman otherwise it would be Mailman Mike instead of Postman Pat :)
Except here we can no longer officially use the word "man" in anything (even when the person is male), because it is not politically correct. So it would be "postal carrier", "letter carrier", or "mail carrier".
police officer
fire fighter
chair person
sports person
Since I don't like PC, I will continue to put "man" and "woman" at the end when referring to specific people :) Although I do often use the neuter version when referring to the generic/collective. Some really sound beyond strange though-
fisherwoman? fisher person?? Maybe just "fisher"
Where I work, when we had a female in charge of the Board, people kept calling her the "chairman" and I refused to do that. I called her the "chairwoman" since it seemed really odd to say just "chair", like I was calling a person a piece of furniture :)
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In fairness most people tend to refer to them as "the postie" which is gender neutral ;)
Except here we can no longer officially use the word "man" in anything (even when the person is male), because it is not politically correct. So it would be "postal carrier", "letter carrier", or "mail carrier".
police officer
fire fighter
chair person
sports person
Since I don't like PC, I will continue to put "man" and "woman" at the end when referring to specific people :) Although I do often use the neuter version when referring to the generic/collective. Some really sound beyond strange though-
fisherwoman? fisher person?? Maybe just "fisher"
Where I work, when we had a female in charge of the Board, people kept calling her the "chairman" and I refused to do that. I called her the "chairwoman" since it seemed really odd to say just "chair", like I was calling a person a piece of furniture :)
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I've joined a multistrada forum that has predominantly UK members, some europers but few Americans. I am starting to talk like a Brit. Kit instead of gear. Sat Nav for GPS. Faf I believe means "pain in the a$$" (which would be ar$e) and then the're mate. That's def. different.
"FAF about"........ to take a extra long time to complete a simple task
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"FAF about"........ to take a extra long time to complete a simple task
as welll as being a PITA , eg that was a real faf(f)
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In fairness most people tend to refer to them as "the postie" which is gender neutral ;)
I must say, "postie" doesn't sound gender neutral.
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I must say, "postie" doesn't sound gender neutral.
Why? Too close to pastie? :yikes:
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South Africans are just generally rude & obnoxious ;)
Well Mikey, seeing that us SA'ns are rude and obnoxious, let me live up to it..... :stirpot:
Do you know what us Afrikaans speaking people call you okes from GB........?
"Souties"..... Short for "Sout Pielle"....excuse my language please....?
Sout=salt and pielle=penis', so roughly translated, it means salt-d*cks..... Reason being that with the Anglo-Boer war, the okes were one foot in GB, the other in SA, with the their d*cks hanging in the ocean.... :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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Well Mikey, seeing that us SA'ns are rude and obnoxious, let me live up to it..... :stirpot:
Do you know what us Afrikaans speaking people call you okes from GB........?
"Souties"..... Short for "Sout Pielle"....excuse my language please....?
Sout=salt and pielle=penis', so roughly translated, it means salt-d*cks..... Reason being that with the Anglo-Boer war, the okes were one foot in GB, the other in SA, with the their d*cks hanging in the ocean.... :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
:thumbs:
Ihave the pleasure of working(or have worked) with a number of your fellow countrymen :)
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:thumbs: :thumbs: