Report: Our Friends in the Colonies
Wednesday, January 23, 2002 by AJCrowley | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I saw a thread last night where there seemed to be a little confusion as to what "Tippex" (whiteout) is. As a British expatriate living amongst our colonial friends in North America, I thought it might be helpful to do something of a language comparison. Because of this is a site for the whole family, I'll keep it from being too raunchy.
Tippex - Whiteout, this has already been covered in another thread.
Cellotape - Scotch tape.
Plaster - Band aid.
Rubber - Eraser, you wouldn't believe the looks I received wondering around the office asking everyone if they had a rubber I could borrow, a simple enough request, or so I thought.
Tramp - Bum.
Bum - Bottom.
Fanny - Not a bottom, this one caused some confusion for me.
Jelly - Jello, so similar and yet so different.
Spirits - Hard liquor.
Solder - Sauder, I thought Americans just had a speech impediment of some kind for a while with this one.
Bog - Bathroom, it also took me some time to learn to stop asking people, "Where's yer bog?".
Bin - Trash Can. Americans seem to understand this one if you repeat it four or five times getting consistently louder each time, they're just not used to hearing it.
Fortnight - 2 weeks. Americans have no idea what this means, making using it when giving estimates for project deadlines a smart idea.
Tea - As with so many of the other finest words in the English language, this can mean more than one thing. It is not necessarily a hot beverage prepared from the leaves of the tea plant, but can also be dinner. It is also nothing to do with odd people having a cup of tea at 4 o'clock with the vicar.
There also seems to be some confusion regarding making a V sign with your fingers. Americans have the notion that if you do it with your palm facing outwards, it means peace, and if your palm faces inwards, it means victory. I was quite stunned to one day turn on the television and see a well know celebrity giving me the v. To English people, if your palm faces inwards when you do it, it's kind of the same as if you were to retract your index finger to leave only a single finger standing, but twice as strong.
That is all I can think of for now. If for some reason that I can't fathom, this thread remains where I can see it, I might provide some updates as and when they occur to me, anyone else who has anything to add is also encouraged to do so, this includes you Australians, you have a far better grip on the English language than our American cousins.
Good day to you,
AJ.
Tippex - Whiteout, this has already been covered in another thread.
Cellotape - Scotch tape.
Plaster - Band aid.
Rubber - Eraser, you wouldn't believe the looks I received wondering around the office asking everyone if they had a rubber I could borrow, a simple enough request, or so I thought.
Tramp - Bum.
Bum - Bottom.
Fanny - Not a bottom, this one caused some confusion for me.
Jelly - Jello, so similar and yet so different.
Spirits - Hard liquor.
Solder - Sauder, I thought Americans just had a speech impediment of some kind for a while with this one.
Bog - Bathroom, it also took me some time to learn to stop asking people, "Where's yer bog?".
Bin - Trash Can. Americans seem to understand this one if you repeat it four or five times getting consistently louder each time, they're just not used to hearing it.
Fortnight - 2 weeks. Americans have no idea what this means, making using it when giving estimates for project deadlines a smart idea.
Tea - As with so many of the other finest words in the English language, this can mean more than one thing. It is not necessarily a hot beverage prepared from the leaves of the tea plant, but can also be dinner. It is also nothing to do with odd people having a cup of tea at 4 o'clock with the vicar.
There also seems to be some confusion regarding making a V sign with your fingers. Americans have the notion that if you do it with your palm facing outwards, it means peace, and if your palm faces inwards, it means victory. I was quite stunned to one day turn on the television and see a well know celebrity giving me the v. To English people, if your palm faces inwards when you do it, it's kind of the same as if you were to retract your index finger to leave only a single finger standing, but twice as strong.
That is all I can think of for now. If for some reason that I can't fathom, this thread remains where I can see it, I might provide some updates as and when they occur to me, anyone else who has anything to add is also encouraged to do so, this includes you Australians, you have a far better grip on the English language than our American cousins.
Good day to you,
AJ.
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paxx
Reply #2 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:24 AM
Reply #2 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:24 AM
Well, yeah. The sack is the bed. As in "It's late, I'm gonna hit the sack."
BoXXi
Reply #3 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:44 AM
Reply #3 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:44 AM
I remember the first time I visited the States in 1981, I went into a shop to buy cigarettes, I asked the girl for "20 Marlboro", and she gave me 20 packs!! In England, if you want one pack, you ask for 20, as there are 20 in a pack. Confused?, you will be! 
On an unrelated note, during that same visit to Florida, I drove past a supermarket, and the large sign on top of the building proclaimed, "Publix, where shopping is a pleasure".
I drove past the same building later that night when the sign was illuminated, but a few of the lights were not working, and it read.."Pubix, where hopping is a pleasure". I found this most amusing.
AJ: Don't forget:
FAG, In England that is another word for a cigarette, in the U.S. it means something very different, and I often got strange looks from my american friends when I would say "Man, I really need a fag right now!"
On an unrelated note, during that same visit to Florida, I drove past a supermarket, and the large sign on top of the building proclaimed, "Publix, where shopping is a pleasure".
I drove past the same building later that night when the sign was illuminated, but a few of the lights were not working, and it read.."Pubix, where hopping is a pleasure". I found this most amusing.
AJ: Don't forget:
FAG, In England that is another word for a cigarette, in the U.S. it means something very different, and I often got strange looks from my american friends when I would say "Man, I really need a fag right now!"
Jafo
Reply #4 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:58 AM
Reply #4 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:58 AM
Well...odd word usage...I could write a book...
I must say I always wondered why Yanks would like Jelly on their pan-cakes...[flap-jacks]....guess they never heard of 'jam'....
'Tis but one...
I must say I always wondered why Yanks would like Jelly on their pan-cakes...[flap-jacks]....guess they never heard of 'jam'....
'Tis but one...
AJCrowley
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 11:24 AM
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 11:24 AM
Ah BoXXi, how could I miss such an obvious one as fag. Yes, announcing to the office that you're going out for a fag will always raise a few giggles. The strangest thing is that they completely understand what you mean, but choose to take it the other way as a matter of policy.
Another one I left out was tissue, meaning "kleenex", these Americans are big on their brand names.
Another one I left out was tissue, meaning "kleenex", these Americans are big on their brand names.
feline
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 12:22 PM
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 12:22 PM
craeonics no speak English
feline no spell English
does this mean that between me and crae we make a whole american?
feline no spell English
does this mean that between me and crae we make a whole american?
JavaBrain
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 3:44 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 3:44 PM
Hey! Feline! That wasn't nice...
Jafo,
Jelly and jam are different. Jelly is made from juice, whereas Jam has bits of the fruit in it.
In America, we even confuse ourselve. We refer to Soda Pop in the Northern regions as "pop" where every place else refers to it as "soda". Forget the cookie, cracker, bisquit thing you "English" people have...I'm still confused on that one...
Also in America:
q-tip= cotton swap (another love of brand names)
coke= cola (ditto)
does everyone refer to automobiles as cars?
Jafo,
Jelly and jam are different. Jelly is made from juice, whereas Jam has bits of the fruit in it.
In America, we even confuse ourselve. We refer to Soda Pop in the Northern regions as "pop" where every place else refers to it as "soda". Forget the cookie, cracker, bisquit thing you "English" people have...I'm still confused on that one...
Also in America:
q-tip= cotton swap (another love of brand names)
coke= cola (ditto)
does everyone refer to automobiles as cars?
Xtails
Reply #11 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 4:34 PM
Reply #11 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 4:34 PM
The question on everyone's minds: What is it, Soda or Pop!
The anwser to the question: Pop!
The reason: In the N*SYNC song Pop, it wouldn't make sense if they sang, "This must be...Soda!"
The anwser to the question: Pop!
The reason: In the N*SYNC song Pop, it wouldn't make sense if they sang, "This must be...Soda!"
GreenReaper
Reply #15 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:33 PM
Reply #15 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:33 PM
Crumpets are sort of spongy batter (but solid - pre-cooked). You toast them and then put butter on them. Usually quite small. See http://www.tea-n-crumpets.com/main.htm
Oh, and one thing that caught me out was chips. Here, "chips" == fries, and "crisps" == thin dry wafers of potato pre-cooked, which you call chips.
Oh, and one thing that caught me out was chips. Here, "chips" == fries, and "crisps" == thin dry wafers of potato pre-cooked, which you call chips.
kith
Reply #16 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:36 PM
Reply #16 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:36 PM
Who understands Cricket, for the life of me I can't figure that sport out...
starone
Reply #17 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:50 PM
Reply #17 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:50 PM
Crumpets sound plain with a lot of calories. Are they any good? (All prejudice set aside, of course.)
Larry Kuperman
Reply #18 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 11:12 PM
Reply #18 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 11:12 PM
Americanisms aside, there are New York-isms.
The next time you visit New York (pronounced Nu Yawk) try an Egg Cream. This delicious drink contains no Egg and no Cream. Instead it is milk, chocolate syrup (U-Bet brand preferred) and carbonated water. The carbonated water is never referred to as soda, but is called seltzer. If you would like a glass of seltzer water by itself, you just ask for a "Two Cents Plain." Of course it costs more than two cents.
I must explain that New York is three islands and a penninsula. It is only incidentally related to the rest of the United States-- or the rest of the universe for that matter.
The next time you visit New York (pronounced Nu Yawk) try an Egg Cream. This delicious drink contains no Egg and no Cream. Instead it is milk, chocolate syrup (U-Bet brand preferred) and carbonated water. The carbonated water is never referred to as soda, but is called seltzer. If you would like a glass of seltzer water by itself, you just ask for a "Two Cents Plain." Of course it costs more than two cents.
I must explain that New York is three islands and a penninsula. It is only incidentally related to the rest of the United States-- or the rest of the universe for that matter.
Phar0e
Reply #19 Thursday, January 24, 2002 12:14 AM
Reply #19 Thursday, January 24, 2002 12:14 AM
One word seems to be identified quite strongly with Canadian language and culture.
You know what I mean, eh?
You know what I mean, eh?
DavidK
Reply #20 Thursday, January 24, 2002 4:16 AM
Reply #20 Thursday, January 24, 2002 4:16 AM
Owning a British car taught me a bunch of new terms...
Bonnett (hood)
Windscreen (windshield)
RearLight (back window)
Boot (trunk)
Smith's (gagues that don't work)
Lucas (electronics that spontaneously burst into flames)
Soliciter (interfaces with North American warranty rep)
Bonnett (hood)
Windscreen (windshield)
RearLight (back window)
Boot (trunk)
Smith's (gagues that don't work)
Lucas (electronics that spontaneously burst into flames)
Soliciter (interfaces with North American warranty rep)
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Reply #1 Wednesday, January 23, 2002 12:32 AM
Here is a Canadian one I ran into once.
Sack=Lets go to bed I asked for a sack and got the wierdest look in a McDonalds. Had to explain I wanted a bag. The girl behind the counter was nice enough to explain what she thought I was asking for.