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Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:36 pm
by matthew_Archive
[edit]

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:55 pm
by glynnisjohns_Archive
matthew wrote:[edit]


"Have you had your tea?"

which to me, as an american, would mean the obvious. No i have not yet had my boiled water with the dirt in the bag added.

Yet to the english this could mean food, or lunch or a break with food.
I don't know.

"he's at hospital". why leave out "the"?

That being said i find you limey bastards so endearing, i thank you for your comedy music and literary figures. Your dental?

Image

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:08 pm
by Chapter Two_Archive
glynnisjohns wrote: "Have you had your tea?"

which to me, as an american, would mean the obvious. No i have not yet had my boiled water with the dirt in the bag added.

Yet to the english this could mean food, or lunch or a break with food.
I don't know.


Tea is generally the evening meal; a less formal 'dinner'. Similarly, 'Dinner' is often used to mean 'lunch'.

Tea-time is around fiveish. Dinnertime is around noon. Though we may have dinner at tea-time.

"he's at hospital". why leave out "the"?


It's usually "he's in hospital.

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:13 pm
by 6079smith_Archive
"up t'hospital"?

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:16 pm
by Chapter Two_Archive
6079smith wrote:"up t'hospital"?


"No, downt' cemetery."

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:48 pm
by 6079smith_Archive
"Naw, downt' pit"

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:51 pm
by 6079smith_Archive
"As happy as a pig in shite" is one I like, but i think it's a regional one. Up t'north, maybe?

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:54 pm
by Angus Jung
6079smith wrote:"Naw, downt' pit"

"Naw, on permanent holiday"

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:03 pm
by Rotten Tanx_Archive
Cockin' a deaf 'un. (sp?)

To pretend not to hear something.

Always sounds rude to me.

Americans and others! Your favorite British English phrases?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:14 pm
by Pure L_Archive
Can someone explain why some Brits pronounce "mother" as "muvva" or "brother" as "bruvva"?

Of course, there's "togevvah", etc.

Is it a regional thing? A slang expression-type thing?