Hosepipe ban 'to end in time for Olympics': Reservoirs filled by record rainfall in time for Games

[dipsydoodle]

The hosepipe ban is expected to be lifted early after the recent heavy rain.

Water companies and the Environment Agency have been put under pressure to end restrictions before the world turns its eyes to Britain for the Olympic Games.

The ban was imposed in April and was supposed to run until Christmas amid warnings of shortages and threats to rivers and wildlife following two dry winters.

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A decision on lifting the ban in virtually all of the affected areas is expected before the end of this month.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2155096/Hosepipe-ban-end-time-Olympics-Reservoirs-filled-record-rainfall-time-Games.html#ixzz1x0GXgoRY




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2155096/Hosepipe-ban-end-time-Olympics-Reservoirs-filled-record-rainfall-time-Games.html#ixzz1x0GQg6h6

[joshcryer]

1. Hosepipe. That's a new one.

I guess I'll pack my hosepipe in my boot and bugger off.

(We call it a "water hose." Hose pipe is terribly redundant...)

[dipsydoodle]

2. That is only due to the fact

you're not UK. We've always , to the best of my knowledge, called it a "hose pipe". That does of course differentiate such things from ladies hose.

Two nations divided by a common language : A similar issues has arisen in the past of the subject what we here refer to as trouser suits but the US calls pants suits. In current parlance here pants means rubbish. 'Nuff said.

[non sociopath skin]

3. Whem I taught English in school ....

.... many of my students were amazed at how many American men wore suspenders.

They also liked the idea of babies with "pacifiers" which sounded suspiciously like Colt-45s.



The Skin

[dipsydoodle]

4. The one you mentioned has always amused me too

Somehow or other "belt and suspenders" doesn't have the same ring to it as "belt and braces".

[LeftishBrit]

6. Yes, I also found 'suspenders' a bit funny

and men walking around in public in their 'pants'.

I remember one occasion on DU where someone got cross about the definition of a word, and told some of us 'you all deserve to be bonked with the dictionary!' which was very funny to those of us with a British connection.

[non sociopath skin]

7. ... although here in the North East we use "pants" to mean trousers, too.

"Pants" are "underpants" or, in the dialect, "kets" or "kegs".

And don't get me started on pantyhose.

Having been married to a New Yorker for over ten years, I find we're both bilingual now but there were confusions in the early days. Not long after we were married, the missus was upstairs getting ready to go out and shouted down "Could you bring up my purse, honey?"

There was a pause while may brain clicked into gear and I asked, "Do you mean your purse or - your -er - purse ?

The Skin

[dipsydoodle]

8. Bonked !

I've not heard that word since the early '60s.

That was a schoolboy expression : I don't recall the girls using that at all.

Down memory lane.

[LeftishBrit]

9. It's still used by some people, especially in the media

For example, a certain Mayor of London is sometimes called 'Bonking Boris'.

[SwissTony]

11. An English doctor in Australia suggested she and a male colleague have a root around

(to find something in a room). I suggested they close the door.

And what about the US/UK difference in "fanny"?

[dipsydoodle]

12. Complete mystery the second one you mentioned

Only similarity being proximity to each other.

[SwissTony]

10. And also from copper and steel pipes. nt.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Ironically, the first quotation the Oxford Eng Dict has for hosepipe is American

"1835 J. Martin New Gazetteer Virginia 139 The height of the reservoir, above these streets,‥gives a jet of water by means of hose pipes, of some 60 to 80 feet elevation."