LOL, my friend told me to stop using British slang!

[Deja Q]

We both frequent a UK-based discussion forum (sci-fi) and we're both picking up on the slang.

He told me "We're both American and we're using this terminology. Stop it."

:rofl:

Now he's right, as in public we'd look silly using it (in either country), but there seems to be something amusing about it all... and I like it anyway. I like adding to obfuscation, not eschewing it!

[billyskank]

1. Which slang terms do you like?

[Deja Q]

9. Oh, just some innocent little words. Like

Yank
Pants
Panto
Bloody
Snog
Shag
Fanciable
Fey
Wanker (naturally!)
Sod
Bollocks
Sarky
Cheers



And then occasional phrases, including
"you lot"
"bugger off"
"Wet ponce"
"Spend a penny"
"Sod-all"
"on the cheap"
"Sod off"

And I coined the phrase "Crank a Yank" - you can imagine which type of post I was making, but it was in their equivalent to the DU Lounge (which is almost shockingly permissive too... even I felt embarrassed at times! And loving it.)

As I recall more, I'll be happy to post them! :D

And to think all of that is about one teensy little television show! :rofl:

And if I memorized more of "Red Dwarf", "Waiting for God", and "Chef!", you can imagine what other words I'd be able to put into that list from memory or, worse, use in actual sentences which confounds just about everyone I know... :rofl: Oy, can I add "confound" to the list? :D Americans never use that word... :cry:

[Patiod]

28. We use "sarky" all the time at home, and you're right

other Americans don't get it. Because they're AMERICAN and so are we!

Don't know where we picked that one up, unlike "No worries", which definitely came from watching "The Games" (from Australia)

[Left Is Write]

53. I like "you lot."

[Deja Q]

57. My counselor didn't understand it...

In a draft of my resignation letter, she didn't understand what "you lot" meant. I told her it's British slang and that it's just another thing I picked up as a child watching too much PBS... which is true, actually.

I even had a British accent going for a while. Most of it is gone nowadays, but it sometimes reoccurs. Pity, I rather liked it...

[mwooldri]

35. "I'm just popping out to buy a packet of fags."

Perfectly understandable in Britain, raises eyebrows over here. I haven't had the nerve to do it yet but then I don't smoke so I have no reason to buy any fags.

[Deja Q]

38. But I'm cheap!

:rofl:

[Mutley]

2. I think I want to start using British slang.

Give me some good examples. :D

[billyskank]

3. First, say "arse" instead of "ass"

as in, "I just can't be arsed to do this school project."

[Mutley]

4. I love it!

"I just can't be arsed to do this school project." :D

What else?

[billyskank]

6. Okay, "got a bag on" means "in a foul mood"

That ends your lesson for today. :P

[Mutley]

7. Well thank you billy.

I had a bag on a few days ago, that's for sure. :P

[Deja Q]

10. The trouble is, if you leave the bag on for even only a few minutes,

you'll end up unconscious. 15 more and you're toast. :(

[yellowdogintexas]

16. first you have a lie down instead of taking a nap

then you refer to incidents, portions etc as "that bit"
a group of things or people would be that lot or you lot
elevenses : late morning cup of tea or coffee

these come to mind on an immediate basis

[Mutley]

20. I do use "bit" quite a bit.

:P

Have a lie down is a good one. I may need to do that later.

[XemaSab]

22. "Have a lie in" means sleep late

[anarch]

19. I think I'm just going to start talking in Cockney slang...like that gecko

on the TV. But, ya know, I don't want to get kicked in the cobbler's by some fridge freezer for like, saying the wrong thing, right? So I think I'd better head 'round the rub-a-dub-dub for a tiddly, to like, practice. Only thing is, I'm completely boracic lint...have ya got a couple o' teapot lids I can borrow?


(glossary)

[Mutley]

21. I can't do it when speaking.

It comes out completely fake sounding, as I'm sure it does with 99.9% of Americans who try it. :P

[ghostsofgiants]

5. The most common one I use is "crisps" instead of chips...

But that's only when I'm speaking to my British friends.

[Random_Australian]

8. When speaking to Brits, sub "great!" for "abso-fucken-lutely awful!" eg.

"Britain is great!"




:P Just old Pom/Bazza rivalry, pay no attention.

[XemaSab]

23. That and "brilliant!"

[Left_Winger]

11. Here's a humorous story about British versus American use of slang

When I was in the Marines I was part of a deployment to Europe for NATO exercises. Being Marines we were put ashore in northern Germany which was the British zone, hence much interaction with British soldiers.

Back in my time (the 1970s) Marines did not wear their names on their uniforms. However, to prevent theft, we did write our names on our wet weather gear; and autumn in northern Germany is wet and muddy. We just happened to have a man in our platoon whose last name was Wanker (no kidding); and he had written his name on his rain jacket....

To get to the heart of the story, we encountered a group of British soldiers and naturally we began to talk. Wanker came over and a British soldier asked, "Ay mate, wot's that written on your slicker?" Wanker's response, "That's my name. I'm Wanker the tanker." At this point the British soldiers erupted in uncontrollable laughter. Most of us were 19-21 year old Americans who did not know why these Brits were finding this so funny. Now I know.

[Deja Q]

12. !

:spray::spray:

Yes, that's most worthy of two sprays! :rofl:

[Left_Winger]

13. After this they stumped us again

One asked, "I wonder if he knows Harry Tosser?"

[Deja Q]

14. No, but I gathered he's a baker.

He loves to toss cookies! :rofl:

[Left_Winger]

17. I have learned much over the years: here's another one

I was in a bar in Hamburg and a British guy told me that he was "pissed". I asked him why he was angry. He just looked at me and bought me a beer.

[Deja Q]

18. Clever way to make a pass at him!

:rofl:

[Patiod]

27. Never knew why Brits thought Randy had such a funny naame

Was in a Gilbert & Sullivan rep company, and the Brits always got the biggest kick out of the concept that Americans would name a child Randy.

[mwooldri]

34. Just please don't ask us if we'd like to shag with you.

Now we might shag you after we've shagged with you... but please don't confuse dancing and sex.

Mark.

[CBHagman]

47. Ah, yes, the cultural differences...

In 1970s South Carolina I could come home from a dance and say that my date and I had shagged all night. :blush:

[XemaSab]

49. It's the official dance of South Carolina

:bounce:

[Left_Winger]

66. And, if you don't know how, we'll teach you!

:rofl: :rofl:

[Joe Chi Minh]

40. I love cockney slang. Especially when it's spoken by a Londoner

as it brings back memories of my youth.

There’s a prosperous residential town in Buckinghamshire called Chalfont St Giles. "Chalfonts" is cockney slang for piles, or haemorrhoids.

A "diamond geezer", is a great bloke. I think it’s more recent.

A really Dickensian/Hogarthian cockney expression is, "...as black as Newgate's knocker", (Newgate having been a prison in days of yore).

Girls or women, in a cockney philandering context are "crumpet"; in Oz, more generally, they're "sheilas".

“bottle” (bottle and glass) is cockney, and now more generally, slang for “courage”, and is said to refer to the anal sphincter and the ability to control it. “Lose your bottle”, “he’s got a lot of bottle”, etc.

Unfortunately for general consumption, some of the most hilariously colorful cockney and Aussie expressions are also among the grossest.

[redwitch]

82. My friend Randy had a similar experience

He isn't a wanker though. :-)

[anarch]

15. pssh. What a wanker. (said with a distinctly American accent)

I say bollocks to all that!

[XemaSab]

24. What rubbish!

[XemaSab]

25. My bad Britishism:

"I'm cream crackered."

That and "have a butcher's at."

[REDKING]

26. Irish slang.....

Gobsshite,Feck(fuck),arsehole,sounter,dander,gutties(trainers)etc,etc....

[realisticphish]

37. I'm familier

with those since I'm a devotee of "Father Ted" :D

[4morewars]

69. Eejit !

Ya forgot eejit.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

29. You deserve a smack on the fanny!

(Oo-er, sounds a bit rude!)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

31. Aye, you bloody arsehole! -nt

[leftofthedial]

30. piss off!

[mwooldri]

32. Well bollocks to all that.

Slang, like any other colloquialisms doesn't have any bloody borders any more. Yes, in certain environments it is OK to use it, in others it is not.

But bollocks has got to be my favourite curse word that I can use almost quite freely over here. It's about as universal as the F__k word, bollocks can mean lies (* is talking bollocks again), it can mean literally what they refer to - that is testicles (he kicked him in the bollocks), it can refer to something good (it's the dog's bollocks), it can be a curse (bollocks!), and it can also refer to messing something up (you bollocksed up that job again). Heck, some Brits have their vehicle tags with the word 'bollox' or 'bollocks' on it and the DMV doesn't complain. (as an aside anyone want to re-tag their car as "4cue GWB" ?)

It also depends what slang you're using. If you're literally cutting and pasting from the British-American dictionary then that may make no sense whatsoever. But when used wisely it can add to the clarity of the subject matter at hand.

Mark.

[StellaBlue]

33. That's right, innit!

Geezwa!

:rofl:

[no name no slogan]

36. When I returned from living in the UK

Nobody could understand half of what I said. And funnily enough, most Brits couldn't understand a thing I said, either, when I lived there.

:shrug:

[Deja Q]

39. Cool! Just like how I feel every day!

:rofl: :7

Missed ye last night, BTW!

[no name no slogan]

43. ...

:rofl:

yeah, I was feeling kind of crappy after work, so I decided to take a nap before heading out. Next thing I know, I wake up and its midnight. D'oh. :dunce:

[Left Is Write]

54. You said "you betcha" didn't you? You did, didn't you?

Did you say "uff da"? Did the Brits look at you like you came from another planet? Did you end sentences with the word "then" ("Howse it goin', then?")

[no name no slogan]

73. Yah. At least a cuppla times

And then four years later, "Fargo" came out, and then they finally understood what I was talking about!

[Left Is Write]

81. ...

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

[Oeditpus Rex]

41. Bally Jerry pranged his kite

right in the how's-your-father. Harry Blighter dickie-birdied, feathered back on his sammy, took a waspie, flipped over on his Betty Harper's and caught his can in the bertie.

Now, piss off, you lot!

[Hissyspit]

44. Sorry, I'm afraid I'm not getting your banter.

[Oeditpus Rex]

45. Something up with my banter, chaps?

:shrug:

[Neoma]

42. I only like using "bloody" personally.

[Blue_Tires]

46. i've adoped a lot as well

almost daily, you can hear me say things like:

bloody
for fuck's sake
nutter
gobshite

[CBHagman]

48. I love this stuff.

"Bugger off, you nasty little man" is what I say to the TV every time George W. Bush's smirking face appears.

And "bollocks," even if it's rude, is an awfully effective word.

I also "kip down" or "have a bit of a kip."

I collect books on Australian, Irish, and British slang. It also helps that I am hopelessly addicted to British TV programs and movies.

One of the funniest things I ever read was the expression "dangly bits." They're a part of the male human anatomy, and I don't dare elaborate for fear of running afoul of the moderators.

[XemaSab]

50. The meat and two veg?

:shrug:

[judaspriestess]

51. so what does bloke mean?

i think thats the word, I've heard that used several times.

[Spider Jerusalem]

71. Bloke = guy, chap, fellow, lad, etc

[RevolutionaryActs]

52. I love British slang.

Especially 'bloody' and 'bullocks'. Good stuff.


I love Australian slang as well. :D

[barb162]

55. Sarky means what

[Deja Q]

58. Sarcastic

:D

[XemaSab]

56. Stonker

As in "The Belted Kingfisher was a stonker."

:bounce:

[mduffy31]

59. I have been trying to incorporate Bollux into my vocab

...more after I heard Eddie Izzard's routine on it., that and the phrase "spot on."

[laheina]

60. I do like "spot on"

and use most of the British words from Harry Potter. :eyes:

SOrry, I can't help it. :P

[mduffy31]

61. Git

:P

[Oeditpus Rex]

64. I've been using 'spot on' for awhile

Once I figured out what it meant. :blush:

[ForrestGump]

62. Tell him to naff off

Sodding git!

[billyskank]

68. "Naff off, you slags!"

Of course, not all British slang is Cockney slang...

[NMMNG]

63. Tell the bloke to sod off and stop being a f*ckwit

That ought to get his knickers in a twist. :rofl:

[ForrestGump]

65. Blimey

Oo-er! Cor!

You should listen to 'er indoors, Mr Toad. No messing about with 'er, right enough.

[Cannikin]

67. And there I was, full tit and minge.

I learn all mine from AbFab and French & Saunders, with some classic 'Are you Being Served'.

[Spider Jerusalem]

70. Heh.

I've picked up quite a few Britishisms thanks to watching too many British television shows and getting more of my news from UK than US sources. 'Bloody' has become one of my favourite curse words (useful because you can say it and Americans don't get offended, whereas 'fuck' is something that might raise an eyebrow or two if said in public).

Then there are phrases whose British versions just sound better (IMO) than their American equivalents ('don't get your knickers in a twist' instead of 'don't get your panties in a wad', 'sweet fuck-all' instead of 'jack shit', etc).

[XemaSab]

72. My mates went to Florida,

and they saw fuck-all but for scores of Frigatebirds and White-Crowned Pigeon, which was a stonker. They also had a butcher's at a distant jay, but didn't want to get too stringy, so it remained unidentified.

[bridgit]

74. i say gov'nuh...

:rofl:

[jpgray]

75. I write off those people as hopeless Anglophiles and/or Dr. Who junkies

They are of a phylum somewhat above the white privileged kids who adopt the fashion and lingo of hiphop stars from the projects.

[bridgit]

76. werd...

:-)

[jpgray]

77. Luckily I have room in my heart for all God's creatures

:P

[bridgit]

78. meh, so i've been reduced to a creature big deal...

:P :P

[jpgray]

79. Worse, if the devil has all the best tunes

You've got to figure his creatures are neater too.

[bridgit]

80. sure & if he'd stop with the cheap well drinks he'd have more friends...

the old cuckold...the devil that is :rofl: