To the staff of MES (now a comparison of transatlantic slang!)

[lazygamer]

That joke would be funny if he said PANTS, not underpants. Underpants is used in North America.

Where does l33t speak fit in with the English language?  

[Master of Reality]

Q for someone over "there".
i gotta a question.... do people over there ask "if they can bum a fag"??

like we say "can i bum a cigarette"

[ October 09, 2002: Message edited by: The Master of Reality / Bob ]

[Master of Reality]

quote:Originally posted by void main:
How about those words that are spelled the same but mean different things depending on which English speaking part of the world you are in? In America, "flat" is something you will become if you call someone a "fag". In the UK I have heard that many people smoke a "fag" in their "flat".

isnt a "flat" basically the same as a "bachelor pad"

[pkd_lives]

quote:Originally posted by The Master of Reality / Bob:
Q for someone over "there".
i gotta a question.... do people over there ask "if they can bum a fag"??

like we say "can i bum a cigarette"

[ October 09, 2002: Message edited by: The Master of Reality / Bob ]

Oh yes. flat = appartment.

And Calum dodgy is an unknown for many people over here - meaning to be like a used car dealer stereotype, with slightly humerous undertones.

[ October 09, 2002: Message edited by: pkd ]

[Master of Reality]

ummmm that wasnt the question you quoted.

[pkd_lives]

Bad editing.

Flat = appartment.

Yes people do say 'can I bum a fag'. 'I was outside bumming a fag', 'I'm gonna go smoke a fag', etc. etc.

Spent a lot of time there, so I know these things.

[Calum]

what's wrong with "can i bum a fag?" (except that i don't smoke...) Usually it would be "you don't mind if i bum a fag off of you?" you wouldn't usually say you were bumming a fag just on its own.

you don't say 'dodgy'? what sort of a society are you running over there? WEIRDOS!!!

drawers is another good name for pants, do you use that in north-americaland?

there are so many that i myself have to watch, coming as i do from orkney, that even the rest of the UK don't know about. I had to stop saying 'peedie' when i moved away from orkney (it means small and is only used within orkney, shetlanders say 'peerie' to mean the same thing) for example and there are a ton more...

[Master of Reality]

considering we call stupid people or gay people "fags" that is funny (yes, i am a cruel person)

[pkd_lives]

I have to confess when I first realised it I laughed myself stupid, and I'm not cruel. Funny is funny.

For a good introduction you have to pick up a copy of Notes from a small Island and Notes from a big country (or I'm a Stranger Here Myself in the US) by Bill Bryson. Does not matter which side you are from they are very very funny. I am told that for Canadians these books can get quite surreal, because they kind of mix and match from both cultures - which makes things funnier for them.

And don't even mention Frugal Fannies. Oh My God hahahahahahahahhahahah  

[ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: pkd ]

[Calum]

caption- Woman:"Can i bum a fag off of you, mate?"

[voidmain]

quote:Originally posted by Calum:
you don't say 'dodgy'? what sort of a society are you running over there? WEIRDOS!!!

Yes we do, but we are usually referring to inferior motor cars.    

 

quote:
drawers is another good name for pants, do you use that in north-americaland?

Drawers are something you put clothes in if you live in the city. But some hillbillies (non city folk) use the term drawers to mean under and/or outer pants.

[ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

[Calum]

  well here drawers are definitely your Y-fronts and no mistake!

vest is another amusing one.


this guy is wearing a vest.

'Wee' is another one that australians find humourous when they come to Scotland - it means 'little'.

chips can be confusing too! are french fries actually chips? what are crisps then? are they chips too? what should you expect if you ask for fish and chips? or for a packet of chips? ans string fries just confuse the issue too...

[ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]

[pkd_lives]

Then there are Biscuits which are cookies, and biscuits which are cakes, and cookies that are cakes. And I am well beyond rembering which way is which. Have spent too long in both US & UK to even be able to seperate them these days.

Then there is Jif which is Peanut butter and Jif which is cream cleaner for your bath. And fluff that you can EAT, or dust away.

And Ice cream (or a specific Ice cream product) is SLAG in Holland. Tea which is orange and mayonaisse on chips which are french fries. This is getting to be circular.

And I must also mention in addition to my previous statement..Fanny Mae and Fanny Farmer...makes fanny magnet look mighty tame - which is another one with double meaning, and brings us full circle to smoking a fag in your flat.

[Refalm]

Well, over here (the Netherlands and also the same in Belgium), we call these things chips:


And these fries:

[voidmain]

Same in America. So when in Europe, to avoid confusion, I just call what are known in America, Netherlands and Belgium as fries, "pommes frites". And I prefer catsup (or curry) to mayo.      

[ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]