Strange American sayings from an English Perspective
Replies
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Aw, Lord Byron hasn't weighed in on mine.
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WTF would you order? Just "whisky", and it's assumed? Do you have to specify single-malt? Inquiring minds want to know!!They snicker at you if you order a "Scotch" in Scotland.
Cheeky buggers.0 -
All over (Navy brats). I lived up north (mid-west) until I was 8, so maybe it's a north-east thing. I definitely grew up saying "tennies" or "tennis shoes" (all one word, like "tenissues").Where are his parents from?
It may be said other places, but it's most prevalant up North.
Northeast and Midwest are TOTALLY different places, culturally speaking! I grew up in the Northeast (upstate NY).0 -
They snicker at you if you order a "Scotch" in Scotland.
Cheeky buggers.
What do they call it over there? A whiskey?0 -
I'm still getting used to 'heads up' first heard in 'The West Wing'. Have heard it used this side of the pond but, like many imported Americanisms, in a slightly self-conscious way.0
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I can't really think of anything off the top of my head. But I say both in conversation.
We say both, depending on the rest of the sentence.I hate it when
Now that's interesting, too.
I thought Americans say "I hate when"?
Oh, ok. Examples of each, please?
Oh ok, no worries.
Here's how this American uses them:
Someone complains about something bad that happened to them: "Oh, I hate when that happens!"
Someone consistently does something that bothers me: "I hate it when you do that."
Of course, that might be just me.0 -
Don't they say breakfast, dinner and supper in your neck of the woods? When I was a kid, the older lunch ladies would refer to our lunchboxes as "dinner pails". :laugh: I kept picturing slop buckets! And I remember "supper clubs" and having "supper" at grandma's house. Of course, we probably ate really late at those times, so that definitely makes it supper. When we ate at 5-6 o'clock, we probably called that "dinner", even if we ate dinner earlier at 12-1 o'clock.I have the same issue with dinner/supper. In some places I have lived you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. In some others you eat breakfast, dinner and supper. In others you eat breakfast, lunch and supper.
I get confused as to what I need to call each meal in conversations sometimes.0 -
They snicker at you if you order a "Scotch" in Scotland.
Cheeky buggers.
What do they call it over there? A whiskey?
You order by name.
Lagavulin, neat.
Or Glenmorangie, pronounced correctly or they beat you with a stick.0 -
Fannypack
The first part has a very very different meaning in England!0 -
AAaa.. "Bless your heart!" gets me everyitime... I wanna laugh everytime someone says it to me.. IN THEIR FACE.. its like JUST SAY IT YOU FAKE B**&!.. just say im being an *kitten*..
:grumble:0 -
That's gotta be it then! His grandpa's family is out of Buffalo, and it was kinda home base for a lot of years... Thank goodness I didn't pick that up the year I lived there!Northeast and Midwest are TOTALLY different places, culturally speaking! I grew up in the Northeast (upstate NY).
Here's one. Does anybody call that red stuff you put on pasta or the other stuff you put on french fries (or chips, if you prefer) "gravy"? I can't remember if that one came from WNY or Rhode Island...0 -
Fannypack
The first part has a very very different meaning in England!
we used to call them bum bags when i was a teenager. not sure which one is worst.0 -
Oh, how I miss a good, peaty whisky. Neat, the way god intended. And I don't care what distillery.You order by name.
Lagavulin, neat.
Or Glenmorangie, pronounced correctly or they beat you with a stick.0 -
'Plead the fifth' I have had it explained to me but I always forget
'Fanny pack'
'Kebob'0 -
Ok I'll concede
on the math question, but come on they ain't sneakers they're TRAINERS
Nope. I'm Canadian and I call them runners.:flowerforyou:
On the EastCoast we call em "kicks"
Heh. I think of "kicks" the same as "jollies". "More power to ya, if that's how you get your kicks." when speaking to someone about some weird habit they have.0 -
What do you call it then, if not "kebab"?'Plead the fifth' I have had it explained to me but I always forget
'Fanny pack'
'Kebob'0 -
My parents grew up in Buffalo and say sneakers.
That's gotta be it then! His grandpa's family is out of Buffalo, and it was kinda home base for a lot of years... Thank goodness I didn't pick that up the year I lived there!Northeast and Midwest are TOTALLY different places, culturally speaking! I grew up in the Northeast (upstate NY).
Here's one. Does anybody call that red stuff you put on pasta or the other stuff you put on french fries (or chips, if you prefer) "gravy"? I can't remember if that one came from WNY or Rhode Island...
We put ketchup on our fries.0 -
I was watching House Hunters International one time, and the buyers kept saying they wanted a really big garden for their kids to play in. I was like "Why would they want their kids to play in a garden? Aren't they afraid they will mess up all their plants and flowers?" Hahaha
LMAO!!! Saw the same episode and thought the SAME thing!!0 -
When you stop calling it a "bonnet" and start calling it a "hood"...AND...when you start driving on the right side of the road, then you can start correcting us.0
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Vinegar is another popular option, or at least was when I lived there.We put ketchup on our fries.
"Gravy" must be those wacky Rhode Islanders, then. They also drink "coffee milk", so whaddaya gonna do...?0 -
'Plead the fifth' I have had it explained to me but I always forget
'Fanny pack'
'Kebob'
Plead the fifth: generally means that I choose not to say anything to incriminate myself. Refers to the 5th amendment of the constitution. It says that a defendant does not have to take the stand in a court of law in his own defense.0 -
LOL. I had two Italian friends who had an argument over this. The one from NJ called it gravy, the other from Virginia said calling it gravy was lame and not really Italian. It's supposed to be called sauce or marinara. I called it delicious.
That's gotta be it then! His grandpa's family is out of Buffalo, and it was kinda home base for a lot of years... Thank goodness I didn't pick that up the year I lived there!Northeast and Midwest are TOTALLY different places, culturally speaking! I grew up in the Northeast (upstate NY).
Here's one. Does anybody call that red stuff you put on pasta or the other stuff you put on french fries (or chips, if you prefer) "gravy"? I can't remember if that one came from WNY or Rhode Island...0 -
WTF would you order? Just "whisky", and it's assumed? Do you have to specify single-malt? Inquiring minds want to know!!They snicker at you if you order a "Scotch" in Scotland.
Cheeky buggers.
I was told to ask nicely for whiskey and if I were judged worthy, I'd be given the good stuff. If not, I'd be overcharged for the low end.0 -
they ain't sneakers they're TRAINERS
I sometimes stumble when tryin gto figure out what to call those. I've lived in places where they have been called, gym Shoes, Tennis Shoes, sneakers, tennies, athletic shoes and trainers.
I have the same issue with dinner/supper. In some places I have lived you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. In some others you eat breakfast, dinner and supper. In others you eat breakfast, lunch and supper.
I get confused as to what I need to call each meal in conversations sometimes.
I call them tennis shoes... It's breakfast, lunch and dinner. But here in the wonderful Midwest, the farm folk call it supper. They also call a drive way a "Lane road" and add an r to wash. WTH is that about?0 -
Forgot to add....
"That'll go over like a fart in church..." This might be my favorite.0 -
What do you call it then, if not "kebab"?'Plead the fifth' I have had it explained to me but I always forget
'Fanny pack'
'Kebob'
skewered meat and vegetables? Just guessing.0 -
When you stop calling it a "bonnet" and start calling it a "hood"...AND...when you start driving on the right side of the road, then you can start correcting us.
Um, no correcting is really going on. Just lighthearted discussions. :-)0 -
The Fifth Amendment is the right not to incrimiate onesself. So, in the legal sense, if you get put on the stand on court under oath to testify and what you have to say would incrimate you in a crime, you "plead the Fifth" instead of testifying.'Plead the fifth' I have had it explained to me but I always forget
We use it in casual conversation mostly joking around.0 -
Ok I'll concede
on the math question, but come on they ain't sneakers they're TRAINERS
Nope. I'm Canadian and I call them runners.:flowerforyou:
On the EastCoast we call em "kicks"
I'm in Maine. They're called sneakers. Lol0 -
Ok I'll concede
on the math question, but come on they ain't sneakers they're TRAINERS
Nope. I'm Canadian and I call them runners.:flowerforyou:
On the EastCoast we call em "kicks"
I'm in Maine. They're called sneakers. Lol
Maryland here and I call them tennis shoes. I don't think I have ever called them sneakers or kicks.0
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