British Comedy Guide

American slang Page 2

They say "Twot" on US shows.

Quote: David Bussell @ October 26 2009, 2:12 PM BST

Bite my fanny, douche rag!

Douche bag, David. :D

Quote: AndreaLynne @ October 27 2009, 2:35 PM BST

Douche bag, David. :D

Not the way I say it, peckerwood!

I say bite me. I rememeber as a kid, people saying it.

I wasn't talking about all American slang. I was just talking about words that you hear in sitcoms, but never on the street.

I suppose it all comes down to the so-called "Hundredth Monkey Effect", i.e. more and more people will start using particular word, until the time when so many people have started using it, that it's suddenly accepted by everyone, and people are no longer criticised for using it.

Like prezunctly?

Quote: EllieJP @ October 27 2009, 3:29 PM BST

Like prezunctly?

Excisely!

It's funny how certain words that used to only be heard in Hip hop songs, can now be heard all over British T.V. and Radio, e.g. you might hear middle-aged Radio presenters referring to listeners requesting "shout-outs", or you might hear someone on, say, Newsnight Rewiew talking about a person "dissing" someone.

Quote: catskillz @ October 27 2009, 4:34 PM BST

or you might hear someone on, say, Newsnight Rewiew talking about a person "dissing" someone.

Not just the artsy types. News reporters on the BBC frequently talk about "dissing" political opponents and "bigging up" allies.

Quote: Kenneth @ October 26 2009, 2:05 PM BST

Chaucer's Miller's Tale (1366): "But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers."

Chaucer wrote using text messages?

There is one British word that irritates me to know end if it comes out of mouth of a North American: mate.
I have a friend who uses it all the time and I think he got it from his brother who modeled in England for years. It just sounds pretentious if the person has an North American accent. He even says "mate with a slight British twang "maytt" instead of "mehate" like everyone else over here does.
Bah! Use "buddy, guy, pal, guy or bud" like every other Canadian damn it!

Quote: Curt @ October 27 2009, 8:50 PM BST

There is one British word that irritates me to know end if it comes out of mouth of a North American: mate.
I have a friend who uses it all the time and I think he got it from his brother who modeled in England for years. It just sounds pretentious if the person has an North American accent. He even says "mate with a slight British twang "maytt" instead of "mehate" like everyone else over here does.
Bah! Use "buddy, guy, pal, guy or bud" like every other Canadian damn it!

:D :D

I say "who knew" all the time. Never really think of that as an American saying.

I love it when Americans try to say "lager". It just doesn't work at all. :)

Quote: zooo @ October 27 2009, 10:20 PM BST

I say "who knew" all the time. Never really think of that as an American saying.

I love it when Americans try to say "lager". It just doesn't work at all. :)

"Who knew?" gained a lot of popularity when the first Transformers movie came out.

When I finally make it to a meet some day, you'll have to hear how I say lager. :D

Quote: AndreaLynne @ October 27 2009, 10:31 PM BST

When I finally make it to a meet some day, you'll have to hear how I say lager. :D

Yay! I am looking forward to it already. :D

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