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Name that Major!
AEndr, The Mad Hatter Posted Oct 31, 1999
I have a number of new to UK American friends, including one flat mate
she said "I went to sleep in her pants"
over here, pants are men's underwear NOT anything a girl wears!
another one is rubbers. We use them to rub out pencil marks. ie erasers.
One English bloke I heard of (was it a boyfriend of someone on h2g2?) was in a stationers in America and shouted to her "don't forget the rubbers" over the crowd. I really can't imagine her embarrasment.
Vests - are underwear we wear to keep warm. We call the sleevless jackets waistcoats
Suspenders - keep ladies' (and NOT ladies') stockings up. Not mens' trousers, we use braces for that.
but what is the thing about napkins? I haven't heard of that.
Name that Major!
Irving Washington - Gone Writing Posted Nov 1, 1999
So THAT'S what a waistcoat is! I've always wondered! Anyhow, I've always heard that in the UK "napkins" are, er, um, feminine hygine products. In the US we use them to wipe your face at a restaraunt, and need them when we set the table.
Name that Major!
saffire Posted Nov 1, 1999
yep yep yep...
how did english english and american english get to be so different???
Name that Major!
Irving Washington - Gone Writing Posted Nov 2, 1999
I should think that it's fairly simple... Distance of so many miles across an ocean and all that, slang in different parts of America is very different, and we've got land between us, so the development of language between the US and the UK, seperated by the big body of water can get to be pretty big. And alot of the words that are different are probably words that only fell into common usage after the American Revolution (ie, the boot v the trunk of the car), so it's not too suprising. Of course, what I like best is that in the US, saying "I'm stuffed" means you've eaten way too much. But in NZ, saying "I'm stuffed" means that you're pregnant. They've got the coolest slang for "bald" there, too. "Eggshell blonde" they call it...
Name that Major!
saffire Posted Nov 2, 1999
eggshell blond...heehee...that almost makes it sound glamorous
-saffire
Name that Major!
Irving Washington - Gone Writing Posted Nov 2, 1999
Well, I personally think that guys who go bald with pride are definately more glamorous than guys who buy cheap hair peices, or try to comb it over...
Name that Major!
AEndr, The Mad Hatter Posted Nov 2, 1999
someone's been kidding you
in the uk, napkins are laid at tables and then over the lap to protect you form crumbs
we use facecloths and handkercheifs to wipe our faces
fem hyg prods are towels or "st"s
but no-one confuses hand or bath towels with them, and no-one will think st's if you say towels
Name that Major!
Irving Washington - Gone Writing Posted Nov 2, 1999
Hm... Guess someone pulled the towel over my eyes.
Name that Major!
Irving Washington - Gone Writing Posted Nov 2, 1999
now I'm going to smell all funny!
Name that Major!
Irving Washington - Gone Writing Posted Nov 2, 1999
do you expect me to change right here in front of everyone?
Name that Major!
saffire Posted Nov 3, 1999
WHOAH THERE!
i leave and come back and people are getting neked???
hahaha...
-saffire
Name that Major!
The Lizard Posted Nov 3, 1999
This has the potential to become one of the most exciting forums on h2g2!
Key: Complain about this post
Name that Major!
- 121: saffire (Oct 31, 1999)
- 122: AEndr, The Mad Hatter (Oct 31, 1999)
- 123: Irving Washington - Gone Writing (Nov 1, 1999)
- 124: saffire (Nov 1, 1999)
- 125: Irving Washington - Gone Writing (Nov 2, 1999)
- 126: saffire (Nov 2, 1999)
- 127: Irving Washington - Gone Writing (Nov 2, 1999)
- 128: AEndr, The Mad Hatter (Nov 2, 1999)
- 129: Irving Washington - Gone Writing (Nov 2, 1999)
- 130: AEndr, The Mad Hatter (Nov 2, 1999)
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- 134: AEndr, The Mad Hatter (Nov 2, 1999)
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- 136: AEndr, The Mad Hatter (Nov 2, 1999)
- 137: Irving Washington - Gone Writing (Nov 3, 1999)
- 138: The Lizard (Nov 3, 1999)
- 139: saffire (Nov 3, 1999)
- 140: The Lizard (Nov 3, 1999)
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