Brits: Turrah
 

I think I know what it means: good bye or cheers. But why does it mean what it means? Where does it come from?

My favorite British idiom I've come across so far is how some describe things as "champion." As in, "That's champion," meaning "that's exactly how it should be" or "that's the best."

It's ta-ra. We would say ta-ta in London.
But your spelling reflects more accurately how it's pronounced.

Champion is very Northern.
It would make me laugh to hear you say it - in a good way I mean.

Normally written 'Ta raa' I think, origin , absolutely no idea

also "the dogs bollocks" (testicles), No idea why being 'the dogs bollocks' is the best something can be, I suppose dogs like them.

Thats a new cellar tag line right there though ;)

'Ta raa' and 'Champion', been up north much then?

EDIT: Simulpost :)

or watching to much 'Last of the Summer Wine'

[he's in Newcastle, Beest]

ok, but what does turrah mean? I mean, besides you're a Northern?

and, is being a Northern a bad thing? Coz I had the most gorgeous Shakespearan prof named McLeod (and, ladies, I mean, HOTT, baby) who was very reluctant to tell us where he came from. Turns out it was Newcastle----as if we'd know anything about that except not to bring coals to it!

it means "bye"

and being northern in the UK is a bit like being from the south in the US ;) us northerners are working class and speak funny

Oh! Thanks for that, monster.

You know, this prof was VERY uncomfy, as I said, when all the moonie-eyed girls wanted to know where he was from as not only was he gorgeous, but, as you might already know, Americans LOVE the UK accents. LOVE them--all of them! We certainly couldn't tell if he was from the North, South, London, Scotland, (we knew he wasn't Irish, tho) so it was innocent enough. HE said, in a quick retort, "Why do you ask?" one girl answered, "because when YOU read Shakspeare, it sounds so...good!

Bye bye buy bonds

Ta ta for now

Later gator

Catch you on the flip side

Schlater!

Bri: does Craig Ferguson's accent make you all weak in the knees? Does me! I too love an English, Irish, Scottish, or Australian accent. I'm sure there are others but those are the ones i can most easily identify.

yeah, I love it! I love all those you mentioned above. One accent I don't like is Vietnamese---they sound like they are always yelling at you. At least, that's my experience.

How about French, mon cherries?

You and your pedicures.

Know what accent I can't stand? A Cleveland accent. Sorry Ohio, I love you, but that accent makes me cringe.

Wee wee mon sewer.

The Newcastle Accent is called Geordie and is generally considered very sexy even by Brits.

Do I like ze French accent?

Non. Too faux-sounding. So dissipe. So, supérieur.

and me mum is French (Canadian, that is----a bastard out of France,non?)

Ted Hughes even sounded like sex on legs! *swoon*

does bril have one ell or two?

as in short for brilliant? two.

Northerner :P And no, she's not. She's a southerner. I am a northerner.

On perceptions of northern-ness: Gordon Brown spoke at the Sheffield (Yorkshire) hustings and was asked about his itinerary. He said he was due to go to 'the North' (meaning Newcastle) in the morning. There was a sharp intake of breath, some catcalls and a few mock-offended laughs. He quickly said, "I mean the other North".

Ok, I'll bite. What's "the other North," and, set me straight here, Newcastle is in the North as is Yorkshire, right? In the US we have the Mason-Dixon line that (sort of) defines North and South. Do you chaps have similar?

I knew there was a reason I have enjoyed the South.:D ;)

I believe he was saying he was heading to Scotland.

No, he was heading to Newcastle. Basically, the country is divided in two: the north and the south. The dividing line is the subject of some debate, however, both Yorkshire and Newcastle are in the North.

Newcastle is further north than yorkshire and lies in what was once the kingdom of Northumbria. They are culturally quiote distinct from the rest of England, and even in some ways from the rest of the North. They have absorbed quite a bit of Scottish culture as much of the region was uner scottish control at various times, and because Northumberland and Scotland border each other.

There's something of a pecking order in northern-ness :P By saying he was going to The North, rather than just saying he was heading north, suggests that he was not in the North to start with. An accidental slip but one guaranteed to rattle a true yorkie.

The North is home to craggy, dour, hard-working men, who drink beer and eat pies. The South is home to big girl's blouses and southern puffs who drink lager and eat sushi.

Who is a Souther Pooftah? SG?

I'm a northern lass. Beest's borderline. He's from the East Midlands. Buncha flatland weirdos.

Yah, SG :P

How many fingers he got?

webbed.....

Ah....so good to see the North and South of any country can have a feud! The way of the world, I say!

Like Dr. Seuss's Star-Bellied Sneetches story!

As an Ohioan, I am south of monster and she can pretend :;): to be superior to me; as an Ohioan, I can scorn Kentucky. All works out!

Even those people south of Kentucky can still scorn Kentucky.

Yeah. Their rep pretty much precedes them. Let's not even talk of West Virginia! ;)

and the Midlands which Northerners think is South and Southerners think is North
Watford gap, specifically the Motorway service station
:p

Southern puff.

lol. Absolutely.

You know it's the funniest thing. I don't have a particularly strong accent most of the time. The further South I go, however, the more northern my accent tends to become. Especially if I am there on business. I went to a Planning summer school at the university of Kent. The vast majority of the councillors in attendance came from Southern boroughs. By the time I reached Canterbury my accent had become thoroughly Bolton and I'd hooked up with three Aberdeenshire councillors. There's a handful of bits of northern dialect generally in my speech, but the accent got stronger. Southerners always seem to find it funny when I use 'thee' or 'tha'. Oh yeah and 'chuck'. I use that quite a lot.

(sorry. Turned into a ramble :P)

Thanks for the mini history lesson Dana. Good stuff. I love the UK.

Actually in the South we use the word pouf (or poof) not puff :p

Yes, I am a Southerner, but hard as nails me, from a proper East End family. My Grandad is a genuine, certified Cockney, born as he was within the sound of Bow bells. Dana & Monster will attest I have no identifiable accent, but in the brief clip of my Dad on Boxing Day you can definitely hear the Londoner in him.

Monster I disagree re the Newcastle accent - I think it's one people either love or loathe. I happen to love it. I can't think of an acccent I dislike though. I did have a violent aversion to Aussies for a while when my evil ex moved one into his flat during one of our breaks. I blamed a whole continent for his perfidy rather than aiming my anger in the right direction. I'm long over that now.

I'll add to the information about Newcastle.
Down here, it's seen as another country. The people up there - especially the men - don't feel the cold. This is despite the fact is is actually much colder there than in the South. They walk around in t-shirts in the middle of winter, arms so tattooed they look like lumps of Stilton cheese. The diet is one of the worst in the country, rivalling Scotland in its delight for deep fried items. Unemployment is higher, house prices are lower and supermarkets sell unbranded items in economy sized packs. Shopping trolleys live in canals and children's playgrounds are paved with broken glass. The local dialect is damn near unintelligible and the sound of a Southern accent brings hostile stares and accusations of snobbery. Football is worshipped and art is suspected. The people are clannish and sentimental - once accepted you are treated as family.

Well, that's the general view anyway.

I've been there - there's an element of truth in the above, but mostly it's an unfair and blinkered view. I think it's perpetuated by ex-Geordies moving to London, who whinge on about how shite everything is in the South and how great but tough life back home is.

Puff more accurately reflects how I am saying it. Puff. :P

That's the odd thing about these kinds of stereotypes they're often quite contradictory. Though the South generally is regarded suspiciously (and a little enviously) by the North, as having grown soft on all that sunshine and ready flowing money, London houses the other accepted Southern stero-type: the East End gangster.

There is a distinct change as one travels southwards in England. The landscape is different, the economy is different, the amount of wealth is different for much of the South (there are many working-class areas inthe South, but the Home Counties really skew the picture) and the sun shines much more. The British economy ensures that there is a general flow of money from the North to the South and not the other way around. Most importantly, the North is further away from the centre of power in England, and apart from a brief spell of Northumbrian dominance in the iron age, that has always been so. Culturally, also, the South is the centre of gravity.

Basically, the North has a gigantic chip on its shoulder about the South. The South sees the North as a slightly embarrassing and uncultured cousin.

Very interesting stuff.

Can anyone explain the obsession with thin sweatshirts with wide horizontal grey and white stripes?

They're everywhere. I see them on little kids through people in their mid-20s. It's definitely a unique trend like the tracksuit and hip-dysplasia walk things.

hahah. I can't explain it.

I lived North of Newcastle for a year. I had me a sexy accent for a while too. :lol: And I was hard as nails. Contrary to your belief, SG, you sound very London to me, just not cockney London.

This I have not seen. Is it the new Burberry (Essex Tartan)? I may need pics, but perhaps once my dinner has gone down....

They were on sale. ;)

UK doesn't do sale like US . but nice try....

Perhaps they want to look like long-time convicts?

Well, we all have tans and zinc-cream on our noses.

The supplier (China) had 'em on sale. :p

aaaah, Matalan had them in......

(Snigger)

the whole north/south thing is further confused when you live in southern Scotland ....

Turrah- local variant of ta ta
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ta ta Audio Help /tɑ ˈtɑ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[tah tah] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Chiefly British. good-bye.
[Origin: 1830–40; orig. uncert.]

oh yeah? when are they going to get a team?

Who knows. Hopefully they'll evict the people who have loud parties every couple of weeks in the big stadium-like building next door to my accommodation.

Our Londoner friends, the wife, made this comment about Mrs. Foot:
"She's got brilliant legs."
I thought it was kind of funny since we use brilliant almost always to describe intellect or light and by extension diamonds. But legs?
Here they are, but be forewarned; when we were at the Cape someone stole her ass. She's kind of bummed about it, so pretend you don't notice.
kthxbye

Better to have it missing than to find it was just hiding down by one's knees. She is a very fit lady, and should be proud of her demure booty.

... and yes, she does have brilliant legs :)

It's the tapeworm and all the breastfeeding. It seems the booty is always better on the other side of the fence to most women. Those who have a lot wish they had a little and those who have a little wish they have a lot [/broadbrush] (get it? broad brush?) :greenface

That is so true.

is that a Tilley hat she's got there?


she DOES have nice gams, baby.

She's beautiful, you are lucky and you can tell her I said so.

Speaking of which, I grew up knowing that if there was a Waffle House nearby, you were north of the Mason-Dixon. If there was an IHOP, you were south. ;)

Not so much anymore, they're spread out everywhere now. So much for that compass.

This is how it is between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, too. :cool:

Now here's a Brit accent to get your teeth into....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7595603.stm

Monster....wow...I watch alot of British stuff, but that lady at the beginning had me going, "Wait.....wait..................what?"

Haha. Nice going.

This is easier to understand:) Bolton, my hometown. This is Dave Spikey a Bolton comedian (who my mum used to work with as it happens).

did someone mention Geordie? :lol:

Ohmigod, Auf Wiedersehn Pet!


Seems slightly slowed down compared to how geordies sound in rl :P To make it understandable for people not on the banks of the Tyne, I presume.

yup