American Phrases - Page 3

Sundae · 11-14-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

My uncle reports from his time working in the UK for Procter and Gamble that "all set" in the sense of "we have enough" was a phrase that Englishmen didn't understand; telling a waitress inquiring if there was anything else she might get them that "no thanks, we're all set" left her nonplused.

Either she had trouble with his accent or she was just a bim in general - it's not a common phrase over here, but it's not unheard of. My Uncle certainly used to use it when we had buffet style meals, "Right, I think I'm all set" when he'd filled his plate.

DanaC · 11-13-2006, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Freeze the balls of a brass monkey.
Colder than a witch's tit/heart.

Both of those are used in Britain, but are quite old fashioned. I think they come from around the 16th century, but I may be wrong.

Bone up on something, we use also.

"Can't get there from here". I love that. I can almost hear the Maine accent!

Flint · 11-13-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

"Can't get there from here"

Also a great R.E.M. song, from 1985...

dar512 · 11-13-2006, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

"Can't get there from here". I love that. I can almost hear the Maine accent!

"Can't get there from here" actually comes from an old vaudeville joke.

NYC is known for lots of one way streets and bizarre traffic regulations. So when the out of town gentleman rolls down the window of his car and asks a pedestrian for directions to City Hall, the local has to stop and think for a moment.

"Let's see. Go up two streets take a left then... No that's a one way in the wrong direction.

Try this. Go right here, down two streets then go... No you can't turn left there.

Alright. You'll have to go up three streets turn right and then... Wait. That only works after 6.

Sorry buddy. You can't get there from here."

dar512 · 11-13-2006, 09:09 AM

Here's a couple:

"Can I fix you some lunch?" -- fix == prepare

In the US, when someone is pissed (or pissed off), he's not drunk, he's angry.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-13-2006, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Both of those are used in Britain, but are quite old fashioned. I think they come from around the 16th century, but I may be wrong.

Bone up on something, we use also.

"Can't get there from here". I love that. I can almost hear the Maine accent!

I jus...... come down...... from Maine.
Back home was.... the duttyest man..... you evah.... did see.
His name.... was Enoch..... Turner.
Enoch....had a brotha....named Stomach.....Turner.
Now Stomach....got brought befoa the Jedge......for bein'...so dutty.
Jedge says..... Stomach......how come yoah.... so dutty?
Stomach says.....Jedge......how often...... do you change.... your shirt?
Jedge says.....why...I change my shirt.....eeevery day.
Stomach says....now Jedge...how can you sit there and call me dutty....when you dutty 365 shirts... a year.....to my one?
I jus.....come down...from Maine.

DanaC · 11-13-2006, 09:10 AM

We say pissed to mean drunk and pissed off for angry. :P
Fix we also use, but that's very regional.

dar512 · 11-13-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Fix we also use, but that's very regional.

Really? I used that phrase with a young Scottish woman and she had never heard it.

dar512 · 11-13-2006, 10:34 AM

How about "bought the farm"?

Flint · 11-13-2006, 09:25 AM

In the South, we say "fixin' to" meaning "about to" or, roughly, "preparing to" - as in "I'm fixin' to post this..."

monster · 11-14-2006, 05:53 PM

Pushing the envelope

wolf · 11-15-2006, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

Pushing the envelope

And "Screwing the Pooch," which I had never heard before reading The Right Stuff.

DanaC · 11-13-2006, 10:34 AM

aheh. like I say, it's very regional. I've heard it used as in "Can I fix you a drink?"

DanaC · 11-13-2006, 10:35 AM

Bought the farm. I love that one. I'd like to know the derivation of that phrase.

lumberjim · 11-13-2006, 01:08 PM

ashtray on a motorbike over there, innit?

11-13-2006, 09:09 AM	#5
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Here's a couple: "Can I fix you some lunch?" -- fix == prepare In the US, when someone is pissed (or pissed off), he's not drunk, he's angry. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-13-2006, 10:34 AM	#9
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	How about "bought the farm"? __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-13-2006, 09:25 AM	#10
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	In the South, we say "fixin' to" meaning "about to" or, roughly, "preparing to" - as in "I'm fixin' to post this..." __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

11-14-2006, 05:53 PM	#11
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Pushing the envelope __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

11-13-2006, 01:08 PM	#15
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	ashtray on a motorbike over there, innit? __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

11-13-2006, 09:10 AM	#7
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	We say pissed to mean drunk and pissed off for angry. :P Fix we also use, but that's very regional.

11-13-2006, 10:35 AM	#14
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Bought the farm. I love that one. I'd like to know the derivation of that phrase.

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