British phrases - Page 4

DanaC · 11-12-2006, 03:54 AM

Quote:

To elaborate, Pikey was originally a London term for Gypsy, but it has recently developed into a generic term for scumbag unfortunately.

I always thought 'Pikey' referred in particular to Irish gypsies as opposed to Romany gypsies? Maybe that's just how it ended up being used up here in the North.

"Shine on", used to add emphasis to a sentence, or as a mild emphatic statement on its own. "Shine on, I haven't seen one o'them in years".

Do you guys have 'pubcrawls'?

Sundae · 11-12-2006, 06:37 AM

Not sure if Blimey and Crikey are used worldwide - for surprise
and Pants for irritation

Jeanie Mac for surprise/ frustration too, but I suspect that's Irish

I say "Up the stick" for pregnant, if it's to comic effect.

I'll say Cheers when I get off the bus - so it's Goodbye and Thank You combined in that case

Using Trouble affectionately is possibly British too - I'll say to my cats, "What are you up to, Trouble?"

It's actually tricky to work out what is British and what isn't, until someone picks you up on it!

DanaC · 11-12-2006, 06:39 AM

Quote:

It's actually tricky to work out what is British and what isn't, until someone picks you up on it!

Certainly is. I never realised 'fortnight' was a Britishism

Sundae · 11-12-2006, 07:07 AM

I didn't realise stones (as in weight) was until I sat next to a woman on a flight to San Francisco and we got talking about diets!

barefoot serpent · 11-12-2006, 08:15 AM

Undertoad is The Cellar's dog's body

JayMcGee · 11-12-2006, 06:23 PM

... but Brits don't cheat....
it wouldn't be cricket, and our peers would condemn us for 'not playing the game' whilst exhorting us to 'play the white man'

Sundae · 11-13-2006, 04:16 AM

Plums

As in testicles. But then also used in this way to describe people.

Undertoad · 11-13-2006, 07:22 AM

Is "King Edwards" used in the same way? I understand it's a variety of potato?

Sundae · 11-13-2006, 07:25 AM

Not that I know of....
The only potato references I've heard are about Wayne Rooney, a football (soccer) player who's head somewhat resembles a spud

DanaC · 11-13-2006, 07:32 AM

Another term for a guy's 'bits and bobs' is his 'family allowance'. Usually used when injured ie. "Fuckin got me right in my family allowance".

DanaC · 11-13-2006, 07:38 AM

Peculiar to the North I think: "Our Kid", referring to one's brother or sister. Also sometimes used with someone who is a close friend, a bit like calling someone Bro. as in "A'reet our Kid." (meaning hallo).

The use of 'Our' to denote kinship more generally. Eg, our dad, our mam, and in Yorkshire a guy will refer to his wife sometimes as 'our lass'.

barefoot serpent · 11-13-2006, 01:15 PM

So how did Prince Albert become a certain type of body piercing?

Sundae · 11-13-2006, 01:27 PM

Am I missing somethin here?
I've always been confused by the joke - Do you have Prince Albert in a can? Let him out then.

To me Prince Albert was, and is, simply the late husband of Queen Victoria. Very fertile, much mourned, celebrated in The Royal Albert Hall and the slightly incredible Albert Memorial outside.

Elspode · 11-13-2006, 01:57 PM

Here in the States, we refer to a male genital piercing through the glans as a "Prince Albert". I'd kind of like to know why, also.

Perhaps a male Brit would be a better source, here. No offense, SG...

barefoot serpent · 11-13-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

To me Prince Albert was, and is, Very fertile

you may be on to something...

11-12-2006, 06:37 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Not sure if Blimey and Crikey are used worldwide - for surprise and Pants for irritation Jeanie Mac for surprise/ frustration too, but I suspect that's Irish I say "Up the stick" for pregnant, if it's to comic effect. I'll say Cheers when I get off the bus - so it's Goodbye and Thank You combined in that case Using Trouble affectionately is possibly British too - I'll say to my cats, "What are you up to, Trouble?" It's actually tricky to work out what is British and what isn't, until someone picks you up on it! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-12-2006, 07:07 AM	#4
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I didn't realise stones (as in weight) was until I sat next to a woman on a flight to San Francisco and we got talking about diets! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-12-2006, 08:15 AM	#5
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	Undertoad is The Cellar's dog's body __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

11-12-2006, 06:23 PM	#6
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	... but Brits don't cheat.... it wouldn't be cricket, and our peers would condemn us for 'not playing the game' whilst exhorting us to 'play the white man' __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

11-13-2006, 04:16 AM	#7
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Plums As in testicles. But then also used in this way to describe people. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-13-2006, 07:22 AM	#8
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Is "King Edwards" used in the same way? I understand it's a variety of potato?

11-13-2006, 07:25 AM	#9
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Not that I know of.... The only potato references I've heard are about Wayne Rooney, a football (soccer) player who's head somewhat resembles a spud __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-13-2006, 07:32 AM	#10
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Another term for a guy's 'bits and bobs' is his 'family allowance'. Usually used when injured ie. "Fuckin got me right in my family allowance".

11-13-2006, 07:38 AM	#11
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Peculiar to the North I think: "Our Kid", referring to one's brother or sister. Also sometimes used with someone who is a close friend, a bit like calling someone Bro. as in "A'reet our Kid." (meaning hallo). The use of 'Our' to denote kinship more generally. Eg, our dad, our mam, and in Yorkshire a guy will refer to his wife sometimes as 'our lass'.

11-13-2006, 01:15 PM	#12
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	So how did Prince Albert become a certain type of body piercing? __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

11-13-2006, 01:27 PM	#13
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Am I missing somethin here? I've always been confused by the joke - Do you have Prince Albert in a can? Let him out then. To me Prince Albert was, and is, simply the late husband of Queen Victoria. Very fertile, much mourned, celebrated in The Royal Albert Hall and the slightly incredible Albert Memorial outside. Attached Images __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-13-2006, 01:57 PM	#14
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Here in the States, we refer to a male genital piercing through the glans as a "Prince Albert". I'd kind of like to know why, also. Perhaps a male Brit would be a better source, here. No offense, SG... __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

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