British phrases - Page 8

DanaC · 11-27-2006, 06:32 PM

well indeed.

CzinZumerzet · 11-28-2006, 05:08 AM

The first time I visited the US (Christmas in Oregon, 1967) it took me a few days to realise why at certain times of the day people would ask me the time, then fall about laughing at my reply.

At twenty five minutes past the hour, I say -

"Five and twenty past ten" for example, or "Five and twenty to two".

It never failed to reduce them to giggles until I sussed it and changed the way I said it. Does it still amuse?

monster · 11-28-2006, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CzinZumerzet

The first time I visited the US (Christmas in Oregon, 1967) it took me a few days to realise why at certain times of the day people would ask me the time, then fall about laughing at my reply.

At twenty five minutes past the hour, I say -

"Five and twenty past ten" for example, or "Five and twenty to two".

It never failed to reduce them to giggles until I sussed it and changed the way I said it. Does it still amuse?

Frankly, it amuses most Brits too (except those from Somerset and Nottingham)

Saying "quarter to three" rather than 2:45 seems to be not the done thing round here, but they know what I mean.

monster · 11-28-2006, 11:56 PM

Bollock-all

=nothing

"I worked all night but I had bollock-all to show for it"

DanaC · 11-29-2006, 08:11 AM

'Sweet Fanny Adams'. Is this a Brit phrase, or do Americans use it to? As in Sweet F.A.

Undertoad · 11-29-2006, 08:37 AM

Totally Brit. That old band Sweet had a song called that (Sweet F.A.) and I never understood why.

barefoot serpent · 11-29-2006, 09:58 AM

I do hereby humbly suggest that we move on to pronunciation...

to whit: Jaguar

two syllables or three?

DanaC · 11-29-2006, 11:10 AM

Sweet F.(uck) A.(all). F.(anny) A.(dams).

DanaC · 11-29-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

I do hereby humbly suggest that we move on to pronunciation...

to whit: Jaguar

two syllables or three?

Three Jag-ewe-er/ar

dar512 · 11-29-2006, 12:52 PM

I never did understand the mangling of jaguar in Winnie-the-Pooh until St. Louis got a Jaguar dealership that had radio commercials.

DanaC · 11-29-2006, 05:54 PM

Could you explain that last comment please Dar?

dar512 · 11-29-2006, 06:05 PM

Here in the US we pronounce jaguar with two syllables jag-war. Somewhere in one of the WtP stories, they mention a jaguar as a jagular. Heffalumps and woozles made sense as mispronunciations, but jagular didn't - until I heard the British pronunciation.

Aliantha · 11-29-2006, 06:07 PM

OMG! You're messing with a classic car. It's pronounced Jag-U-ar! Get it right FFS!!!

dar512 · 11-29-2006, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

OMG! You're messing with a classic car. It's pronounced Jag-U-ar! Get it right FFS!!!

See. And I think Jag-U-ar sounds pretentious. I admit that it may have something to do with the snooty sound of the guy who did the commercials.

limey · 11-29-2006, 06:55 PM

But Jags are pretentious cars. If we didn't have the potholes we do here, I'd have an XJS convertible (any colour will do

).

11-28-2006, 05:08 AM	#2
CzinZumerzet .....short for Caz Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The West Coast of England Posts: 358	The first time I visited the US (Christmas in Oregon, 1967) it took me a few days to realise why at certain times of the day people would ask me the time, then fall about laughing at my reply. At twenty five minutes past the hour, I say - "Five and twenty past ten" for example, or "Five and twenty to two". It never failed to reduce them to giggles until I sussed it and changed the way I said it. Does it still amuse? __________________ ..down by the zea zippin' zider

11-28-2006, 11:56 PM	#4
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Bollock-all =nothing "I worked all night but I had bollock-all to show for it" __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

11-29-2006, 09:58 AM	#7
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	I do hereby humbly suggest that we move on to pronunciation... to whit: Jaguar two syllables or three? __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

11-29-2006, 12:52 PM	#10
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	I never did understand the mangling of jaguar in Winnie-the-Pooh until St. Louis got a Jaguar dealership that had radio commercials. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-29-2006, 06:05 PM	#12
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Here in the US we pronounce jaguar with two syllables jag-war. Somewhere in one of the WtP stories, they mention a jaguar as a jagular. Heffalumps and woozles made sense as mispronunciations, but jagular didn't - until I heard the British pronunciation. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-27-2006, 06:32 PM	#1
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	well indeed.

11-29-2006, 08:11 AM	#5
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	'Sweet Fanny Adams'. Is this a Brit phrase, or do Americans use it to? As in Sweet F.A.

11-29-2006, 08:37 AM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Totally Brit. That old band Sweet had a song called that (Sweet F.A.) and I never understood why.

11-29-2006, 11:10 AM	#8
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Sweet F.(uck) A.(all). F.(anny) A.(dams).

11-29-2006, 05:54 PM	#11
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Could you explain that last comment please Dar?

11-29-2006, 06:07 PM	#13
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	OMG! You're messing with a classic car. It's pronounced Jag-U-ar! Get it right FFS!!! __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-29-2006, 06:55 PM	#15
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	But Jags are pretentious cars. If we didn't have the potholes we do here, I'd have an XJS convertible (any colour will do ). __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

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