England and America are two countries separated by a common language. George Bernard Shaw
Every one knows the obvious words Brits say that have a completely different meaning in the USA and vice versa, but there are others in the English vocabulary that most Americans will not have heard of, so in this blog, I will share some of them with you.
Just to be clear, no one in the UK walks around saying Jolly good, Tally Ho, and Cor Blimey Guvnor! We don’t all down tools and drink tea at 3 whether we are thirsty or not. Its not always foggy in London town and the last time I wore a cape I was 3. I don’t know the Queen or the tall English bloke that your mum worked with called John. Also, sorry to disappoint but Rhyming slang is hardly ever used, so to all those who believe we go up the Apples and Pears for a Butchers hook at the trouble and strife’s threepenny bits are out of luck.
As always, feel free to add your own ideas and feedback. Please remember, this is only a bit of fun and not meant to upset or belittle any City, Town or People, so no emails telling me where to go!
Any road – Up north (where they talk funny!!) instead of saying anyway, they say “any road”!
Translation, I don’t like her any road!
Ay-up or Ay Oop, Northern for Hello.
Dodgy – If someone or something is a bit dodgy, it is not to be trusted. Dodgy food should be thrown away at home, or sent back in a restaurant. Dodgy people are best avoided. You never know what they are up to. Dodgy goods may have been nicked (Stolen)
Duck – In and around Leeds you will find older people might call you “duck” in the same way that they might call you “love” or “dear” in other places. Usually pronounced more like “dook”, which rhymes with “book” and preceded with Me, as in Are you alright Me Dook?
Gutted – If someone is really upset by something they might say that they were gutted. Like when you are told that you have just failed your driving test!
Hard – After your 20 pints of lager and a Curry, your average British bloke year old feels hard. Since his male organ has no chance of working at this stage, hard clearly refers to something else – it means he is ready to fight anything or anybody or to take on any bet. Reference to football song, Come and have a go, if you think you’re hard enough. Translation, Why don’t we have a game of football if you believe you can beat us.
Have – When in restaurants with American friends, they would say to the waiter something like “Can I get a refill”. And the waiter would go and get them a refill.
No no no – that’s completely wrong. It’s “Can I HAVE a refill”. Not GET! If you say “Can I GET a refill” in the UK, the waiter will give you a funny look and tell you exactly where to go and GET it – yourself!
Nowt – This is Yorkshire for nothing. Similarly owt is Yorkshire for anything. Hence the expression “you don’t get owt for nowt”. Roughly translated as “you never get anything for nothing”.
Pear shaped – If something has gone pear shaped it means it has become a disaster. It might be preparing a dinner party or arranging a meeting, any of these things can go completely pear shaped. A more recent description is to say Pete Tong= Wrong. As in, Oh no, its all gone Pete Tong (yes, rhyming slang)
Sorted – When you have fixed a problem and someone asks how it is going you might say “sorted”. It’s also popular these days to say “get it sorted” when you are telling someone to get on with the job
Whinge – Whingers are not popular in any circumstance. To whinge is to whine. We all know someone who likes to whinge about everything.
Wind up – This has a couple of meanings. If something you do is a “wind up” it means you are making fun of someone. However it you are “wound up” it means you are annoyed
England and America are two countries separated by a common language. George Bernard Shaw
Every one knows the obvious words Brits say that have a completely different meaning in the USA and vice versa, but there are others in the English vocabulary that most Americans will not have heard of, so in this blog, I will share some of them with you.
Just to be clear, no one in the UK walks around saying Jolly good, Tally Ho, and Cor Blimey Guvnor! We don’t all down tools and drink tea at 3 whether we are thirsty or not. Its not always foggy in London town and the last time I wore a cape I was 3. I don’t know the Queen or the tall English bloke that your mum worked with called John. Also, sorry to disappoint but Rhyming slang is hardly ever used, so to all those who believe we go up the Apples and Pears for a Butchers hook at the trouble and strife’s threepenny bits are out of luck.
As always, feel free to add your own ideas and feedback. Please remember, this is only a bit of fun and not meant to upset or belittle any City, Town or People, so no emails telling me where to go!
Any road – Up north (where they talk funny!!) instead of saying anyway, they say “any road”!
Translation, I don’t like her any road!
Ay-up or Ay Oop, Northern for Hello.
Dodgy – If someone or something is a bit dodgy, it is not to be trusted. Dodgy food should be thrown away at home, or sent back in a restaurant. Dodgy people are best avoided. You never know what they are up to. Dodgy goods may have been nicked (Stolen)
Duck – In and around Leeds you will find older people might call you “duck” in the same way that they might call you “love” or “dear” in other places. Usually pronounced more like “dook”, which rhymes with “book” and preceded with Me, as in Are you alright Me Dook?
Gutted – If someone is really upset by something they might say that they were gutted. Like when you are told that you have just failed your driving test!
Hard – After your 20 pints of lager and a Curry, your average British bloke year old feels hard. Since his male organ has no chance of working at this stage, hard clearly refers to something else – it means he is ready to fight anything or anybody or to take on any bet. Reference to football song, Come and have a go, if you think you’re hard enough. Translation, Why don’t we have a game of football if you believe you can beat us.
Have – When in restaurants with American friends, they would say to the waiter something like “Can I get a refill”. And the waiter would go and get them a refill.
No no no – that’s completely wrong. It’s “Can I HAVE a refill”. Not GET! If you say “Can I GET a refill” in the UK, the waiter will give you a funny look and tell you exactly where to go and GET it – yourself!
Nowt – This is Yorkshire for nothing. Similarly owt is Yorkshire for anything. Hence the expression “you don’t get owt for nowt”. Roughly translated as “you never get anything for nothing”.
Pear shaped – If something has gone pear shaped it means it has become a disaster. It might be preparing a dinner party or arranging a meeting, any of these things can go completely pear shaped. A more recent description is to say Pete Tong= Wrong. As in, Oh no, its all gone Pete Tong (yes, rhyming slang)
Sorted – When you have fixed a problem and someone asks how it is going you might say “sorted”. It’s also popular these days to say “get it sorted” when you are telling someone to get on with the job
Whinge – Whingers are not popular in any circumstance. To whinge is to whine. We all know someone who likes to whinge about everything.
Wind up – This has a couple of meanings. If something you do is a “wind up” it means you are making fun of someone. However it you are “wound up” it means you are annoyed
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