"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Brits get their knickers in a twist
Fifty Americanisms that get on the nerves of our cousins across the sea.
Truth to tell, some of these annoy me, too. Others? Not that much.
Come now. The Brits may get their knickers all in a knot over some of our phrases, but who can defend using "fortnight" instead of two weeks or some or their other phrases. GMAB.
I agree, some are irritating. Some of the ones they mention are regionalisms though, not Americanisms.
I thought the phrase "waiting on" was a southern thing, I don't think people here in the Northeast use it. Same with that'll learn ya', I can't even type it without thinking it in a southern accent
Conversely "I'm good" I never heard as an answer to How are you? until I moved here (from the West).
But I admit to detesting, passionately, "could care less" along with people who can't distinguish should've from should of, even though semantically should of doesn't make any sense at all. Though I am unconvinced that these are Americanisms more than ignoramisms (or is that ignoramusims?).
Language is interesting and full of quirks, I reckon one should just enjoy it, although "My Bad" does grate it can be useful in a flip sorta way.
And on a visit to Jacksonville a few years ago, I used the term "fortnightly" in a presentation, and several of the audience came and asked me what it meant. I guess bi-weekly works as well, but fortnightly has a nice ring to it.
i think a lot of them are just redneck colloquialisms - omg is that a word. there are also a lot of them i have never heard, so i guess i am not an american ;D wv: litaphab - that is literally phab, baby
Well, I'm annoyed by all the Britianisms that're showing up here in the USA.
Like....uhmm....well...oh, get their knickers in a twist! What's up with that? What are "knickers", and so what if they're in a "twist"! Whatever that is!
The verb to "medal" annoys me greatly. Tolerant as I am, instant execution is the only appropriate penalty but I can live with the rest of them.
I'm not overly irritated by "fanny pack" but it is somewhat odd to Commonwealth ears. To us the "fanny" is not the rear end as I gather it is in seppo land but rather somewhere quite close but only possessed by the female of the species.
I get irritated by the habit, mostly in the news and sports, of using a gerund as a verb. For instance, here in the Detroit area I might hear "The Tigers, winning 5-2" when in actuality the game has been over for two hours. The Tigers aren't "winning" so much as they won hours ago. I suppose it is meant to give some sort of immediacy to the report. I still hate it.
As far as the Brits in that article go though, how do they feel about the phrase "You can just kiss my shiny pink . . . you gap-smiled morons"?
It seems the quest for superiority often leads to self righteous indignation.
ReplyDeleteYou betcha.
Come now. The Brits may get their knickers all in a knot over some of our phrases, but who can defend using "fortnight" instead of two weeks or some or their other phrases. GMAB.
ReplyDeleteI agree, some are irritating. Some of the ones they mention are regionalisms though, not Americanisms.
ReplyDeleteI thought the phrase "waiting on" was a southern thing, I don't think people here in the Northeast use it. Same with that'll learn ya', I can't even type it without thinking it in a southern accent
Conversely "I'm good" I never heard as an answer to How are you? until I moved here (from the West).
But I admit to detesting, passionately, "could care less" along with people who can't distinguish should've from should of, even though semantically should of doesn't make any sense at all. Though I am unconvinced that these are Americanisms more than ignoramisms (or is that ignoramusims?).
Language is interesting and full of quirks, I reckon one should just enjoy it, although "My Bad" does grate it can be useful in a flip sorta way.
ReplyDeleteAnd on a visit to Jacksonville a few years ago, I used the term "fortnightly" in a presentation, and several of the audience came and asked me what it meant. I guess bi-weekly works as well, but fortnightly has a nice ring to it.
I'm fond of "fortnightly". Have grown dreadfully bored with "I'm good."
ReplyDeleteHow do they feel about "Up yours, Chauncey"?
ReplyDeletePS: Accompanied, of course by the poor feral colonials' singleton digitus impudens, rather than the far more civilized British double...
ReplyDeletei think a lot of them are just redneck colloquialisms - omg is that a word. there are also a lot of them i have never heard, so i guess i am not an american ;D
ReplyDeletewv: litaphab - that is literally phab, baby
Well, I'm annoyed by all the Britianisms that're showing up here in the USA.
ReplyDeleteLike....uhmm....well...oh, get their knickers in a twist! What's up with that? What are "knickers", and so what if they're in a "twist"! Whatever that is!
Why can't they just speak real American, like us.
The verb to "medal" annoys me greatly. Tolerant as I am, instant execution is the only appropriate penalty but I can live with the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm not overly irritated by "fanny pack" but it is somewhat odd to Commonwealth ears. To us the "fanny" is not the rear end as I gather it is in seppo land but rather somewhere quite close but only possessed by the female of the species.
I get irritated by the habit, mostly in the news and sports, of using a gerund as a verb. For instance, here in the Detroit area I might hear "The Tigers, winning 5-2" when in actuality the game has been over for two hours. The Tigers aren't "winning" so much as they won hours ago. I suppose it is meant to give some sort of immediacy to the report. I still hate it.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Brits in that article go though, how do they feel about the phrase "You can just kiss my shiny pink . . . you gap-smiled morons"?