American here. I had a British professor once and he said "Bob's your uncle" and then he asked "do you say 'Bob's your uncle' here?" and one of my classmates said "No, Sam is our uncle!"
+Patrick Hodson American here as well! I had a British Professor, while I was in college, continuously rebuff attempts to grant us the day off for 4th of July, which would against her department schedule! She finally got ticked and stated "Look! In case you guys haven't figured it out, I am British! You won the revolution! We are having class! How's that for 200 years of payback?"
I was in the States! We were in an accelerated program that did not leave room for maneuvering. The way I saw it, we were all afforded an opportunity to drop the class after reviewing the schedule on the first day. None of us had to show on the 4th, she didn't care. She just wasn't stopping the lessons, per department scheduling.
+Ember Leo Agreed. "Head in the clouds" is the exact equivalent, not "space cadet." And to the person who objected to this, I think both "head in the clouds" and "away with the faeries" can mean just "momentarily distracted" or "naive, impractical, clueless, generally off in his/her own world."
You forgot "No, it's fine" meaning "It is in no way fine, I'll hate you forever". And "Oh, that's not bad" meaning "That is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced".
London-based colleague of mine drew a total blank at Maceys in New York just before Christmas. She informed a burly store security guard 'that bloke just nicked a jumper'...
+Andrew M Bergman Would you Adam and Eve it? A jumper is of course what the US calls a sweater. One of the biggest misunderstandings I had in a retail context was in Australia. In Britain we use the term 'flogged' to mean sold. In Australia it means stolen. I had a few blank moments over that less than subtle difference.
You people should jump on the "cut everything away until it rings gaily" train of the Brits. "Haven't seen you in a Rac!" is totally sufficient and I like it.
British people say that more commonly than donkey's years there are many ways to say it. When I was young we used to say " Haven't seen you in yonks" Yonks meaning ages but I am buggered if I know what yonks means
I would describe Britain and the US as two nations divided by knowing who Oscar Wilde actually was. working for a US company for several years here's the ones I used to use that baffled the natives. "Doin me ead in" "Oi mate!" "innit" "it's all gone pear shaped" "the boys done good" "on the piss" "it's the dog's bollocks" "arse over tit" "scarper" "throw a wobbler" "shite"
Rachel Rules, if I were British, I would totally be proud of it, but I am not sure you realize, that the majority of Americans see you as the country who lost the colonies, George III the tyrant, and stuck-up. I don't agree with those statements, but my classmates do... I wouldn't love to be thought of that way...
HM Grace. A few years ago I went to New York City, having being informed beforehand that if I wanted an opinion I`d get one there. Not that this is why I went. Those people ( New Yorkers ) were in general and for much the greater part delightful, and if they thought of me as a stuck- up loser they certainly hid it well. I hope that, should you ever come here, you shall be treated as well here as I was there.
What is amazing is that Aussies use almost all of these phrases. Far more UK phrases that US ones. I was a bit afraid for a while there that US TV shows might ruin some of the colourful English language heritage we Aussies have. Apparently not so much....oh bugger....
That was quite helpful, actually. For all the griping Brits do about Americans slaughtering the English language, we look at them as if they are bonkers because all of these colloquialisms are such nonsensical baby talk to us.
Sarban Bhattacharya I'm American but my grandma was from Camden so I grew up with a lot of Cockney Rhyming slang. I loved it so much that me and her always spoke cockney slang in public to confuse everyone. I miss her..
Dear Sioban, do you think you could post tapescripts for your videos so that English teachers could make full use of them in class. Being short and informative and soooo nicely presented they can be great fun for learners as well as for their teachers. Tapescripts would make teachers' work easier. Thank you ever so much for your marvellous videos!
OMG, I never heard "Living at her majesty's pleasure" that is so awesome! I love it. I want to twist it round to use it in the states, maybe living at the POTUS' pleasure... naaa, not quite as cool.
Here in my native America, I've only heard it expressed, "I haven't seen you in a dog's age," owing to the alleged fact that dogs age more years in a single year, than a human ages in a single year (?) And it is also common to say you haven't seen someone in "ages."
These are great - I hear a lot of them on a daily basis, but I think they're very much Southern based. If you go to Northern England, you'll find a lot of very different idioms and phrases that are little known or used in London or the South East. In particular, Newcastle, Liverpool, Yorkshire and Birmingham all have very particular regional colloquialisms.
There's where the U.S. and England are alike. As in there are different dialects in the North, and in the South. If you think some of the dialects in England are odd. You should listen to some true southerners in Mississippi, (Cajun). They speak in such a way, it may sound like there stupid, but no. I do find the Cajun language really funny to listen to.
Like anywhere else there are regional expressions. It's nice to know, but I'd look like a fake using expressions from a place I never lived or was raised in.
I was truly horrified my first year working in the UK when a VERY nice looking fellow came around and perched on the edge of my desk and leaned over and said, "So, have you had any joy?" I looked around madly. Had anyone else heard this? He leaned over and said again, "Have you had any JOY?" My eyes must have been saucers. Finally, he said, "So, were you able to contact that client like we agreed yesterday you were going to do?" OH! So "joy" must mean "luck"! I was SO relieved.
+nuya buisness She's absolutely right that "bob's your uncle" is used for something done quickly and efficiently, but it is also used as sarcasm to describe something that is obvious, like an obvious outcome; "He punched the popo (police) and bobs your uncle he got nicked (arrested). No surprise to anyone. I sometimes use the phrase "'Lo and behold" to that effect too, but that might just be me.
Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt! 👍 Well thought out video, glad I stumbled across your channel, think I may introduce my American friend to here 😆
As an American, I am often perplexed that "Bollocks" is bad, but "The Dog's Bollocks" is good. So, testicles are generally bad unless they are a canine's? Is it good only if the testicles are still attached to said dog, or are we talking neutered animals? Is it a matter of cuisine? I get it. I've seen "The Supersizers Eat."
Bollocks is simply a little harsh and can come over as aggressively critical. When people are saying something is the dogs bollocks (or the mutts nuts if you want a politer version) then it's normally in a more positive celebratory context of saying something's great. Anglophenia is definitely the mutts nuts...
I once heard that the phrases "Dog's Bollocks" and "Bog Standard" came from the boxes that Meccano sets ( a toy) came in donkeys years ago :-). Apparently there were two sizes; the more expensive version Box Deluxe and the cheaper, Box Standard. Now that sounds too good to be true.....
Who knows...social conventions probably. Mutts nuts, dogs danglies and dogs bollocks are all perfectly acceptable expressions of how awesome something is although it's definitely a phrase that would be used more with your mates than your mum. On it's own, bollocks is more of a slur e.g. "you're talking bollocks" (lying) or simply "bollocks" (I don't agree with you in the strongest terms). You used to hear people using the similar term "balls" but it seems a bit quaint now and doesn't have the force of bollocks.
...oh, yeah...why does 'the dogs bollocks' mean something is awesome. I haven't got a scooby do. Maybe something to do with the fact that dogs bollocks stick out / stand out. The dogs bollocks basically means to stand out or be outstanding. I'm guessing though...
I like the British phrase, "Night, night, sleep tight, mind the bed bugs don't bite". It came from when they used ropes instead of slats on the bed frame and they used to have to tighten the ropes!
elbeanboymanchester The woman in the video clearly did not. And I'm not wrong or stupid for understanding her . . . as most Americans would. There's nothing to argue here.
Siobhan, you are a genius, I'm Polish and my mum teaches English here, we're both interested in British culture and we also like improving our language skills. Your youtube channel is now one of our favourites, what you do is brilliant, creative, and well-prepared. We absolutely LOVE your sense of humour :)
This is a stitch. Considering that I lived in London for a year *and* how much British TV I watch, I was surprised by how many I *didn't* know. Terrific, fun video.
'Be reet in morning'. sometimes said as simply 'Buh-'reet' - In the town of wigan, this means "things will be allright" used in a sentence: "Eee, yah sista broke door? gerra ear an al ave word wit err, b'reet int mornin, but hers got too learn." also that is actually how my grandfather speaks.
Why can't you do that? English is British, it's not the only thing that's British but it's British nevertheless. I'm also pretty sure England has the biggest population by far so it's a fair generalization. Most Brits are English.
My colleague recently asked me if another colleague would "have kittens" about a decision I was proposing (meaning throw a fit, I think...) I nearly died laughing!!!!
A lot of Brits here saying they've never heard these before - I've lived in the South West all my life and have heard them all except "up the hill to Bedfordshire". They all generally are in daily use. Another good one is "having a bubble" (Bubble bath / laugh) and also "taking the Mick (or piss)" or if you're really cheeky, "Extracting the Michael"
Having a bubble should actually be having a bobble, as in bobble hat and scarf. Apologies, my pedantry winds me up (there's one the lady missed) too, I can't help myself.
I know them all too Katherine. I am British born and bred, How bout this one. Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs? Or, Gone dark over Bill's mother's? The lights are on but nobody's home, similar to away with the fairies I'd say? Lol
When I visited my cousin in England we all met up for dinner and when she was asking me about a place I went with my family the day before like stone henge or something and she aksed, "How did you find it?" I was super confused for a moment and was about to answer, "Uhh, we just drove there." when I realized she was asking me how I liked it. I'd like to know what slang we Americans use that Brits don't understand.
I can remember my English relatives asking if I was "taking the mickey" or "playing the mickey" meaning "are you making fun of me" or telling a tall tale (I think.. correct me if I'm wrong) What is the origin of this phrase anyway?
REJECTED FOREVER? Lamentations 5:22 Unlike the agony of the Jews which our merciful God turned back, the agony of hell will last forever, there will be no turning back. I know we like to think that God can’t be that “wicked”, that’s our ‘It won’t happen to me’ psyche talking. If you can conceive of eternal bliss with Christ then eternal judgement is not so much of a foreign concept is it? Anyway the Bible say it’s so and that’s that, just avoid hell, serve Jesus.
I see you comment on every single popular video on the popular YT page...If you really are trying to promote people to convert to Christianity and follow Jesus then you probably shouldn't annoy people but commenting on EVERYTHING!
British? Don't pander to the feelings of the Americans on here. People in Britain speak English - English English - aka English. It's the variants in countries like America that need the prefix.
+MKRM27 -you are so very correct' My friends get upset when I explain that the British version is correct and ours is WRONG,. In the US we speak a bastardized ,watered down, anagrammed version of English. I would say within 75 to a 100 years it won't even be recognizable as English. If not sooner. : ) Hope you have a nice day!
I live in the UK but have lived for sometime in the USA in the 70's and again in the 90's. American English includes many phrases from old English(like turnpike) which are no longer in use in the UK. Global communications actually means UK and US English are becoming closer. For instance automobile(car) jargon is very different as invented at start of 20th century whereas late 20th century IT jargon is identical.
As a Brit I'd say you are being unkind to yourself. Although strictly there a few American usages that I'd say are wrong, overall US English is as valid a version of English as any other. What actually annoys me is Brits who think it's cool to use the latest Americanism. Does America equally have those who think it's cool to sound British? Equally daft.
Being from the North, a particular phrase I like is "Ay-up". Although I don't know how to describe it, probably meaning "Hello" but not as a greeting. If someone could describe "Ay-up" that would be great.
BradTheThird Are you from the North of England or Northern US? Because "Ay-up" as far as I know is New England for "yes" or actually "yeah". But I think it's pronounced "Ay-uh". I haven't the faintest idea what it would mean in the North of England.
Northern England... The "Ay" is pronounced like "Hey" but without the "H". The "Ay" meaning "yes" that you're thinking of is probably prounced as "Eye", that's used a lot here too. But all the broad dialect tends to be used among the older generations. Hell, I don't even know if I've spelled it right.
Yes! That is the context that it's used in. Let's get an example going. Say you was to see someone you know, somewhere you wouldn't expect to see them, you would say "Ay-up, what are you doing here?" In the surprised sense because you weren't expecting it. It very interesting to see that it is in Germany. How would that work actually? Would they say "Ay-up" and then speak the rest in German or do they have their own word for it?
alex ojideagu Or, "were you raised in a barn?" That's also American, from the Ozark Mountains in Missouri or possibly the Appalachians in Tennessee. We always said it in reference to people from Arkansas. That's south of Missouri. (No offense.) Another phrase from the "hillbillies" (people from the mountains of Appalachia or the Ozarks) is "it ain't worth a hill o' beans", but I have an idea that's an American Indian phrase adopted, as Indian farmers planted in hills, while Euro-Americans plant everything in flat rows. Indians would pile up soil in a small hill, put a few corn seeds in the middle, put some bean seeds around the corn (so the beans could grow up the stalk of corn) and put squash seeds at the base of the hill, all around, because they're vines and need room to spread out. Pretty clever.
***** 2 things actually. we won 2 wars against you and saved you in ww2 :) im just joking brag about having a lot of different climate in the states. that and chuck norris
Mavis Username I meant not an Southern US accent, or a Northern US one. I have relatives with both, and they all have real strong ones and they all sound strange to me.
Time for both the British and the Americans to get their act together. Let's standardi(s,z)e the English language-ONE spelling and pronunciation for BOTH countries…along with a belated adoption of the metric system.
First of all, you are right about the metric system. I think that should be the same in any country. By the way, I cannot believe the arrogance of USA being the only country using miles instead of kilometers. We should all use the S.I. of units. That is why it exists. I don't agree about the spelling-pronunciation thing though. Firstly, it is impossible to make millions of people change the way they speak in a day. Secondly, There are some words and phrases that exist only in British English (or only in American English). They shouldn't be "lost" in an attempt to standardise the language. They make each country and the people that leave in it different. Different is interesting !!!
Solihullite you do? I just hoped you didn't By the way, I never got that driving thing you have. I mean why? There is no right or wrong here, but I know people who have been to England and had accidents.
I've never heard anyone but a bird enthusiast say "morning/dawn chorus". I got some others that I use and hear in use in N.Yorkshire, though I don't know if Americans use them. Dog's bollocks - meaning its the prime variant of something. Tight as a ducks arse - meaning someone is stingy with their money Face likes a ducks arse - meaning someone has an uptight facial expression Peal an orange in your pocket - meaning someone's not very generous.
My brother would say things like "Bouncing round mans yard yesterday I saw someone get panned, I mean they got PANNED! Before you knew it the five O were round and most man got gripped"
Mathew Willis Sassanack is thought to be anti-english to the english but it is not, Sassanack simply means foreign visitor in Scotland.. Don't believe the bullshit definitions of the word.
Gary Mcatear Actually it was originally used to describe the English, it came to mean anybody who didn't Speak Gaelic. When lowland Scots began speaking Scots from the 15th century onward, highlanders began referring to them as "Sassanacks".
Now I was told by a Scottish language professor that Sassenach actually refers to lowland Scots, (who have lots of Saxon and Norman blood) by Highlanders.
You do realize that we get British television programs here, right? I only bring this up because when these phrases are used in context, like they are in a number of British television shows, they're self explanatory. Also, many of these phrases are no longer used in day to day British slang.
