Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 I know. I have an American Eskimo - they are called Japanese Spitz in England. Alsatians - German shepherds I watch the Westminster dog show every year. There are a lot of differences with the names. It's the same thing with food products, cuts of meat, medicines, and toiletries. I'll never forget when I asked for a napkin at the pub when we first moved to England. The man behind the bar told me they are in the " Ladies " with a look of horror on his face! hehe Of course, I wanted a serviette, and not a personal feminine product. Or, when I asked the pub lanlord where the bathroom was - and he was pretty confused at that question - and my very funny husband told him I wanted to take a bath. My husband caught on quicker than I did, cause he spent a few months there before me. I should have asked for the ladies, the loo, or most popular - the toilet. I'm sorry, I could never ask where the toilet was. I only ever say that word if I'm talking about cleaning or flushing one. I just couldn't get my mouth to say it. " Excuse me, where's the toilet? " I couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried. I called it the ladies. Or the time I called a cab and asked for a ride. The guy said " Darling, I don't think a ride is what you're wanting! You sound too nice a lass for that " For you Americans who don't know a " ride " is a " roll in the hay " . Hey here's a good one - And this is a true story - One American couple who went over to England with Boeing with us were taking the train to London for the day. The husband's name is Randy. Now, in America, Randy is just a name. Randy and Ann had to sit far apart on the crowded train. When it stopped, Ann yells to Randy " Hey Randy, give me my fanny pack! " Now, " fanny " in America is a slang term some use for bum. And, it can also be a woman's name (old fashioned). I think it's mostly popular in the southern states. Of course, what we call a fanny pack, the English call a bum bag. Can you imagine - the whole train car heard that, and stopped what they were doing to look at the stupid Americans! I hope I haven't offended anyone by even writing that word. Most respectable people won't even say it. It just means something totally different here. Needless to say, Randy changed his name back to his original " Randall " after that. And, Ann no longer carries a " bum bag! " For those of you who don't know - (but you should if you've seen Austin Powers) Randy means horney. And, fanny - well, how do I put this gently? It's a really nasty, rude word for a certain woman's private part. I WON'T write the equivalent here. (But if you don't know, and really want to - e-mail me privately) Ha ha! I've LOTS of funny stories about the differences in our common language that we and our other American friends who lived in England for 5 years encountered. We were quick learners, though things did still slip out from time to time! Hugs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 I know. I have an American Eskimo - they are called Japanese Spitz in England. Alsatians - German shepherds I watch the Westminster dog show every year. There are a lot of differences with the names. It's the same thing with food products, cuts of meat, medicines, and toiletries. I'll never forget when I asked for a napkin at the pub when we first moved to England. The man behind the bar told me they are in the " Ladies " with a look of horror on his face! hehe Of course, I wanted a serviette, and not a personal feminine product. Or, when I asked the pub lanlord where the bathroom was - and he was pretty confused at that question - and my very funny husband told him I wanted to take a bath. My husband caught on quicker than I did, cause he spent a few months there before me. I should have asked for the ladies, the loo, or most popular - the toilet. I'm sorry, I could never ask where the toilet was. I only ever say that word if I'm talking about cleaning or flushing one. I just couldn't get my mouth to say it. " Excuse me, where's the toilet? " I couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried. I called it the ladies. Or the time I called a cab and asked for a ride. The guy said " Darling, I don't think a ride is what you're wanting! You sound too nice a lass for that " For you Americans who don't know a " ride " is a " roll in the hay " . Hey here's a good one - And this is a true story - One American couple who went over to England with Boeing with us were taking the train to London for the day. The husband's name is Randy. Now, in America, Randy is just a name. Randy and Ann had to sit far apart on the crowded train. When it stopped, Ann yells to Randy " Hey Randy, give me my fanny pack! " Now, " fanny " in America is a slang term some use for bum. And, it can also be a woman's name (old fashioned). I think it's mostly popular in the southern states. Of course, what we call a fanny pack, the English call a bum bag. Can you imagine - the whole train car heard that, and stopped what they were doing to look at the stupid Americans! I hope I haven't offended anyone by even writing that word. Most respectable people won't even say it. It just means something totally different here. Needless to say, Randy changed his name back to his original " Randall " after that. And, Ann no longer carries a " bum bag! " For those of you who don't know - (but you should if you've seen Austin Powers) Randy means horney. And, fanny - well, how do I put this gently? It's a really nasty, rude word for a certain woman's private part. I WON'T write the equivalent here. (But if you don't know, and really want to - e-mail me privately) Ha ha! I've LOTS of funny stories about the differences in our common language that we and our other American friends who lived in England for 5 years encountered. We were quick learners, though things did still slip out from time to time! Hugs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 I know. I have an American Eskimo - they are called Japanese Spitz in England. Alsatians - German shepherds I watch the Westminster dog show every year. There are a lot of differences with the names. It's the same thing with food products, cuts of meat, medicines, and toiletries. I'll never forget when I asked for a napkin at the pub when we first moved to England. The man behind the bar told me they are in the " Ladies " with a look of horror on his face! hehe Of course, I wanted a serviette, and not a personal feminine product. Or, when I asked the pub lanlord where the bathroom was - and he was pretty confused at that question - and my very funny husband told him I wanted to take a bath. My husband caught on quicker than I did, cause he spent a few months there before me. I should have asked for the ladies, the loo, or most popular - the toilet. I'm sorry, I could never ask where the toilet was. I only ever say that word if I'm talking about cleaning or flushing one. I just couldn't get my mouth to say it. " Excuse me, where's the toilet? " I couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried. I called it the ladies. Or the time I called a cab and asked for a ride. The guy said " Darling, I don't think a ride is what you're wanting! You sound too nice a lass for that " For you Americans who don't know a " ride " is a " roll in the hay " . Hey here's a good one - And this is a true story - One American couple who went over to England with Boeing with us were taking the train to London for the day. The husband's name is Randy. Now, in America, Randy is just a name. Randy and Ann had to sit far apart on the crowded train. When it stopped, Ann yells to Randy " Hey Randy, give me my fanny pack! " Now, " fanny " in America is a slang term some use for bum. And, it can also be a woman's name (old fashioned). I think it's mostly popular in the southern states. Of course, what we call a fanny pack, the English call a bum bag. Can you imagine - the whole train car heard that, and stopped what they were doing to look at the stupid Americans! I hope I haven't offended anyone by even writing that word. Most respectable people won't even say it. It just means something totally different here. Needless to say, Randy changed his name back to his original " Randall " after that. And, Ann no longer carries a " bum bag! " For those of you who don't know - (but you should if you've seen Austin Powers) Randy means horney. And, fanny - well, how do I put this gently? It's a really nasty, rude word for a certain woman's private part. I WON'T write the equivalent here. (But if you don't know, and really want to - e-mail me privately) Ha ha! I've LOTS of funny stories about the differences in our common language that we and our other American friends who lived in England for 5 years encountered. We were quick learners, though things did still slip out from time to time! Hugs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2004 Report Share Posted April 3, 2004 Being an Aussie, we too have differnt words for things. We also use Toilet, Loo but also Dunny and occasionally Thunderbox (a referance to outdoor toilets and the noises that can sometimes be heard eminating from them ). We also use Bum Bag as Fanny has the same reference here as in the UK. Also words like Rubber, Durex can have different meaneings (in this case both mean condom in different countries) but in others a rubber is what you rub out pencil lines with and Durex is a brand of sticky tape. We also use Tomato Sauce and Not Ketchup. We take away and don't take out. And so on and so forth. It is odd the way that things change here in Oz depending on which state you live in different things have different names, one that gets me (being born and raised in and now living in the Australian Capital Territory) is what I call Potato Cakes but here are Potato Scallops (these are slices of potato coated in batter and fried in oil like fish in a fish and chip shop). Sharon > I know. I have an American Eskimo - they are called Japanese Spitz in England. > Alsatians - German shepherds > I watch the Westminster dog show every year. There are a lot of differences with the names. > > It's the same thing with food products, cuts of meat, medicines, and toiletries. > > I'll never forget when I asked for a napkin at the pub when we first moved to England. The man behind the bar told me they are in the " Ladies " with a look of horror on his face! hehe > Of course, I wanted a serviette, and not a personal feminine product. > > Or, when I asked the pub lanlord where the bathroom was - and he was pretty confused at that question - and my very funny husband told him I wanted to take a bath. My husband caught on quicker than I did, cause he spent a few months there before me. > I should have asked for the ladies, the loo, or most popular - the toilet. I'm sorry, I could never ask where the toilet was. I only ever say that word if I'm talking about cleaning or flushing one. I just couldn't get my mouth to say it. " Excuse me, where's the toilet? " I couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried. I called it the ladies. > > Or the time I called a cab and asked for a ride. The guy said " Darling, I don't think a ride is what you're wanting! You sound too nice a lass for that " > For you Americans who don't know a " ride " is a " roll in the hay " . > > Hey here's a good one - > And this is a true story - > One American couple who went over to England with Boeing with us were taking the train to London for the day. > The husband's name is Randy. Now, in America, Randy is just a name. > Randy and Ann had to sit far apart on the crowded train. When it stopped, Ann yells to Randy " Hey Randy, give me my fanny pack! " > Now, " fanny " in America is a slang term some use for bum. And, it can also be a woman's name (old fashioned). > I think it's mostly popular in the southern states. > Of course, what we call a fanny pack, the English call a bum bag. > > Can you imagine - the whole train car heard that, and stopped what they were doing to look at the stupid Americans! > I hope I haven't offended anyone by even writing that word. Most respectable people won't even say it. > It just means something totally different here. > > Needless to say, Randy changed his name back to his original " Randall " after that. > And, Ann no longer carries a " bum bag! " > > For those of you who don't know - (but you should if you've seen Austin Powers) Randy means horney. > And, fanny - well, how do I put this gently? It's a really nasty, rude word for a certain woman's private part. I WON'T write the equivalent here. (But if you don't know, and really want to - e-mail me privately) > > Ha ha! I've LOTS of funny stories about the differences in our common language that we and our other American friends who lived in England for 5 years encountered. We were quick learners, though things did still slip out from time to time! > > > Hugs, > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2004 Report Share Posted April 3, 2004 I remember my kid's first day at school in England. I already knew that a rubber is what we call an eraser, but when , who was then 8 years old, came home and told me she needed a rubber, well - I got a good laugh out of that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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