Need Translator

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:00 am

Being recently immigrated, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have a thread for translating words and expressions from one culture/region to another. It would work thus:

Write the expression or word you are trying to figure out. State where you are from and what it means to you. Then state which region you are trying to use it in.

Wait and see if any of our multi-talented members can help you out.

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:22 am

What would you call a disheveled, middle aged man who's probably spent his whole life reading books in a dusty old room? British phrases needed.

Post by **spot** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:24 am

I take great exception to "disheveled".

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:25 am

spot;454822 wrote: I take great exception to "disheveled".

Your assumptions speak volumes. lol

Post by **Betty Boop** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:27 am

Pinky;454825 wrote: :yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl

I was then going to say 'Spot' but he beat me to it!!!

I was going to say Spot too! :wah:

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:07 am

koan;454815 wrote: What would you call a disheveled, middle aged man who's probably spent his whole life reading books in a dusty old room? British phrases needed.

Probably a nonce ... perve

:rolleyes: :yh_wink

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:13 am

Professor? Librarian?

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:17 am

Here's another one: In England how would one describe Amelie (as in the movie) to a friend? Assume they haven't seen the movie and you want to explain what her character was like. Just looking for any UK specific terms.

Post by **spot** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:54 pm

Ditzy might work. I'd add "social calamity" but that's just how I reacted to the film.

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:31 pm

Amelie is eccentric, maybe.

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:43 pm

Words that strike me as particularly British:

flippant

flibbertigibbit

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:52 pm

Hmmm, I for some reason always had the sense that flibbertigibbit

was of Southern US source... don't know why and can't point to

any reliable info on it... I suppose that could have "come over" from

the UK originally...

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:53 pm

Amelie would be known here in the north east as (a bit o a deev) its meaning is devious but in an impish affectionate way

this may help you with some others koan - http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/o.htm

Post by **spot** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:54 pm

valerie;455300 wrote: Hmmm, I for some reason always had the sense that flibbertigibbit

was of Southern US source... don't know why and can't point to

any reliable info on it... I suppose that could have "come over" from

the UK originally...1549 LATIMER 2nd Sermon before Edward VI, "These..flybbergybes an other daye shall come & clawe you by the backe and say [etc.]. "

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:04 pm

buttercup;455304 wrote: Amelie would be known here in the north east as (a bit o a deev) its meaning is devious but in an impish affectionate way

this may help you with some others koan - http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/o.htm

that looks like a good one. I've seen some others as well. Problem is they go from UK slang into Canadian or American translation. I need to go the other direction but keep the slang intact.

I also just thought it would be good as an ongoing group translation service for members traveling between other countries. As a writer, I'm just starting things off with phrases that have crossed my path recently. The most recent was "transit cop". That's what we called the security people that spot check for tickets on the skytrain in Vancouver.

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:08 pm

last year i told my american friend i was 'knackered' he'd never heard the word before & thought the sound of it was really funny, apparently he uses it all the time now & no-one has any idea what he's going on about

for those that dont know it just means 'really tired'

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:09 pm

koan;455286 wrote:

flibbertigibbit

:-3

how would you use that in a sentence??

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:29 pm

Don't trust that Sally to fix anything. She's a flibbertigibbet.

Quite honestly, I'd be more tempted to use it in a poem and expand it to "flibbertigibberty"

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:30 pm

"She can't settle on any one thing she's just a flibbertigibbit"

:-6

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:31 pm

buttercup;455336 wrote: last year i told my american friend i was 'knackered' he'd never heard the word before & thought the sound of it was really funny, apparently he uses it all the time now & no-one has any idea what he's going on about

for those that dont know it just means 'really tired'

I knew that I think from reading Black Beauty!! :wah:

The knackers were who you called for old worn out horses.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:34 pm

cool, thanks! :-6

I wonder if my hubby's heard of it??

Post by **spot** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:43 pm

koan;455369 wrote: Quite honestly, I'd be more tempted to use it in a poem and expand it to "flibbertigibberty"On stage, having dried, Ellie Tibbit

decided she had to ad-lib it.

Her extempore verse

changed her part to a terse

irregular flibbertigibbet.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:21 pm

valerie;455378 wrote: I knew that I think from reading Black Beauty!! :wah:

The knackers were who you called for old worn out horses.Also used to describe testicles.

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:49 pm

valerie;455378 wrote: I knew that I think from reading Black Beauty!! :wah:

The knackers were who you called for old worn out horses.

Awww you were a black beauty fan, i loved little house on the prairie :-4

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:26 pm

buttercup;455425 wrote: Awww you were a black beauty fan, i loved little house on the prairie :-4

that brings back memories.....i watched every show of little house on the prairie too. i loved it. :-4

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:39 pm

Pinky;455479 wrote: And Nads!!!:D

Isn't Nads that hair removal system where you press flick and tear it off?

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:14 am

koan;454802 wrote: Being recently immigrated, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have a thread for translating words and expressions from one culture/region to another. It would work thus:

Write the expression or word you are trying to figure out. State where you are from and what it means to you. Then state which region you are trying to use it in.

Wait and see if any of our multi-talented members can help you out.

This seems hard korn. I dont want to tax my brain.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:13 pm

what's the "m" word?

koan · Post by **koan** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:40 pm

Pinky;463310 wrote: I just found out!!!

It's masturbation:o

My life is now complete

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:50 am

I need a British translation of the N American expression "getting laid". It has to be an expression which, if used in a public setting, would result in mild shock (to a conservative audience) but wouldn't outrage anyone.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:22 am

koan;463769 wrote: I need a British translation of the N American expression "getting laid". It has to be an expression which, if used in a public setting, would result in mild shock (to a conservative audience) but wouldn't outrage anyone.

How about...

Having a bunk up .

Having a shag .

On the job .

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:41 am

pantsonfire321@aol.com;463853 wrote: How about...

Having a bunk up .

Having a shag .

On the job .

right. thank you.

shagging is likely a better word than laid.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:56 am

ArnoldLayne;463865 wrote: What about...er.......nah, that made me blush

blushing is good. fainting bad.

come on...share it.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:04 am

ArnoldLayne;463872 wrote: A common expression for us lower classes is "Hanging out the back of her" as in "I wouldnt mind hanging out the back of her"

A little unsavoury for genteel, mixed company but you did ask :sneaky:

Now thats builders speak if ever ive heard it

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:07 am

ArnoldLayne;463872 wrote: A common expression for us lower classes is "Hanging out the back of her" as in "I wouldnt mind hanging out the back of her"

A little unsavoury for genteel, mixed company but you did ask :sneaky:

:wah:

Thank you! I'll keep that in mind for another character. Maybe I'll even call him "Arnold"!

Red · Post by **Red** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:11 am

ArnoldLayne;463872 wrote: A common expression for us lower classes is "Hanging out the back of her" as in "I wouldnt mind hanging out the back of her"

A little unsavoury for genteel, mixed company but you did ask :sneaky:

now even ive never heard this before and ive heard some corkers!

I could write a book on the slang blokes use for our genitalia :rolleyes: