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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.

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.

I take great exception to "disheveled".

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


Your assumptions speak volumes. lol

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:

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

Professor? Librarian?

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.

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

Amelie is eccentric, maybe.

Words that strike me as particularly British:

flippant

flibbertigibbit

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...

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

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.]. "

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.

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'

koan;455286 wrote:

flibbertigibbit


:-3

how would you use that in a sentence??

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"

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



:-6

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.

cool, thanks! :-6

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

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.

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.

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

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

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


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

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.

what's the "m" word?

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

It's masturbation:o


My life is now complete

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.

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 .

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.

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


blushing is good. fainting bad.

come on...share it.

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

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"!

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: