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Hey-------you really "lucked out". My New Zealand born and raised wife thought for years that this expression mean't that the individual was out of luck and she would express sympathy to the individual, whereupon they would give her a strange look. I had the winning ticket and really "lucked out", most Americans would recognise this as a positive expression.



"Good for you" a American might say, congratualting someone on their accomplishment, where as Aussies and Kiwi's and probably those in the UK might say "Good on ya".



What time is tea? Most Americans hear this and think it's a cuppa tea, whereas it's mean't as dinner or supper as most Americans would say.



There are many expressions and manner of speaking that makes us Americans appear very strong, assertive and in your face and perhaps sometimes impolite. Proof of this can be found right here on Forum Garden in reading different posts and their replies. There are exceptions, but I really don't believe that most poster are deliberate in offending.



I have often wondered about these differences in cultural expressions and the problems they cause in diplomatic relations.



Body language is another cultural difference that is worth a discussion. Perhaps another post on that one.

Lon;1132566 wrote: Hey-------you really "lucked out". My New Zealand born and raised wife thought for years that this expression mean't that the individual was out of luck and she would express sympathy to the individual, whereupon they would give her a strange look. I had the winning ticket and really "lucked out", most Americans would recognise this as a positive expression.



"Good for you" a American might say, congratualting someone on their accomplishment, where as Aussies and Kiwi's and probably those in the UK might say "Good on ya".



What time is tea? Most Americans hear this and think it's a cuppa tea, whereas it's mean't as dinner or supper as most Americans would say.



There are many expressions and manner of speaking that makes us Americans appear very strong, assertive and in your face and perhaps sometimes impolite. Proof of this can be found right here on Forum Garden in reading different posts and their replies. There are exceptions, but I really don't believe that most poster are deliberate in offending.



I have often wondered about these differences in cultural expressions and the problems they cause in diplomatic relations.



Body language is another cultural difference that is worth a discussion. Perhaps another post on that one.


"Good for you" is well done (literally that result was good for you) whereas "good on ya" is more thank you (as in that was good of you).

Meals here can either be breakfast dinner tea or breakfast lunch and dinner depending when you have your main meal. I'm greedy and have breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, high tea, dinner and then supper.

As they say, two nations separated by a common language.

Lon;1132566 wrote: Hey-------you really "lucked out". My New Zealand born and raised wife thought for years that this expression mean't that the individual was out of luck and she would express sympathy to the individual, whereupon they would give her a strange look. I had the winning ticket and really "lucked out", most Americans would recognise this as a positive expression.



"Good for you" a American might say, congratualting someone on their accomplishment, where as Aussies and Kiwi's and probably those in the UK might say "Good on ya".



What time is tea? Most Americans hear this and think it's a cuppa tea, whereas it's mean't as dinner or supper as most Americans would say.



There are many expressions and manner of speaking that makes us Americans appear very strong, assertive and in your face and perhaps sometimes impolite. Proof of this can be found right here on Forum Garden in reading different posts and their replies. There are exceptions, but I really don't believe that most poster are deliberate in offending.



I have often wondered about these differences in cultural expressions and the problems they cause in diplomatic relations.



Body language is another cultural difference that is worth a discussion. Perhaps another post on that one.


Interesting thread and i may be diverting here some-what but i have been in despair at the decline of our English language here.

I was raised by an RAF pilot who started all sentences with 'I say old chap'. I now have teenagers in my family who talk like this:

YouTube - Vicky Pollard on Trisha - Little Britain

Where did it all go??

oscar;1132624 wrote: Interesting thread and i may be diverting here some-what but i have been in despair at the decline of our English language here.

I was raised by an RAF pilot who started all sentences with 'I say old chap'. I now have teenagers in my family who talk like this:

YouTube - Vicky Pollard on Trisha - Little Britain

Where did it all go??


Incredible!!! Where do they find these people for shows like this? The U.S. has a similar show called "The Jerry Springer Show". You are disqualified from the show if you have an IQ above40.

Lon;1132633 wrote: Incredible!!! Where do they find these people for shows like this? The U.S. has a similar show called "The Jerry Springer Show". You are disqualified from the show if you have an IQ above40. :yh_rotfl I am a huge fan of Springer and we used to get his shows here all the time some years ago. They used to come to blows on that show and if you'll excuse my expression, they had some real 'rednecks' on there.

Interestingly, the American 'English' is becoming far more common in our teenagers now. My family teens come out with American expressions all the time and sometimes, it's like a foriegn language.

Here's an example of our British teenagers talking American. These guys actually did this in front of Her Majesty for real.

YouTube - Lauren Cooper and the Queen

All british teenagers talk like this now.

oscar;1132639 wrote: :yh_rotfl I am a huge fan of Springer and we used to get his shows here all the time some years ago. They used to come to blows on that show and if you'll excuse my expression, they had some real 'rednecks' on there.

Interestingly, the American 'English' is becoming far more common in our teenagers now. My family teens come out with American expressions all the time and sometimes, it's like a foriegn language.

Here's an example of our British teenagers talking American. These guys actually did this in front of Her Majesty for real.

YouTube - Lauren Cooper and the Queen

All british teenagers talk like this now.


Doesn't sound American to me.

-----with that accent I could barely understand 20% of what they were saying. I think other Yanks that watch that video would have a problem as well. And it's not a hearing problem, it's an accent problem.

Lon;1132669 wrote: Doesn't sound American to me.

-----with that accent I could barely understand 20% of what they were saying. I think other Yanks that watch that video would have a problem as well. And it's not a hearing problem, it's an accent problem.


I think they get it from black gangster rappers but then, what do i know, I can't understand them either :wah: Do you have different accents for different area's of the States or different sayings? I know that a New Jersey accent is very different to say an Alabama accent but do your sayings vary as well?

oscar;1132883 wrote: I think they get it from black gangster rappers but then, what do i know, I can't understand them either :wah: Do you have different accents for different area's of the States or different sayings? I know that a New Jersey accent is very different to say an Alabama accent but do your sayings vary as well?


There are many many different accents. Within the five burroughs of New York City there are distinguishable differences. Parts of Louisiana with the Cajun accent. Texans with their distinctive twang. Native Vermonters. Minnesotans with many having a bit of Swedish in their speech. Mississippians with their soft southern manner of speaking. On and on---------all different, but still the English language, or at least some remnants of it.

The American fetish with the buttocks, Lon. That's what gets me. Nobody in England has the slightest idea why you're all so fixated. Any expression including the word "ass" is foreign to the British mindset. I know I write in an interesting manner but I take exception to making a kick-ass post, it sounds aggressive rather than lauded. If I wish to tell someone to leave, it wouldn't cross my mind to ask them to remove just that part of their anatomy from my presence. "Get yo' fat ass outa here" would be considered impolite. Even "Great ass" is far less of a usable compliment than, for example, "cute bum" and even there I'd be wary of repercussions.

spot;1132909 wrote: The American fetish with the buttocks, Lon. That's what gets me. Nobody in England has the slightest idea why you're all so fixated. Any expression including the word "ass" is foreign to the British mindset. I know I write in an interesting manner but I take exception to making a kick-ass post. If I wish to tell someone to leave it wouldn't cross my mind to ask them to remove just that part of their anatomy from my presence. "Get yo' fat ass outa here" would be considered impolite. "Great ass" is far less of a usable compliment than, for example, "cute bum", and even there I'd be wary of repercussions.


So why do you always assk to see mine?:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl



One American expression that took a while to understand if it was rude on not was "Go Figure"...It sometimes seemed the same as us flicking the V's {"two-fingered salute"}

Chezzie;1132911 wrote: So why do you always assk to see mine?:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotflYour avatar surely explains everything.

In Minnesota a good swift kick in the groin is like a hug.

I realize in Oklahoma they might take offense....or just fall over. But when you cross over our border just kick the first groin you see.

You'll make friends right away.

spot;1132915 wrote: Your avatar surely explains everything.


Well kiss my ass...so it does:D



I think their fasination is from them shakin it so much when they dance...Those moves have already hit primary schools here, I have caught my Molly shakin her thang from the kitchen to the bathroom many a time...Totally inapropriate.

Well the first time I hear a Brit say "the place is so small you couldnt cuss a cat without gettin a hair in your mouth!" (straight from alabama, that one is!) I think it be will time to move.

or "up yonder apiece":yh_rotfl

"howdy y'all!"

Then there is the "goin aboot paakin the caa"

Lets not forget the new york wwhhhaaaaain

there are many differences but I've noticed that our Irish and Aussie family members are more and more adopting an American vernacular.

sunny104;1133031 wrote: there are many differences but I've noticed that our Irish and Aussie family members are more and more adopting an American vernacular.


You appear to have tooted again. Darn.

spot;1133047 wrote: You appear to have tooted again. Darn.


glad you're paying attention to my ass...

spot;1132909 wrote: The American fetish with the buttocks, Lon. That's what gets me. Nobody in England has the slightest idea why you're all so fixated. Any expression including the word "ass" is foreign to the British mindset. I know I write in an interesting manner but I take exception to making a kick-ass post, it sounds aggressive rather than lauded. If I wish to tell someone to leave, it wouldn't cross my mind to ask them to remove just that part of their anatomy from my presence. "Get yo' fat ass outa here" would be considered impolite. Even "Great ass" is far less of a usable compliment than, for example, "cute bum" and even there I'd be wary of repercussions.


It's not a fetish Spot, just an expression with no real thought behind it. When a Yank says you have a "kick ass post", it's mean't as a compliment. Now breasts, there's a fetish for you, and that appears to be universal.

I try to be very careful here in NZ with my manner of speaking as to not offend my Kiwi friends. I am a tall man with a deep and loud voice coupled with what could be an assertive or aggressive manner of speaking. I make a conscious effort to tone it down.

Lon;1133351 wrote: It's not a fetish Spot, just an expression with no real thought behind it. When a Yank says you have a "kick ass post", it's mean't as a compliment. Now breasts, there's a fetish for you, and that appears to be universal.

I try to be very careful here in NZ with my manner of speaking as to not offend my Kiwi friends. I am a tall man with a deep and loud voice coupled with what could be an assertive or aggressive manner of speaking. I make a conscious effort to tone it down.


that's hot!