What the British say vs. what they mean

Aziraphale

...and what Americans hear! hehehe

Thought this would be funny after the very serious off-topic post from earlier this week. I've known a lot of Brits (as well as Americans!) and I think some of these are actually true...

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11 years ago

Off Topic

22 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Quite good! (I'm American.)

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Someone sent this to me once. In a most pointed manner. Hehe.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Hmm, this makes me think Canadians are much like the British--at least from how the people around me use those phrases.

11 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Lol there are for sure more similarities between Canadians and Brits than between Americans and Brits (which makes sense, given that we're still part of the Commonwealth). I'm pretty sure, for example, that when Canadians say 'with all due respect', what they really mean is 'I think you are a twit but I'm being polite'. We also have that whole polite passive-aggressive thing going on...that's definitely a remnant of British culture.

One time we were sitting around with some friends -- the wife is American and the husband is English -- and compiled a list of British words and their American equivalents. You know, things like the 'boot' and 'bonnet' of a car (meaning the trunk and hood), spanner (wrench), or trousers (pants). In many cases, Canadians use the same word as Americans, but in other cases, we use the British word. A little bit of the old world is still hanging on in Canada, I guess.

11 years ago

shedev

Veteran

I always thought with all due respect really means with no respect. Funny list.

11 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Hehe, funny. American here. And I agree with shedev, "with all due respect" usually means "you're a total moron but you outrank me so I can't say that". At least that's how it is in the military. When there is true respect, it's in the tone of voice.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I'm a Brit... hilarious Aziraphale! Not sure whether I'm that ambiguous though Funny though, but what I've found by interacting on this site is that I have been writing replies and using the US version of a word..like pants for instance... as there are so many Americans on here.

BTW the phrase on your list above where it says 'you must come to dinner' ... isn't that like when guys say 'I'll phone you' ... and they never do! hehe!

11 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

Love this...I thought it was just southern to say, "You must come to dinner"..when no invitation was intended...Or let's get together soon, like in the next millennium...smile...Social mores and customs are really a hoot when you get down to looking at them...Thanks for the share..

11 years ago

Mochi

Veteran

Ha! It's reminding me of the japanese "Muzukashii desu ne" ("That's difficult..."), which is a way of saying, "No." I think there are many cultural parallels between British and Japanese, as opposed to Americans who are supposed to ge so wide-open and straightforward...

Then I hear about "Minnesota nice," which just confuses all my theories

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and then try to compare "Minnesota nice" to Canadian polite. There's an interesting exercise.

I think Canadians tend more to the Brit side, too -- or at least I 'hear" what the Brits are saying when phrases like that pop up.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I love lists like this - so funny. Like suz, I hear the British-isms loud and clear . There's a reason British movies, crime shows and dramas are among my very favourites. On an unrelated note, I apologized to my boots yesterday, without realizing what I was doing. I had accidentally kicked one down the basement stairs. I felt awful.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Brilliant.

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Too true! I may have to refer back to this when dealing with our British office. And our Indian one, now that I think about it!

Took us *forever* to realize when someone in India nodded at you, it did not mean yes. And, when they say yes, it means "yes, I hear your words". Not "I am going to do it." At least, at our office.

11 years ago

abc

Veteran

HA! This is great. I want to do one for where I live now (Mexico). First on the list would be something like what Thistle mentioned re her Indian office. Yes can mean yes or no. No is rarely said. It is really hard to adjust to the softness/indirectness/avoiding nature/passive-aggressiveness, but once you do it is quite a nice culture. I love things like this, thanks for sharing

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

hehe as someone from the US married to to a Brit I can relate. Especially to the infamous 'fancy a quick pint'. Also that if someone is insulting you with a smile they have accepted you as a friend and are taking the piss (making fun of you). On the other hand being super polite can imply distance or skepticism. I always picture Martin Freeman and his brilliant use of understated sarcasm in his roles in Sherlock, the Hobbit, and the UK Office.

11 years ago

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

This is awesome! I'm American, but given this list, I think I may have been switched at birth with a British baby. Either that or Canadian. (I have loved every Canadian show I've ever watched.) I have also been asked multiple times if I am British and once or twice if I'm from South Africa. So many things are suddenly making so much sense...

11 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Very good..
Lots of truths here:)

11 years ago

Dimity

Active Member

I think there are many similarities with Australians, Canadians and Brits too - as Aziraphale mentioned, it's probably our Commonwealth ties. It took me a while to adjust to working in the USA back in the day because while I could understand the words, I couldn't quite discern meanings always. It was an odd feeling, like missing the punchline of a funny joke. Thanks for sharing this.

11 years ago

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Ah yes. Any time my British husband tells me he's "going for a swift half" with one of his work buddies, I know to expect him late and rather tipsy.

It took me a long time to figure some of these differences out, possibly to my detriment. I wonder if some of my early problems with my studies in the UK were a result of my understanding "quite good" or "interesting" in American terms!

11 years ago

Anonymous

I'm with Sarah in being an American who's apparently secretly British. I can be ridiculously indirect and non-confrontational, to the point where it frustrates those around me.

Actually, I was in Canada earlier this year and it was really comforting to be surrounded by people who over-apologize as much as I do. Stuff like, I'd almost bump into someone else, then we'd both say "sorry" at the same time. It was great!

11 years ago

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Oh Aubergine, I love that I have another secretly British or Canadian sister... I say "sorry" all the time when others don't! And I can't get myself out of the habit despite those around me who don't seem to see the politeness in apologizing for slight, unintentional near-misses.

11 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Aubergine, SarahTheWhite, count me into the secret British sisterhood. My mom's from London, and half my family lives in England, so I spent a lot of time there as a child. Part of my heart belongs in England.

Mander, my husband too. He has an English friend whom he meets once in a while after work for 'a drink'. He always comes home from these evenings completely hammered (which, for him, is not typical!).

Rabbit, I have such an enormous crush on Martin Freeman. The Office made me laugh so hard I cried. (I love how they were always winding Gareth up. My English cousins would totally do stuff like that). Also love him in Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch gets all the press (deservedly; he's marvellous) but Martin Freeman is just as amazing, in that understated, sarcastic British way.

11 years ago

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