Questions from Itasan

[tigertiger]

Thank you. By the way:
'flannel panel'
I have read some kind of definition on this, but I cannot
grasp the image too well. I wonder if I could have some
sample articles of this kind.

Thank you.

A panel could be a panel of people. So a flannel pannel would be a group of speakers who are only there to give their opinions (mostly hot air). For example on a TV or Radio programme with invited panel of (not so) 'experts'.

[tigertiger]

Backbiting

Thanks for the clarification...And I checked it in the Complete Oxford English Dictionary. It is actually quite an old word having first appearing in about 1175. It's definitely of British-English origin...

I'd have said it wasn't in common usage, but I'll leave that to the forum to decide...

I have heard this used a lot in Christian circles, especially by charismatic evangelicals.
I guess they like good old fasioned words. I might also be used in the King James (1611), or Revised Standard versions of the Bible.

[tigertiger]

Thank you very much, everybody.
'interchange'
CALD says: UK a junction at which smaller roads meet a larger
road, especially a motorway
I wonder what is the US equivalent.

Thank you.

To be more precise.

Motorway Junction.
Where one (or more) road(s) join a motorway. Where you can join the motorway in either direction. i.e. it is possible to join the motorway's northbound and southbound carriageway. It is also possible to exit the motorway if travelling either north or south and join the lesser road in eiter direction (e.g. east and west).

Motorway Interchange
Entry to and/or exit from the Motorway may be limited.
E.G. UK M5 Jct 11a.
It is possible to leave the M5 motorway when travelling on the northbound carriageway, it is not possible to join the M5 and travel northbound.
It is possible to Join the M5 and travel southbound. It is not possible to exit the motorway if you are on the southbound carriageway.


To be fair, most people in the UK do not know this unless they are in transportation or roads industry. So the words are used synonymously, but incorrectly so.

[Amy_H]

'flannel panel'
I have read some kind of definition on this, but I cannot
grasp the image too well. I wonder if I could have some
sample articles of this kind.

Hi Itasan
I found these for "flannel panel":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flannel_panel
http://www.magforum.com/glossaryd.htm
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=749639

But, since you had already heard about the reference to hot air, I assume you may have seen the above links already.

A "flannel panel" is apparently more formally called "masthead (panel)". The "flannel panel" lists of all those who contributed or helped in any way (editors, writers, designers, etc.) in the publication of a magazine.
This link is a sample of a masthead:
http://www.princeton.edu/~spectatr/vol2 ... mast10.gif

I'd heard "masthead" before, but not "flannel panel".

Amy

[Itasan]

Is 'left coast' used in the meaning of 'West Coast'
both in the US and UK? How about 'right coast'?

Thank you.

[Itasan]

joyriding
It seems to mean 'the crime of stealing a vehicle and
driving fast and dangerously for fun' in BrE.
I wonder what is the American equivalent.

Thank you.

[eslweb]

In American films and games I've heard a lot of people talking about Grand Theft Auto, GTA (Made famous by the game) or boosting a car.

For the UK, joyriding is definitely the word of choice for youngsters stealing cars to drive around too fast...

James

[eslweb]

>Is 'left coast' used in the meaning of 'West Coast'
>both in the US and UK? How about 'right coast'?

We generally don't refer to the coasts as left coast and right coast, but you'd probably be understood.

People generally prefer East coast, South-West Coast etc Please bear in mind that much of the West Coast is in Wales and not in England, and also we often call the coast by the name of the county e.g. The Lincolnshire coastline or just the coast... Because it's not such a big country as America it isn't such a useful goegraphic device. e.g. for timezones etc.

[Itasan]

In American films and games I've heard a lot of people talking about Grand Theft Auto, GTA (Made famous by the game) or boosting a car.

For the UK, joyriding is definitely the word of choice for youngsters stealing cars to drive around too fast...

James

Thank you very much, James.

[Amy_H]

Hi Itasan

The term joyriding is well-known in the US, too. Joyriding is driving a car simply for pleasure and excitement, and the driving is often done recklessly and at high speed. The car is often driven without the owner's permission. In the US joyriding doesn't necessarily mean that the car was stolen.

"Grand theft auto" is a legal term used when someone is charged with the crime of stealing a motor vehicle (usually a car). This term refers only to the theft.

Amy

[Itasan]

Thank you very much, Amy, for
the valuable information.

[Itasan]

Do these all work?
1. Join the queue.
2. Join queue.
3. Get in the line.
4. Get in line.

Thank you.

[eslweb]

1. Join the queue.
Yes, perfectly normal.

2. Join queue.
No, we don't normally skip the article in this phrase. (British)

3. Get in the line.
We would say it if there was more than one line or we wanted to emphasise the word line. (As a command)

4. Get in line.
Normally used as a command, when somebody is trying to skip the queue.

None of these would be considered polite in British English without please
e.g. Please join the queue or join the queue please.

[Itasan]

Thank you very much, eslweb.

[Itasan]

Do these all work?
1. know something backward
2. know something backwards
3. know something backward(s) and forward(s)
4. know something inside out

Thank you.