Job Discussion Forums

[travellingscot]

Met an American lady teacher (Of American English) in a London Starbucks and explained the UK meaning of f-a-n-n-y to prevent her from using it in her not so quiet voice to the amusement of locals.
We used to refer to a f---- bag as a bum bag.

[johnslat]

Dear travellingscot,
I'm a bit confused. As far as I know, " fanny " means " derriere " ( pardon my French ), behind, etc. in American English, too ( Of course, it is also a woman's name - e.g. F a n n y Brice ). So doesn't it mean the same in British English or does it have some other, more salicious. denotation?
Regards,
John

[R]

It means, how can I put this, "girlie's front bottom".

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Dear Rob:

You really crack me up. If you should fail at EFL, you could always consider stand-up comedy, or maybe writing for Benny Hill?

OK: explain me this one: suspenders - braces, got it.

Now what do you Brits call the 'braces' that American kids wear on their teeth? I can hardly wait ...

Yours,
kEnt

[R]

Braces for teeth are known as "horny Norman Mailers". Being Brits we have bad teeth because not enough kids get horny Norman Mailers in their mouths as kids.

Actually, they're still called braces. I thought they were retainers in Americanish?

I think I lack the subtelty to be the next Benny Hill...

[richard ame]

Hi each
On the subject of oxymorons howabout American culture ???
Seriously though folks how is it that most Brits know the Ame Eng words for bonnet and pavement and lift etc etc but a lot of Americans don't?It is considered to be general knowledge not something you need to know if you teach, you just know it, like the alphabet . Or am I making a definite negative statement ?

[R]

Richard: Brits lap up American popular culture like thirsty dogs. We watch your Hollywood movies and want to be Keanu Reeves or Brad Pitt. Our mothers want to marry Harrison Ford. We all want to hit Britney Spears one more time. By contrast, Americans just want to live in Scottish castles and have tea with the Queen. Popular culture, and the language which goes with it is a one-way street.

Rob, who never pointlessly stereotypes people.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Dear Richard Ame:

Most Americans think we invented English, and you Brits are just too poor to buy new textbooks. Just kidding ...

And Rob: retainers are 'like' braces, except that they have only a single wire ... and are used AFTER the braces come out ... as a means to keep those newly straightened teeth from falling back into their favourite positions.

OK, one more question while I'm on this little rant: Why do Brits pronounce 'school' like 'skool' but insist on pronouncing 'schedule' like 'shhhhedule'?

NotSittingOnMyFanny,
keNt

[R]

Rubber
Eraser

No idea about schedule and school. Does it have something to with the words' origins? Wny doesn't the 'e' in money and honey make the 'o' say its name? Shouldn't they be pronounced moany and hoany?

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi Rob:

You were right.

Here is the etymology of 'schedule' for your viewing pleasure. I'll sleep better tonight knowing that the confusion was all Webster's fault:


schedule - 1397, sedule, cedule, from O.Fr. cedule, from L.L. schedula "strip of paper," dim. of L. schida "one of the strips forming a papyrus sheet," from Gk. skhida. The notion is of slips of paper attached to a document as an appendix (a sense maintained in U.S. tax forms). The specific meaning "printed timetable" is first recorded 1863 in railway use (the verb in this sense is from 1862). Modern spelling is 15c., in imitation of L.; the modern British pronunciation ("shed-yul") is from Fr. influence, while the U.S. pronunciation ("sked-yul") is from the practice of Webster.

[R]

Well, just call me Mr-Guessed-correctly-as-to-the-reasons-for-the-difference-in-pronounciation-between-school-and-schedule!

Rob

[guest of Japan]

R. Thanks for the laugh. That Norman Mailer joke was hysterical.

[R]

[Seth]

One huge difference between American and British English is a certain British word for cigarette, 'f.a.g.' (not sure if that would get censored). It used to mean the same in the US but now the meaning is very different. So never go to the US and say 'I really need a fag' or 'where is the fag machine?'

Also, in the US, Randy is a popular first name. In the UK, if you say 'Hi, I'm Randy', you'll get slapped.

[SueH]

Hmmm... now where was it..
wasn't it on this web site that I recently read about the American guy called Randy Pratt??