Muppet, n. A stupid person; from the name for the puppets used in the TV programme The Muppet Show. "I am a Brit living in Idaho. One of the biggest Britishisms I see, and have helped perpetuate, is the term 'muppets' to refer to brainless individuals. I love this term as it conjures images of the loveable Muppets but in reference to a person it definitely conveys a lack of intelligence or substandard education. In this state there are plenty of 'muppets'." George Hemmings, Idaho, US Good luck with that. Try posting it on a political forum and watch it explode...among the 'dolts' anyway.
Numpty, n. A stupid person. "I have heard 'numpty' many times in the last few years. I get the impression that our American interpretation is more good-natured than it might be in the UK. It's used when calling a friend a numpty when he does or says something silly. Perhaps this is because there is a 'cuteness' to the pronunciation of the word." Jeffrey Timmons, Mayville, Wisconsin, US OK, now they're just making @#$% up!
Pop over, v. Come by for a visit. "Recently, I've heard the phrase 'pop over' used by several different people. ('Why don't I just pop over and pick them up?')." Susan Moore, Indio, California, US They got me there, but I wouldn't have thought it was a British saying. Maybe they are old and confused? ...shut it...
Proper, adj. Appropriate or suited for some purpose. "I picked up the British use of 'proper' (as in 'a proper breakfast') while completing graduate work at Oxford in the mid-2000s. I hadn't realised just how prevalent it was in my own speech until a coworker asked me this year if it was a North Dakota thing, as that is the state where I grew up. It's definitely not a North Dakota thing." Jacquelyn Bengfort, Washington, DC, US Oh, now I know they are just (messing) with me! Those (string of swears deleted) claiming they invented every (single) word in the (deleted deleted) dictionary!...Next they'll say they invented 'water', those (string of swears deleted). (calms down)...(swear deleted) it, they probably did!
Queue, n. and v. A line of people, vehicles, etc, waiting for something. "In the 'queue'. More online forms and automated voice responses to banking transactions say 'queue' instead of 'line'. I'm guessing that it makes more sense to use it because people aren't actually standing in a line if they're on the phone." Guy Hait, Chesterfield, Michigan, US "When I was in New York and waiting with an American friend to get into a bar, I called it a queue. She told me that in the US it was called a line. However, she commented that 'queue' was becoming more common because of the use of the term 'printer queue' in computing." David, Worcester I call that half-bs. Sure, the term is used occasionally, but if I heard it spoken I'd wonder where the pool table was hiding...and where the hell is that cue, anyway? Stop messing with me, man!
Roundabout, n. A road junction in which traffic streams circulate around a central island. "'Roundabout' is the official word used to describe the traffic circle that was recently completed in our rather small city. Many feel that this sounds pretentious. I am originally from California where we used the term 'traffic circle'." Beth, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, US I know of one...a hundred miles away. But the word is wayyy more commonly used to say something about the way something happened, as in a "roundabout way".
Row, n. and v. A noisy or violent argument, a quarrel with someone. "My husband and I often use the word 'row', most likely because we've heard it so often on public television. We think of it as a very common word among the Brits (like 'bloody') and we both assumed that most other people would recognise both the word and its meaning. Recently, my husband (who is very Southern and not bookish at all) used 'row' in a conversation with a buddy, only to learn that the friend had never even heard the word. We were astonished." Catherine Graves, Georgia, US Strictly used to mock the way Brits speak...in jest, of course. "Not true!", you say? Wanna fight about it? I guess,...if the fight was on a small boat that had no engine, and only had oars.........nah, still not happenin'...
Shag, v. To copulate with. "You guys missed the best one. 'Shag' is such a brilliant word and Brits cringe because of the vulgarity of it, while Americans don't realise exactly how rude it is and run around saying it like a toddler repeating Daddy's accidental swear word slip. I love it when you guys cringe over us picking up your words." Leona, Oxford "Thanks to Austin Powers, many Americans are familiar with the word 'shag', but don't seem to realise how truly coarse it is. It's used in polite society, and used to shock me, but now I accept the fact that usage differs in UK/US." Linda Michelini, Port Orange, Florida, US Damn you, Austin Powers!...making me use a dictionary! ...(looks up the word 'copulate')...What the hell? Ohhhhh, I know...it's a trick question kind of thing...to convince the ladies (or gents, if you prefer) to get into your bedroom. Women probably think you are offering them some kind of animal fur, ("because you've noticed how cold they are, how sweet!"...yeah, they noticed lol....thinnnnnk about iiiiit )...which, you kinda are actually, while men are just horny and willing to try just about anything, no matter, or whatever, the hell it is.
Skint, adj. Penniless, broke. "To hear terms like 'skint' for being broke, 'agony aunt' for opinion columnists, or 'yobbo' for upstart children has surprised me. Such words would never have been heard in this part of the world until only two or three years ago. There are only minor UK and Irish ex-pat communities over here, so to have this sudden and growing use of Britishisms is a linguist's delight." Anthony Hughes, Omaha, US Uh huh...whatever....moving on...
Sussed, v. To work or figure out; to investigate, to discover the truth about (a person or thing). "My favourite Britishism has to be 'sussed' - 'I finally sussed out what he was talking about', 'leave them alone, they'll suss it out on their own'. I use it a lot and I always seem to have to explain it to people, then a few days on, I'll hear them using it and explaining it. It's a word/phrase that gets used often in my close circle of friends now." Bonnie Lee, Portland, Oregon, US "favourite"?...Yeah, you're not British by chance, are you? But yeah, I've heard the term...but I never hear it used. "Figured it out" would be the typical choice. If they keep this up, I'm going to England and swill start posting complete bs on every local site I can find....and maybe I'll write "BURGER" over any reference to Buckingham Palace (as in: "BuckinghamBURGER Palace"...I know, kind of weak, but it's been reported that a Brit might be reading this and I don't want to give much else away...so ex-nayyyy on operation (swear words deleted) Brits-ayyyyy... Nothing to see here De Orc...move along now...
Twit, n. A fool; a stupid or ineffectual person. "It seems to me the word 'twit' - a Britishism heard on Monty Python - is being used more frequently here in the US." Rachel Newstead, Appleton, Wisconsin, US Never heard of the word, so this guys a complete felig. (waits a few seconds for the Brits to look it up) Yeah, that's right, not so fun when you Brits are on the receiving end of bs made-up words, huh?
Wonky, adj. Shaky or unsteady. "Some Britishisms that I have used include 'wonky', 'bung', and 'snarky'. They're fun, innit? It's hard for me to notice hearing these words in the US, because I talk to so many Brits online, so they sound normal now." Anne E, Pittsburgh, US Soooooo....a Brit says it's here, but she doesn't really hear it here....because she's too busy talking to other Brits online... (head hits computer)
That's it, that was the last straw, I'm going to have to post an America version of this on British forums using American words the Brits use, whether true or not....and be just as idiotic, ....no!....even morrrre idiotic....shut it.
Never heard or used the term "Cheers" as a form of goodby! A toast yes or a thank you but not a goodby. "A 'kit' here means a collection of necessities" Well lets look at a American Football Player and the "Uniform" he wears, what exactly is it other than a collection of Necessities that he uses to do the job (Ie a Kit) "Innit" Pure Laziness Well if you dont want to use the "Loo" you can allways use the Kahzi Have you ever heard a Brit use the term "Dude"? it sounds Bloody Naff As long as it is not a Magic Roundabout your ok "A Bung" is also a payment made to someone to persuade them to do something, usually something dishonest or a plug for a hole, never come across it meaning something is funny! Same with "Snarky" that is normaly used to descripe a person who is Rudely sarcastic or disrespectful, snide
Some of the things you said, like "Naff" and "As long as it is not a Magic Roundabout"...frightened me for some reason...maybe the way you said 'em? ...anyway, I said to myself "I don't wanna know"...but, of course, I lied. Damn you, insatiable curiosity, you win again! I see "Naff" can mean "uncool" or "worthless"...as well as a substitute for, let's just say something completely different, yet an awfully familiar and popular word. "Snarky" was used here once or twice...I may have even used it. Hollysmom used it mostly, didn't know she was a Brit! Let's not start talking about "bungs", or the holes they go into. Beavis and Butthead take that very seriously. That said, drinkers around the World should raise a toast to them, eh? I flatly refuse to sit on the khazi when I feel the need to give up the funk. I figured that magic roundabout thing was real, but yikes! Yeah, I'd get motion sickness on it, after the first few hours of panic had settled down ..."How do I get off this thing? Oh God, I can't take any more of this!"... I see it got it's name from a kid's TV show, so it's a bit fitting, what with how often kids get sick. I gotta say the article was misleading though. Sure, they're Americans...but originally from Britain....hardly the best people to judge typical American usage, given that we enjoy parodying and impersonations of accents, even American accents, like that of Boston's or Alabama's, and even Canada's. "eh"
Well if you want to be very sad then you can join the "Roundabout Appreciation Society" LOL they have just voted this the best in the country http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...iation-Society-produces-annual-calendar.html#
