True. In the UK you wouldn't normally say bathroom. I say toilet, ladies room, or sometimes the loo. I used to always say restroom in the US but I've lost that habit and now it's one of those words that feels weird when I try to say it. So I ask for ladies room or bathroom in the US.
Colloquialisms From Across the Water
- Thread starter fureverywhere
- Start date
True. In the UK you wouldn't normally say bathroom. I say toilet, ladies room, or sometimes the loo. I used to always say restroom in the US but I've lost that habit and now it's one of those words that feels weird when I try to say it. So I ask for ladies room or bathroom in the US.
It's actually a derivative of the word 'God'.
For example, if you were very surprised a few hundred years ago, you might well say, 'God, blind me'.
... This became abbreviated to 'Cor blimme.'
You still hear occasionally the expression 'Gawd's strewth', especially in London. It was originally 'God's truth'.
Many people now use the expression 'Gordon Bennet' but I have no idea who he was.
The Cockney will say, 'Would you Adam and Eve it.' meaning would you believe it.
English is a delicious and fruity language, full of humour, and tax free.
Hope you have a honkey-dory day.
SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
Thank you, Han.
Seems like Gordon Bennet would be a good research project for a rainy day.
Fat-free also, I would assume.
One of my favorite books, A Clockwork Orange, had a language that consisted of a made-up mix of Russian, Gypsy and Cockney rhyming slang, and I loved it.
Hope you have a honkey-dory day.
Righty-o, guv'na!
Falcon
DV8
- Location
- So. California
Who cares what you call it? Just GO! You don't have to tell anybody.
Just excuse yourself, saying, "I'll be right back."
Just excuse yourself, saying, "I'll be right back."
fureverywhere
beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
- Location
- Northern NJ, USA
I have several books by Brendan O' Carroll. Most of the stories take place in Dublin and "Cor" comes up a lot. He's a gifted writer and the dialogue is so rich, if befuddling sometimes.
If you have to go but don't know where it is, you have to call it something.
Capt Lightning
Well-known Member
- Location
- Historic Buchan, Scotland
In N.E Scotland the local Dialect is called 'Doric'.. A typical greeting might be :
Fit Like ? (How ae you ?)
Aye, chavin 'awa. (Oh, still struggling on)
As an incomer to the village, I still have great trouble understanding the locals. Here is an entertaining little sketch illustrating the dificulty in understanding the local language (or more correctly the spellin and pronounciation. Note the pronounciation of the village of Fanzean)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDNN6NigGNM
As someone who came from the S.W of Scotland, I grew up with other expressions like "Ca canny" which means to proceed carefully. This is also the name of the 15th Hole at the Turnberry golf course. The 10th Hole is called "Dinna Fouter" which means "Don't tinker or mess around"
Fit Like ? (How ae you ?)
Aye, chavin 'awa. (Oh, still struggling on)
As an incomer to the village, I still have great trouble understanding the locals. Here is an entertaining little sketch illustrating the dificulty in understanding the local language (or more correctly the spellin and pronounciation. Note the pronounciation of the village of Fanzean)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDNN6NigGNM
As someone who came from the S.W of Scotland, I grew up with other expressions like "Ca canny" which means to proceed carefully. This is also the name of the 15th Hole at the Turnberry golf course. The 10th Hole is called "Dinna Fouter" which means "Don't tinker or mess around"