# A Brit vs. Yank question--minor \[meaning of "buffeting"\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128 "2010-07-18T15:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/21 "2010-07-18T19:06:56Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Ah, Dyson’s doing his own adverts then? He _is_ a prick. Yes, Dyson. He’s being doing the vacuum commercials for years. I don’t know how good they are, but they do seem to sell. This fan, though, looks like a solution in search of a problem. But who knows. Maybe there’s a market for $300 fans to replace the ones we buy at the hardware store for $30. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/22 "2010-07-18T19:07:58Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > He means Dyson, presumably. He has done pretty well with selling fancy vacuum cleaners to Americans, so I guess it works on some of 'em. Hoover took a fancy to them…[BBC NEWS | Business | Dyson agrees £4m Hoover damages](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2297227.stm) I’ve not seen the advert in question, but i think it’s unlikely to be Dyson. He’s always come across as a fairly straightforward sort of chap. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/23 "2010-07-18T19:08:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It looks to me like that still has blades, just like any other fan; they’re just smaller and hidden away in the base. Not quite “just like” any other fan, though there’s obviously an air mover in the base. He’s pleased to call that an “impeller”. Having no EXPOSED blades is the main point, anyway. Here’s an article describing how it works: > **[Clever New Fan Has No Blades](https://www.livescience.com/5764-clever-fan-blades.html)** > > James Dyson, the British inventor behind the vacuums, has invented a fan that has no blades. > [@](#): > > Air is pulled into the machine’s cylindrical base with an impeller that draws from jet-engine technology. The air rushes up into a hollow ring. The air is then forced out of a 1.3-millimeter-wide slit (less than 1/16th of an inch) that runs all around the ring. > > Here’s the tricky part, developed during four years of testing: > > As the air exits through the slit in the ring, it flows over the inner edge of the ring, which was modeled after an airplane wing. Imagine an airplane wing bent around into a loop. The air encounters what would be the leading edge of the wing, said Dyson engineer Andy Samways. When it hits the wing-like structure, the air speeds up, creating an area of low pressure. Probably counts as clever, but whether or not it’s simply a solution in search of a problem remains to be seen. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/24 "2010-07-18T19:17:43Z")
Going back to the OP… “unpleasant buffeting” in the UK is when you turn up late and the vol-au-vents are all gone. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/25 "2010-07-18T19:21:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But who knows. Maybe there’s a market for $300 fans to replace the ones we buy at the hardware store for $30. They look quite elegant compared to a normal fan I suppose. But $300, no. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/26 "2010-07-18T19:35:45Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yes, Dyson. He’s being doing the vacuum commercials for years. I don’t know how good they are, but they do seem to sell. His vacuums are generally ranked as **mediocre** by _Consumer Reports_, coming in somewhere in the middle of the pack in performance, despite being very expensive. There are always ones that work better, for less money. Experience from the 1 friend who has one confirms that; there is nothing special about the Dyson vacuum except the price tag. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/27 "2010-07-18T19:38:50Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > I’ve not seen the advert in question, but i think it’s unlikely to be Dyson. He’s always come across as a fairly straightforward sort of chap. I’m pretty sure it _is_ Dyson, as he (the guy in the TV ads) appeared as a guest on the Craig Ferguson show a few months ago, acting in all ways as the very man himself. It’s possible the whole thing was a gag, delivered completely straight, but I don’t think that’s Ferguson’s kind of gag. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/28 "2010-07-18T19:42:05Z")
He also bought out a washing machine which is more expensive than anything on the market and isn’t really and better than much cheaper machines. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/29 "2010-07-18T21:33:49Z")
The big advantage of Dyson’s vacuum cleaners is that you don’t need bags or filters. You spend more up front to save on the consumables later. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/30 "2010-07-18T21:54:13Z")
This is unpleasant buffeting (at 0:18): [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XIzjPFkPeY) (Somewhat NSFW - sky diving in the buff) ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/31 "2010-07-18T22:01:42Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > The big advantage of Dyson’s vacuum cleaners is that you don’t need bags or filters. You spend more up front to save on the consumables later. Yep. Before I had a Dyson, I had a Dirt Devil bagless. I paid about $135.00 for it, but it needed $70.00 worth of new filters and belts _annually_ to continue functioning well. I paid $400.00 for my Dyson, about five years ago, and haven’t had to spend _anything_ more on it. But I _was_ wondering about the fan (which is what lead me to this thread). [Wired.com](http://Wired.com) seems impressed with its performance, which is nice. But seriously? For that kind of money I could buy a window air conditioner! ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/32 "2010-07-19T00:57:20Z")
The Dyson stuff is very cool and their vacuum cleaners are brilliant. The fan being discussed here has been in Australia for about 9 months or so now and the only places I’ve seen them being used are as demo units in electrical retailers. Dyson also make a hand-dryer that works on the same principle (or something very similar, anyway) and it’s also very neat and surprisingly effective but, I imagine, outrageously expensive. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/33 "2010-07-19T01:00:15Z")
Hey, thanks for all the replies. I’m glad to know that Brits can take a little buffeting. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/34 "2010-07-19T03:14:01Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] Dyson also make a hand-dryer that works on the same principle (or something very similar, anyway) and it’s also very neat and surprisingly effective but, I imagine, outrageously expensive. [/QUOTE] That’s his “Airblade” dryer, and if you use one, you’ll wonder if there actually is a blade in there that’s going to peel the skin off your hands. I’ll admit it’s an effective hand dryer, but it’s rather loud, and seeing your skin rippled and pushed around is a bit unsettling. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/35 "2010-07-19T04:08:30Z")
[quote=“norinew, post:31, topic:547128”] Yep. Before I had a Dyson, I had a Dirt Devil bagless. I paid about $135.00 for it, but it needed $70.00 worth of new filters and belts _annually_ to continue functioning well. I paid $400.00 for my Dyson, about five years ago, and haven’t had to spend _anything_ more on it./QUOTE] Rainbow vacuums have done that for years–you just used water. Only problem is that it still is two separate units. We finally broke down and got a cheap, single-piece vacuum cleaner from Walmart. But that’s after 25 years of never buying bags or filters, and finally giving up the ghost. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/36 "2010-07-19T10:18:03Z")
[quote=“BigT, post:35, topic:547128”] > [@norinew](#): > > Yep. Before I had a Dyson, I had a Dirt Devil bagless. I paid about $135.00 for it, but it needed $70.00 worth of new filters and belts _annually_ to continue functioning well. I paid $400.00 for my Dyson, about five years ago, and haven’t had to spend _anything_ more on it./QUOTE] > > Rainbow vacuums have done that for years–you just used water. Only problem is that it still is two separate units. > > We finally broke down and got a cheap, single-piece vacuum cleaner from Walmart. But that’s after 25 years of never buying bags or filters, and finally giving up the ghost. Yeah, we had a Rainbow vacuum demonstration. I have to admit it was impressive. But the unit is _huge_ (and at the time we lived in a house with no closets!), weighed a ton, was mad expensive, had to be assembled every time you wanted to use it. . .Bleh. My Dyson is an upright. It lives in a corner of my kitchen. My apartment is big, but the Dyson’s cord is long enough that I can vacuum the whole apartment, unplugging and re-plugging the vacuum only once. Ease of use is definitely worth something! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/37 "2010-07-19T14:05:49Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > There have been cases where workers have become ill due to giant, slowly-turning fans in hangars and factories; In fact, I saw a documentary on this phenomenon once, called **Alien 3**. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/38 "2010-07-19T15:47:57Z")
Wait, shouldn’t it be, “buffet_t_ing”. Two T’s? Checks google. Nope. Looks like I’m confusing that with “To act like Warren Buffett.” ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/39 "2010-07-19T16:09:05Z")
What makes me giggle the most about that commercial is this: how many thousands (millions?) of Americans have a fan on in their room at night? The white noise seems to be a benefit, not something “unsettling” or to be avoided. IMO, of course, but there it is. (I’m not one of these - white noise just keeps me up at night. We prefer to sleep with the windows open, but there’s always a period of adjustment for me in the spring as I get used to the extra noise.) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128/40 "2010-07-19T16:44:58Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > That’s his “Airblade” dryer, and if you use one, you’ll wonder if there actually is a blade in there that’s going to peel the skin off your hands. I’ll admit it’s an effective hand dryer, but it’s rather loud, and seeing your skin rippled and pushed around is a bit unsettling. I hate those things. Without fail, they blow the water off your hands and up onto your face (plus there always seems to be an unpleasant dribble of water, presumably from previous users’ hands, lying in the bottom of the device. \ It sucks, as it blows. \ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-brit-vs-yank-question-minor-meaning-of-buffeting/547128.md?page=3)