# British English question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 24, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177 "2007-01-24T00:23:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/41 "2007-01-26T21:53:30Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] We have to start using the word “posh”. Beck’s just moved to L.A… [/QUOTE] And the entertainment channels are referring to “Poshkat”, i.e., Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes shopping together. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/42 "2007-01-26T21:59:39Z")
[QUOTE=lizardling] :dubious: Cardigan patterns seem to be all over knitting websites, or at least that’s my impression. For example, see [Knitty](http://knitty.com/archive.html) Cardigans are a major category in there - check the ‘what do you want to knit’ drop-down menu. [/QUOTE] To be fair, those patterns aren’t exactly “your mother’s cardigan”. I had a boss in his 40s who wore a sleeveless v-neck cabled cardigan (buttoned) as a sweater vest. After I referred to him as “Grandpa” a couple of times, he retired it. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/43 "2007-01-27T04:14:32Z")
So a **fleece** is what, a track suit top? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/44 "2007-01-27T04:49:58Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] And the entertainment channels are referring to “Poshkat”, i.e., Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes shopping together. [/QUOTE] When do we get to revoke the entertainment press’s license to use (or should I say abuse) the English language? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/45 "2007-01-27T06:51:32Z")
I never knew Nigella’s name origin story until now. I thought it had something to do with the herb _Nigella sativa_ which is used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. Or simply that nigella means ‘little black girl’ in Latin. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2007, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/46 "2007-01-27T07:47:16Z")
[QUOTE=eenerms] So a **fleece** is what, a track suit top? [/QUOTE] Sort of. It’s a jacket made of a type of synthetic fleecy material. [Example](http://www.gear-zone.co.uk/eshop/Sprayway-WNW-TL-Windproof-Fleece----AW06.html) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/47 "2007-01-27T10:26:27Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] And the entertainment channels are referring to “Poshkat”, i.e., Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes shopping together. [/QUOTE] I now have the theme tune for _Top Cat_ running through my head. Thank you _so_ much. (I suppose it makes sense, Victoria Beckham would be much more plausible as a cartoon … ) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/48 "2007-01-27T10:34:05Z")
[QUOTE=Johanna] I never knew Nigella’s name origin story until now. I thought it had something to do with the herb _Nigella sativa_ which is used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. Or simply that nigella means ‘little black girl’ in Latin. [/QUOTE] As Terry Pratchett explains, in which volume of his prolific output I misremember, it’s a name that means “oops, we wanted a boy”. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/49 "2007-01-27T19:37:12Z")
[QUOTE=Steve Wright] I now have the theme tune for _Top Cat_ running through my head. Thank you _so_ much. (I suppose it makes sense, Victoria Beckham would be much more plausible as a cartoon … ) [/QUOTE] Apparently the happy couple is considering a $43.000.000 (did I use those decimals correctly?) 36-bedroom megamansion in some rich valley in CA. That feels something like a cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/50 "2007-01-28T11:40:00Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] (did I use those decimals correctly?) [/QUOTE] Not for British or American usage, no. We generally use commas in that position (assuming you mean forty-three million dollars, that is). ---
**Author:** ![jimbeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@jimbeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbeam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177/51 "2007-01-28T11:58:46Z")
I love these threads where we “yanks” get condemned for our use of the “English” language, only to sit and listen while non US citizens argue about what an item is called. Personally, I think it’s great that there’s such diversity in an otherwise common language. If y’all could only get it straight then we could really jaw amongst ourselves. Sweaters, jumpers, t-shirts and ponchos… wait a minute, do they wear ponchos in the UK? If so, what the hell would they call 'em? While y’all figure that out I’m gonna go fix me some bangers and chips w/ picante sauce for breakfast. g-day 😉 damn limeys [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-question/389177.md?page=2)