# Britishisms I've adopted **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626 "2015-07-19T18:20:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/61 "2015-07-20T16:57:14Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > I don’t think I’ve let any British usages supplant my natural word choice, except maybe _satnav_ for _GPS_ and _mobile_ for _cell phone._ (I used the German _handy_ for a while.) Those exceptions are based on a certain precision: _GPS_ and _cellular_ describe the technological techniques, not a particular device. Mobile is more precise than cell phone? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/62 "2015-07-20T17:02:53Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I like the Britishism “bint”, as I don’t think there’s an American equivalent word. “Bitch” is meant for a mean, nasty woman, but I apply the word “bint” to a female lunkhead. Like the ones who walk oafishly out into traffic mid-block while staring at their cellphones. I think you’ve pitched it just right but you may be being too specific. “bint” is a multipurpose word and can be applied to a wide variety of situations. In the one above “dozy bint” would work very nicely. If my wife forgets something she immediately dubs herself a “dizzy bint” I guess it has a slightly derogatory flavour to it but I it see more as the female equivalent of “sod” ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/63 "2015-07-20T17:20:57Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I think you’ve pitched it just right but you may be being too specific. “bint” is a multipurpose word and can be applied to a wide variety of situations. > > In the one above “dozy bint” would work very nicely. If my wife forgets something she immediately dubs herself a “dizzy bint” I guess it has a slightly derogatory flavour to it but I it see more as the female equivalent of “sod” “Sod” can be affectionate teasing between family/friends but can also be aggressive towards strangers (the driver who cuts you up, for example). And “bint” is a bit arcane these days: probably just as well, since it was picked up by soldiers returning from the Middle East in one or other world war (from the Arabic "daughter of " in women’s names), so there is potential for causing offence there too if you’re not careful. ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/64 "2015-07-20T17:23:41Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Well, I do find myself throwing the word “cunt” about with frequency 😛 > > “Fuck off” is said all smooshed together with the stress on “off” > > “I’m sat here” as in “I’m sat here with my thumb up my arse waiting for you wankers” > > “Arse” and wankers" > > “Numpty” > > “ **Fandabidozy** ” (I have no idea how to spell it; just picked it up from the boyfriend) > > “On about” as in “what are you on about?” > > Such and such “really gets on my tits” > > Jeez, you’d think I only communicate via pub talk. > > There are many more but I can’t think of them, I assume because I’m so used to saying them. (Bolding mine). No, no, no, please don’t use “Fandabidozy” as some sort of cute Britishism. It was solely the catchphrase of the rather odious “comedy” duo, [The Krankies.](http://www.krankies.com/) The very fact that their official website uses an animated gif and Comic Sans italic tells a lot of what you need to know. Most of the UK needed some serious brain bleach after the duo - a married couple in real life - [went public with their fondness for swinging.](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8965006/The-Krankies-We-used-to-be-swingers.html) Shudder. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/65 "2015-07-20T17:41:53Z")
I use the words “rubbish” and “bollocks” pretty often. My pub trivia team is named The Dog’s Bollocks, because my teammate is from England. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/66 "2015-07-20T17:58:38Z")
We didn’t seem to cover a few I use when appropriate: Bodge (as in a hasty, crappy fix) Bog Standard (but not bog-roll or the like) Pillock (“Clarkson, You Pillock”) Others (well, of the many idioms I’ve absorbed from decades of exposure to British culture, from Monty Python thru Doctor Who thru Carry On to Two Ronnies to Are You Being Served to Eddie Izzard Top Gear to Weeble to Ashens etc, etc.), like Chav or Essex Girl or Bird, just don’t work in normal American conversations. Oh well. BTW, speaking of “Bint”, any UKians still use that old derogatory phrase “Cow”… Didn’t KFC a few years back use “11 **h** erbs and spices” in their TV commercials (with the H pronounced). And my favorite pronunciation example, for Jaguar automobiles - the commercial itself used the British pronunciation “Jag-U-Whar”, while the local dealer blurb for that commercial used the American “Jag-whar”. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/67 "2015-07-20T18:41:52Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Bog Standard (but not bog-roll or the like) Around here a lot of commercial restrooms have fixtures by a company called Crane Plumbing. I like to joke that their motto is “You stand on one leg in the middle of a bog”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/68 "2015-07-20T18:48:36Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I like to joke that their motto is “You stand on one leg in the middle of a bog”. You have to keep on your toes when European. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/69 "2015-07-20T18:51:46Z")
> [@Scougs](#): > > (Bolding mine). > > No, no, no, please don’t use “Fandabidozy” as some sort of cute Britishism. It was solely the catchphrase of the rather odious “comedy” duo, [The Krankies.](http://www.krankies.com/) The very fact that their official website uses an animated gif and Comic Sans italic tells a lot of what you need to know. > > Most of the UK needed some serious brain bleach after the duo - a married couple in real life - [went public with their fondness for swinging.](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8965006/The-Krankies-We-used-to-be-swingers.html) Shudder. :eek::eek: Oy (or should I say “oi”). I had no idea; I’d assumed it was from a cartoon. Pass that bleach my way, if you please. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/70 "2015-07-20T19:11:08Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Mobile is more precise than cell phone? No, it’s more precise than CELLULAR, which describes the technology, not the device itself (and it’s an adjective, besides). ---
**Author:** ![Grey\_area](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/71 "2015-07-20T19:18:54Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > :eek::eek: Oy (or should I say “oi”). I had no idea; I’d assumed it was from a cartoon. Pass that bleach my way, if you please. While we’re nitpicking, I don’t think “oi” is used like that. The context I’ve seen “oi” is like “hey,” when someone is getting another person’s attention. Maybe you’re thinking of “oy vey” to express distress, which is more of a Jewish thing rather than British. An actual Brit please correct me if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/72 "2015-07-20T19:28:34Z")
> [@Grey\_area](#): > > While we’re nitpicking, I don’t think “oi” is used like that. The context I’ve seen “oi” is like “hey,” when someone is getting another person’s attention. Maybe you’re thinking of “oy vey” to express distress, which is more of a Jewish thing rather than British. > An actual Brit please correct me if I’m wrong. Yes you’re right, but I also think that WOOKINPANUB is aware of the distinction. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/73 "2015-07-21T12:25:57Z")
OI! ---
**Author:** ![Majestic\_Lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Majestic\_Lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Majestic_Lee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/74 "2015-07-21T18:45:12Z")
On a similar vein - pronunciation - I’ve watched so many episodes of “Columbo” now, I can’t remember whether I should be pronouncing his rank (Lieutenant) as “Loo-tenant” or “Lef-tenant”(as the UK does.) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/75 "2015-07-21T23:18:30Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Well, I do find myself throwing the word “cunt” about with frequency 😛 Ooh, quite right. But as an adjective, innit ? Hand me the cunt keys and shut your cunt mouth, that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/76 "2015-07-21T23:25:53Z")
I don’t take care of my teeth and look down on the lower classes. And I am a Champion Dart Player. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/77 "2015-07-22T02:43:42Z")
Bloody. As a mild curse it just works for me. I’ve also gotten fond of the British pronunciation of “aluminum”. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/78 "2015-07-22T06:19:42Z")
You’re all trying very hard and we really appreciate it. As a gesture of international harmony and solidarity, I will use _‘gotten’_ a bit more (but only when _‘become’_ will not suffice). ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/79 "2015-07-22T11:03:32Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > A Canadian acquaintance of mine was impressed when I described Donald Trump as a “bell end”. He tells me he intends to seek opportunities to use that as often as possible. “Knob” would be a good related insult. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/80 "2015-07-22T12:18:00Z")
Or Knob Jockey or Knobstick [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626.md?page=5)