# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Gavano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Gavano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gavano)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/141 "2016-11-02T10:07:12Z")
Hi, I want to share my experience))) have you ever heard those? We say Vs They say cookie; cracker = biscuit coveralls = boiler suit trunk (of a car) = boot fanny pack = bumbag plastic wrap = cling film fish stick = fish finger bangs (hair)= fringe confectioners’ sugar = icing sugar ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/142 "2016-11-02T10:18:05Z")
> [@Gavano](#): > > fanny pack = bumbag The reason for this is that fanny = bum pussy (lady parts) = fanny All of these slang terms are similarly mild, not offensive, but obviously this is rather confusing. Also wasted (drunk) = pissed pissed (angry) = pissed off ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/143 "2016-11-02T11:41:53Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > …a soldier “invites us to investigate sex and travel as he thinks they are being mortared.” > > Is that a delicate way of saying “Go fuck yourself,” “Fuck off,” or something else? > > And was “investigate sex and travel” a common euphemism in 1982? Is it today? > [@WotNot](#): > > “Fuck off” or “fuck off out of it” would be what was meant. I don’t know if I would say “sex and travel” had ever been\* common\*, but variations on the theme were around at the time (and since). I seem to remember it featuring in a popular (at that time) stand-up comic’s routine. At least slightly related (as regards the sex element, anyway): in the 1980s and 90s – maybe longer – it seems to have fallen out of favour nowadays; at the more intellectual end of British society, a much-used metaphor for having sex, was “discussing Uganda”, or “Ugandan discussions”. The expression was originated, and used with great frequency, by the British satirical magazine _Private Eye_: it stemmed from a minor marital-infidelity scandal on the political scene, where the erring couple, caught in flagrante, tried to claim that they hadn’t been doing anything wrong – they’d just been discussing the then volatile political scene and doings thereon, in Uganda. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/144 "2016-11-02T12:00:26Z")
I’ve got a few, but I haven’t seen “wrecked” (exhausted) listed yet. Spent the day with my cousin, out saving his turf, and I am utterly wrecked. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/145 "2016-11-02T12:58:29Z")
Just for the election season I’ve adopted two Britishisms. One is that everyone I don’t like is called someone’s poodle. As in, Ted Strickland is Hillary Clinton’s poodle, Ted Cruz is Donald Trump’s poodle, Bo and Sunny are Michelle Obama’s poodles etc. etc. Also, I greet every stupid politician’s remarks with what the back-benchers in Parliament chant on TV. “All college will be free.” “Heah, heah, heah, heah, heah.” “They’ll pay for the wall.” “Heah, heah, heah, heah, heah.” “Vaccines are corporate.” “Heah, heah, heah, heah, heah.” “What is Aleppo?” “Heah, heah, heah, heah, heah.” For some reason, Mrs. J. has started refusing to watch the news with me. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/146 "2016-11-02T13:43:59Z")
Murmuring “Heah, heah” like a House of Commons backbencher can be useful - I’ve done it myself - and you can also shout “Resign!” when a politician has unforgivably screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/147 "2016-11-02T19:27:32Z")
When someone comes up with a withering one liner - Oh I say! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/148 "2016-11-02T23:18:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > . . . > Also, I greet every stupid politician’s remarks with what the back-benchers in Parliament chant on TV. > > “All college will be free.” “Heah, heah, heah, heah, heah.” > “They’ll pay for the wall.” “Heah, heah, heah, heah, heah.” > . . . All this time I thought they were chanting “Hear! Hear!” I figured it was meant to be inn support of whomever was talking. :smack: Does “Very well.” count? I caught myself texting that today. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/149 "2016-11-03T01:11:54Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > All this time I thought they were chanting “Hear! Hear!” They are. > [@TruCelt](#): > > I figured it was meant to be inn support of whomever was talking. It is. “Hear! Hear!” indicates enthusiastic agreement. If you want to signal disagreement you say “Oh!” or “Shame!” ---
**Author:** ![Graymalkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Graymalkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Graymalkin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/150 "2016-11-05T01:57:52Z")
I love Britishisms when the British do it. I cringe, with embarrassment but more with annoyance, when an American does it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/151 "2016-11-05T05:35:59Z")
Ooh. I’ve got one! I’ve taken to calling British women’s arses “fannies”. Wot? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/152 "2016-11-06T23:51:02Z")
I’ve scrolled past this thread fifty times and always read it as “birtherisms” My contribution is the only thing I can say in a British accent is “Bloody Fookin’ 'ell” when I stub my toe or hit my finger with a hammer. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/153 "2016-11-07T01:58:38Z")
I would love to use twee, but I’m sure I wouldn’t use it correctly, so I just use it with my daughter who knows what I mean. It’s just the perfect word for some situations. ---
**Author:** ![bmasters1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@bmasters1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmasters1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/154 "2016-11-07T23:31:44Z")
I’ve referred to the entirety of a series on DVD as “the lot,” and I’ve referred to a DVD release that contains “the lot” of a series as a “lot DVD release” or “lot release.” ---
**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:** [November 8, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/155 "2016-11-08T00:58:31Z")
> [@bmasters1](#): > > I’ve referred to the entirety of a series on DVD as “the lot,” and I’ve referred to a DVD release that contains “the lot” of a series as a “lot DVD release” or “lot release.” That’s not how any British person would describe a complete DVD series. "Have you got it all?, “Yes, I’ve got the lot” but that’s really it. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/156 "2016-11-08T03:58:20Z")
I picked up “fiddley” from watching Edd China on Wheeler Dealers. I have a stable full of scooters and working on them is often a fiddley job. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/157 "2016-11-08T18:15:16Z")
_Fanny_ and _faff_ (used as a noun or verb) are two of my favourites that haven’t been mentioned yet. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/158 "2016-11-08T18:27:08Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > I picked up “fiddley” from watching Edd China on Wheeler Dealers. I have a stable full of scooters and working on them is often a fiddley job. Would usually be written “fiddly”, fyi (London native) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/159 "2016-11-08T18:33:14Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > _Fanny_ and _faff_ (used as a noun or verb) are two of my favourites that haven’t been mentioned yet. I’m not quite sure what you mean by “noun or verb”. In my experience (London native): “fanny” is always a noun, a mild slang word for female genital area. “faff” is always a verb, and invariably in the form “faff around” or “faff about”, to mess around with an implication of procrastination or inefficiency in carrying out some task or objective, as in “Stop faffing around and just get on with it” ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626/160 "2016-11-08T18:45:14Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I’m not quite sure what you mean by “noun or verb”. In my experience (London native): > > “fanny” is always a noun, a mild slang word for female genital area. > > “faff” is always a verb, and invariably in the form “faff around” or “faff about”, to mess around with an implication of procrastination or inefficiency in carrying out some task or objective, as in “Stop faffing around and just get on with it” Glad you asked. 🙂 Fanny: Are you done _fannying_ about? Can we go now? Faff: That trip to the mall was a complete _faff_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms-ive-adopted/725626.md?page=9)