# Brits using "Brilliant" as a casual superlative? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520 "2011-11-20T04:50:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/41 "2011-11-22T03:34:13Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’ve occasionally encountered an American who likes to use “brilliant” in the British fashion. It nearly always comes across as an affectation, and makes them sound pompous. (I don’t have the same reaction to British or Irish folks who use it that way, however.) What’s more pompous, casual usage from a very familiar foreign country that speaks the same language, or condemning the use of same as “affected”? ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/42 "2011-11-23T04:26:46Z")
I first heard the term ‘brilliant’ used when I was attending a Brit/American ex-pat church in Munich in the 90’s. One of my friends there asked what I had done over the week, and I mentioned that we had gone camping. She replied “Oh, that’s brilliant!”, to which I was mentally replying “Well, gee, it was nice and all, but I wouldn’t call it brilliant…” I got used to the useage, though. She would also call me her “sweet pet”, which likewise took some getting used to. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/43 "2011-11-23T12:53:15Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > It is a contextual language, isn’t it? The tone of voice and phrasing conveys much about how brilliant or awesome something actually is. > > The term “mega” didn’t last very long did it? I still hear the U.S. equivalent “way” being used but “mega” seems to have gone by the wayside. > > Cheers. Absolutedly, for instance: **adopts casual tone** “Have you met Professor Hughes? I love him, he’s brilliant” (= 'he’s great company/a good laugh) **formal conversation** “Have you met Professor Hughes? He’s really quite brilliant” (='a genius") ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/44 "2011-11-23T13:24:54Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Don’t forget that Americans use the word “smart” to describe someone as being intelligent, where as Brits use the word to describe someone who is well dressed. And apparently they Americans don’t use the word “bright”. ---
**Author:** ![pdunderhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@pdunderhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdunderhill)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/45 "2011-11-23T13:54:25Z")
As an Englishman, and Public School to boot, I support F.U.Shakespeare’s comment. In London, in context and contemporaneously, think of Blackadder’s response to one of Baldrick’s ‘cunning plans’. It’s brilliant. Think very dry and laconic. Peter ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/46 "2011-11-23T13:56:44Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > And apparently they Americans don’t use the word “bright”. We do sometimes use the word “bright,” but unless you’re talking about a child, it often comes off as condescending. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/47 "2011-11-23T14:50:01Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > What’s more pompous, casual usage from a very familiar foreign country that speaks the same language, or condemning the use of same as “affected”? Well, let me put it this way…when most Americans don’t use the term in that context **at all** , and you encounter an American who uses it in that way every 5 minutes, how would it come across to you? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/48 "2011-11-23T15:14:51Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Well, let me put it this way…when most Americans don’t use the term in that context **at all** , and you encounter an American who uses it in that way every 5 minutes, how would it come across to you? Someone that heard it somewhere and thought it was fun? Edit: Then again, I’m struggling to think of anyone ever that would use it every five minutes. Apart from the aforementioned chap from the Fast Show. He’s brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/49 "2011-11-23T17:38:05Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Well, let me put it this way…when most Americans don’t use the term in that context **at all** , and you encounter an American who uses it in that way every 5 minutes, how would it come across to you? A bit goofy. But pompous, I doubt it. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/50 "2011-11-23T19:29:22Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Come on now. > > Surely they use “fucking brilliant” too? I’ve heard it quite a bit, but rarely in non-sarcastic ways. More along the lines of “So yer idea is to just \ ? Well thass fookin’ brilliant, tha’ is”. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520/51 "2011-11-25T06:10:24Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Well, let me put it this way…when most Americans don’t use the term in that context **at all** , and you encounter an American who uses it in that way every 5 minutes, how would it come across to you? I’d actually have to hear him to make an assessment. It could just be that he’s in love with the term and doesn’t realize how often he says it. I pick up and discard terms frequently and I do get teased by friends for using the Brit terms or laughed at by my partner’s family for some of my American slang. So be it. I’m not using the terms deliberately; it’s just how my mind works. I’m not doubting that the person may be putting on airs but it could be that he really doesn’t hear it himself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-using-brilliant-as-a-casual-superlative/603520.md?page=2)