# Calling All British **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613 "2004-03-11T02:23:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/21 "2004-03-11T18:02:39Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Yo, I thought only men could be bounders and cads? Er, why? A bounder is a cad, which is a “moraly reprehensible person”… ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/22 "2004-03-11T18:03:44Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#): > > “In the bath” means what it says. That person is physically in the bath. No-one in Britain “goes to the bathroom”, we generally go to the “toilet” or various colloqualisms of same. And blokes can bath why on earth not? > > The “going to the bathroom” phrase had to be explained to me when I stayed with friends in the 'States as a kid. It really isn’t self explanatory. Of course, ‘toilet’ is itself a euphemism, as is ‘lavatory’, both originally meaning a washroom. We Brits can be prudish too. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/23 "2004-03-11T18:07:32Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > Er, why? A bounder is a cad, which is a “moraly reprehensible person”… According to the Random House Unabridged that lies conveniently to hand: bounder: an obtrusive, ill-bred man cad: an ill-bred man, esp. one who behaves in a dishonorable or irresponsible way toward women ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/24 "2004-03-11T18:09:37Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > According to the Random House Unabridged that lies conveniently to hand: > > bounder: an obtrusive, ill-bred man > > cad: an ill-bred man, esp. one who behaves in a dishonorable or irresponsible way toward women Hmmm… Not what my dictionary said. Maybe I have a bad dictionary. Mind you, I’ve never actually called anyone a bounder or a cad. But that said, I have only ever heard it used in reference to men. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/25 "2004-03-11T18:12:47Z")
The Cambridge dictionary says it’s a man, too: “a man who behaves badly or dishonestly, especially to women” ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/26 "2004-03-11T18:16:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Nobody but nobody British (or more accurately English) says “pip pip” - in the same way that nobody says “howdy pardner” in the US. Now, I take exception to that. I’ve used the ol’ “howdy pardner!” many times in my life. Of course, it should be taken into consideration that 1 - I am indeed from the deepest, darkest, most uncharted Texan depths of Texas and 2 - when it is used, it is in an exaggerated, stereotyped, joking manner. So in other words: not with a straight face. I think I have, however (can’t really think of a recent example, though), come across people who have used that greeting in full sincerity… ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/27 "2004-03-11T18:19:27Z")
> [@CaptBushido](#): > > 2 - when it is used, it is in an exaggerated, stereotyped, joking manner. So in other words: not with a straight face. I’ve not heard “pip, pip” used in this manner, but certainly “toodle-pip”, “cheerio” etc ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/28 "2004-03-12T11:41:53Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > According to the Random House Unabridged that lies conveniently to hand: > > bounder: an obtrusive, ill-bred man > > cad: an ill-bred man, esp. one who behaves in a dishonorable or irresponsible way toward women One was _trying_ to make a point. Bloody pedants. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/29 "2004-03-12T11:44:49Z")
> [@CaptBushido](#): > > I think I have, however (can’t really think of a recent example, though), come across people who have used that greeting in full sincerity… Slight hijack - on the same subject, in all my years in Ireland I have actually heard one Irish person say “Begorrah” in sincerity. But never “Top o’ the morning”. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/30 "2004-03-12T12:05:33Z")
[jjimm-style hijack]I’ve had reason to work a couple of times in Glasgow and been surrounded by people who in all seriousness constantly say “och aye” for “yes”, never heard them follow through with “the noo” but people really do talk like that[/jjimm-style hijack] Back on the English, My Dad has been known to greet with “What ho!” OD’d on P.G.Wodehouse I guess. ---
**Author:** ![serena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@serena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/serena)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/31 "2004-03-12T12:29:07Z")
**Jennyrosity** , long time no read! How are things in Devon? I’m nice and dandy on the shores of the Tyne now. I really valued your advice on housing in Newcastle. [/QUOTE] Tyne ? Dandy ?? Dashed northern riff-raff ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/32 "2004-03-12T13:02:32Z")
Okay so nobody British actually says this stuff, but ya gotta love Wodehouse. Thankfully,some of this stuff still survives in the English (or _Hinglish_) spoken in India. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/33 "2004-03-12T23:46:29Z")
Well thanks for answering my question, though it saddens me to think that not many use the charming phrase. I guess its good I found out now though, if I ever visit i don’t want to make an ass out of myself for saying it. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/34 "2004-03-13T00:05:19Z")
> [@Jennyrosity](#): > > One was _trying_ to make a point. Bloody pedants. Hey, watch the tone. Or have you now taken to oppressing the pedants? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/35 "2004-03-24T21:58:52Z")
Okay, thought of another one: Is it true that the English don’t rinse their dishes? Have you noticed that your food tastes soapy? ---
**Author:** ![serena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@serena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/serena)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/36 "2004-03-24T22:25:11Z")
No, of course not: it’s only you Americans that waste water without thinking of the devestating effect that you will have on plate life. Fie on you all ! Lawks a’mercy; we can barely afford the cost of the plates: most of us still eat from the droppings of the rich folks what comes out of McDonalds. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/37 "2004-03-24T22:33:45Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Slight hijack - on the same subject, in all my years in Ireland I have actually heard one Irish person say “Begorrah” in sincerity. But never “Top o’ the morning”. T’is true, we nivir say top o the mornin’ at all, at all. Like. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/38 "2004-03-24T23:01:33Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#): > > [jjimm-style hijack]I’ve had reason to work a couple of times in Glasgow and been surrounded by people who in all seriousness constantly say “och aye” for “yes”, never heard them follow through with “the noo” but people really do talk like that[/jjimm-style hijack] :rolleyes: You’ll be telling us next that people in London really do say, in all seriousness, “Whatcha!” but never follow it up with “me ol’ cocknee sparra!” People really do talk like that. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613/39 "2004-03-24T23:44:00Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Okay, thought of another one: > > Is it true that the English don’t rinse their dishes? > > Have you noticed that your food tastes soapy? Yes, but nothing masks the aftertaste of kidney pie and warm beer better than soap :rolleyes: . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-british/233613.md?page=1)