# Do you use any Britishisms or vice versa? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 8, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393 "2005-06-08T02:16:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/101 "2005-06-10T19:51:55Z")
I’ll say “I have done” instead of “I’ve already done it” “G’day” a lot…but as a parting phrase, not a greeting as it’s used down under. Thats a pilot thing. I don’t mind queuing so much, but I hate standing in line…sometimes I’ll stand on line if really I must. Kevbabe thinks it rude when I hang up, so I ring off instead. Sometimes I’m of two minds, but I am never “debating between X and Y” as Kevbabe frequently explains her quandrys. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/102 "2005-06-10T19:58:37Z")
Only one: I’ll say “trousers” rather than “pants” when in mixed company, because it’s somewhat less confusing to everyone. Oh, and I try to avoid saying fanny pack, just because it’s stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/103 "2005-06-10T20:23:13Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > Aussie “Gooday”, yeah, mate. But “Good day to you, sir”? Doesn’t sound fair dinkum to me. I know it’s not usual in day-to-day speech, which is why I felt foolish about how it must have sounded to him when I used it in the sense of “Our business is concluded,” as in a BBC period drama. Like an Englishman saying “Howdy, pard’ner,” to an American. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/104 "2005-06-10T20:24:09Z")
grey ---
**Author:** ![D505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@D505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D505)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/105 "2005-06-11T03:25:22Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > I call fire “hot cockalorum” and water “pondalorum”. > > I call a cat a “white face simminy” and I call pants, “squibs and crackers”. > > Just like the British. 😃 That was funny. I’m an American, and just today I thought I found a typo in Microsoft’s SQL Server when it responded with “Operation Canceled”. “Aren’t there two ells in ‘cancelled’?” I wondered. 😕 Nope. It seems I’ve been reading too much stuff written by the British. ☹ Monty Python has made Britishisms very cute here in America (at least, to us computer geeks.) I’ll often say “Right!” as an exclamation meaning that I’m frustrated with something and I’m about to resolve the issue with actions. I also think the phrase “Rubbish.” as a term of disapproval is very funny. 😃 Of course, it has to be pronounced “robe-ish”. -d ---
**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:** [June 11, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/106 "2005-06-11T06:11:49Z")
> [@D505](#): > > 😃 That was funny. > > I’m an American, and just today I thought I found a typo in Microsoft’s SQL Server when it responded with “Operation Canceled”. > > “Aren’t there two ells in ‘cancelled’?” I wondered. 😕 > > Nope. It seems I’ve been reading too much stuff written by the British. ☹ > Monty Python has made Britishisms very cute here in America (at least, to us computer geeks.) I’ll often say “Right!” as an exclamation meaning that I’m frustrated with something and I’m about to resolve the issue with actions. > > I also think the phrase “Rubbish.” as a term of disapproval is very funny. 😃 Of course, it has to be pronounced “robe-ish”. > > -d No it is definitely rub-ish. And please don’t use cute again. To an average Brit , that this very cringe making ,and slightly condescending when talking about us and our language. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/107 "2005-06-11T08:20:04Z")
I’ve never really had a chance to use it, but I have always liked the British version of “police have a suspect in custody:” “a man is assisting police with their inquiry.” ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/108 "2005-06-11T15:02:07Z")
> [@Rodd Hill](#): > > I’ve never really had a chance to use it, but I have always liked the British version of “police have a suspect in custody:” > > “a man is assisting police with their inquiry.” Often this will be because they’re _not_ in custody - they may be being interviewed under caution on a voluntary basis. If somebody’s arrested, or charged, then that’s how it’s described. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/109 "2005-06-11T15:06:07Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Often this will be because they’re _not_ in custody - they may be being interviewed under caution on a voluntary basis. If somebody’s arrested, or charged, then that’s how it’s described. Speaking from experience after a night on the old Tolly Cobold, GMan? ---
**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:** [June 11, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/110 "2005-06-11T15:11:15Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Often this will be because they’re _not_ in custody - they may be being interviewed under caution on a voluntary basis. If somebody’s arrested, or charged, then that’s how it’s described. I think it also has something to do with the contempt-of-court and subjudicy rules. The press have to be very careful when reporting possible court cases. This can include publishing pictures of suspects , mentioning previous crimes and too many details of the investigation. Watching Fox News I am always amazed at the way cases are reported in the USA. They seem to give a whole lot more information about the suspect which, I think, could prejudice a trial and would not be allowed in the UK ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/111 "2005-06-11T15:13:17Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > Speaking from experience after a night on the old Tolly Cobold, GMan? _hic…yesshhh, offisher…_ I’m always very polite to the friendly policemen, thank you very much 😛 (Especially when they’re sitting on a 17-hand horse…) ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393/112 "2005-06-11T16:36:00Z")
I like to say ‘manky’. Manky, manky, manky. ‘Mingin’’ is fun too. I also usually spell in British english because that way is the correct way in Canada too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-any-britishisms-or-vice-versa/307393.md?page=5)