# English words you think are unique to your country/region. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268 "2007-09-06T18:03:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/101 "2007-09-09T07:12:52Z")
Don’t know if this was covered… big long thread. 😛 Red up. As in Go red up your room. Clean up. Straighten up. ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/102 "2007-09-09T11:52:25Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Skive: meaning to avoid work or be just downright pig idle [/QUOTE] That’s used in Australian english as well ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/103 "2007-09-09T13:31:32Z")
I heard someone use the phrase “sweet milk” the other day to describe whole milk (as distinguished from buttermilk). It used to be common in the US South to have “sweet milk” and buttermilk in your refrigerator. Is “sweet milk” (meaning whole milk) a Southern expression, or just an old-timey expression? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/104 "2007-09-09T13:35:43Z")
Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/105 "2007-09-09T13:35:56Z")
I might could think of some more Southern constructions, if I got to studying on it. Reckon when I might have time to do _that_, though? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/106 "2007-09-09T13:39:10Z")
[QUOTE=calm kiwi] Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English. [/QUOTE] Over this side of the Ditch too. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/107 "2007-09-09T13:41:53Z")
In some areas, Aboriginal English uses “ignorant” to mean belligerent or aggressive: “Alright, calm down. Don’t get ignorant with me!” ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/108 "2007-09-09T13:47:49Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] Over this side of the Ditch too. [/QUOTE] Really? Every Aussie I ever knew called them swimmers. ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/109 "2007-09-09T14:36:07Z")
In Ohio “briar” refers to a person from Kentucky, as in: > [@](#): > > How do you know a briar has been in your backyard? > Your trashcan is upside down and your dog is pregnant. > > How do you know a drunk briar has been in your backyard? > Your dog is upside down and your trashcan is pregnant. In St. Louis, “hoosier” is used to refer to someone/something low class. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/110 "2007-09-09T15:32:14Z")
[QUOTE=calm kiwi] Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English. [/QUOTE] Cozzie over here. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/111 "2007-09-09T15:36:03Z")
A real Kiwi word, Jandals. The rest of you call them flip flops or thongs or similar odd words. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/112 "2007-09-09T18:57:15Z")
Mucker…meaning mate/pal/buddy ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/113 "2007-09-10T00:41:44Z")
[QUOTE=calm kiwi] Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English. [/QUOTE] Same here, sweet as! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/114 "2007-09-10T00:43:39Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] In some areas, Aboriginal English uses “ignorant” to mean belligerent or aggressive: “Alright, calm down. Don’t get ignorant with me!” [/QUOTE] Well I dunno how widespread it is but ignorant is often used here to mean impolite. “He was dead ignorant!”, you sometimes hear it pronounced “igorant”. ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/115 "2007-09-10T01:02:20Z")
[QUOTE=calm kiwi] Really? Every Aussie I ever knew called them swimmers. [/QUOTE] swimmers, togs, occasionally cossie. And lets not forget budgie smugglers! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/116 "2007-09-10T01:29:49Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] Over this side of the Ditch too. [/QUOTE] I’ve heard “togs” in Canada meaning clothes, especially of a specified kind. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/117 "2007-09-10T02:28:34Z")
[QUOTE=matt\_mcl] I’ve heard “togs” in Canada meaning clothes, especially of a specified kind. [/QUOTE] To add to the confusion, it means “clothes” here too, sometimes: “Get yer togs on, we’re going out.” And it’s not of a specified kind, but more the general ensemble, whatever it might be. For formal or party clothes, we might use the term “glad rags”. And yeah, **CK** , I’ve heard “togs, swimmers, bathers, trunks, cossie, and swimming costume” for the things you go swimming in. I come from a “trunks” household, but I don’t think that’s one of the more common ones. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/118 "2007-09-10T02:29:39Z")
And if you have your “glad rags” on, you might be said to be “all togged up”. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/119 "2007-09-10T02:31:56Z")
[QUOTE=pprgrl] In Florida, [Baker Act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Act) has become a verb in common usage, as in “Someone take those pills away from her before she gets herself bakeracted,” or “Didja hear? Johnny’s parents bakeracted him after they found that gun.” [/QUOTE] Finally. I knew we had to have at least one term that was specific to us but I couldn’t think of anything. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/120 "2007-09-10T02:34:55Z")
[QUOTE=calm kiwi] A real Kiwi word, Jandals. The rest of you call them flip flops or thongs or similar odd words. [/QUOTE] What about “dairy”, in the context of a local mixed business / corner shop? That’un took a while to get used to. Gotta be pure Kiwi, that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268.md?page=7)