# 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:** 7
**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, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/121 "2007-09-10T02:51:26Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] And if you have your “glad rags” on, you might be said to be “all togged up”. [/QUOTE] Glad Rags & Handbags is a popular song from the 1970’s I believe. Recently revived in popularity by television’s The Office. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/122 "2007-09-10T11:52:31Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] That one’s used in Britain, also as a dismissive term about a short person. London has west and east ends (not north or south). ‘The West End’ is the parallel to ‘Broadway’ in its theatrical context. Some other British cities have ends, too, Glasgow coming to mind (again, just east and west). The southern part of a village in Essex grew into the seaside town of Southend-on-Sea. There’s also Preston North End football club. [/QUOTE] Though its quite common when talking about London regions to say North of/South of the river. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/123 "2007-09-10T11:58:41Z")
[QUOTE=MarcusF] **liberty**. Do you know where “_bennies_” comes from? 25 years ago in the UK a “benny” was a yokel, a slow and stupid person - not necessarily obnoxious. The name came from a character in a low budget, day-time, soap called _Crossroads_ that had a cult following at the time. The story is that when British soldiers were chasing the Argentinians off the Falklands and they met the local Falkland Islanders, they started calling them “_bennies_”. 😃 [/QUOTE] The character in the soap habitually wore a woolly hat that I think the Americans call a longshoremans hat ,many of the F.Islanders wore these hats and IMHO thats why they aquired the nickname not because they were thickos. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/124 "2007-09-10T12:37:22Z")
Ulster/ Norn Irn things: “Thran”- contrary/wayward/stubborn “ignore her, she’s just being thran”. “Scran”- food. “Cowp”- to collapse. As in “I don’t want to discharge you from hospital just yet, in case you cowp as soon as you get home”. A phrase I repeat ad nauseum to my patients. “Hunkers”- to crouch down, also “on your hunkers”. “Oxters”- armpits “those legging quare went up to the oxters”. “Boak”- to vomit. “Bake/Beak”- your mouth. As in “shut your bake”. “Wee’an” is, of course a baby, but it’s not just a Norn Irn thing. Any body part that happens to be swollen “went up like a bap”. A bap is a small, soft bread roll, such as you would fill with a burger. “Barm brack” is a kind of sweet bread filled with dried currants and raisins. It’s nice with butter and a cup of tea and is usually made in a large round loaf. ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/125 "2007-09-10T12:55:35Z")
[QUOTE=irishgirl] Ulster/ Norn Irn things: “Scran”- food. “Hunkers”- to crouch down, also “on your hunkers”. “Oxters”- armpits “those legging quare went up to the oxters”. “Boak”- to vomit. “Wee’an” is, of course a baby, but it’s not just a Norn Irn thing. [/QUOTE] All of the above are also used in Scotland. One word that I think is fairly regionalised to my part of Scotland is _bunker_,which is the kitchen worktop. Where did you put my cup of tea? On the bunker next to the toaster. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/126 "2007-09-10T13:37:51Z")
[QUOTE=matt\_mcl] As for Quebec English, obviously our biggest feature is lexical borrowing from French: both words (autoroute, terrasse, cinq à sept, vernissage) and constructions (close the lights). [/QUOTE] Last night my GF asked me to “turn off” the bottle of wine. Is this a common thing? Or just her? ---
**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, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/127 "2007-09-10T13:53:57Z")
[QUOTE=irishgirl] Ulster/ Norn Irn things: “Thran”- contrary/wayward/stubborn “ignore her, she’s just being thran”. “Scran”- food. “Cowp”- to collapse. As in “I don’t want to discharge you from hospital just yet, in case you cowp as soon as you get home”. A phrase I repeat ad nauseum to my patients. “Hunkers”- to crouch down, also “on your hunkers”. “Oxters”- armpits “those legging quare went up to the oxters”. “Boak”- to vomit. “Bake/Beak”- your mouth. As in “shut your bake”. “Wee’an” is, of course a baby, but it’s not just a Norn Irn thing. Any body part that happens to be swollen “went up like a bap”. A bap is a small, soft bread roll, such as you would fill with a burger. “Barm brack” is a kind of sweet bread filled with dried currants and raisins. It’s nice with butter and a cup of tea and is usually made in a large round loaf. [/QUOTE] Do they use cutty and cub for girl and boy in East Ulster? What abouted landed for arrived? ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/128 "2007-09-10T20:26:33Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] We also have chipped ham, jumbo, gutchies and our city has both sides **and** ends. Yinz kin git yer jumbo n islay’s chipped ham on da nor’side, da sa’side, in da wes’end or da eas’end, but only if yinz redd up your room, n’at. Yinz bin leavin yer gutchies all over fer da nebby neighbors ta see, n’at. [/QUOTE] I have always maintained that Pittsburghers had their own language before they finally tunneled out to the outside world. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AnonymousCowherder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f1d935/32.png) [@AnonymousCowherder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnonymousCowherder)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/129 "2007-09-11T00:27:52Z")
Loose meat sandwiches are called “taverns” instead of Sloppy Joes around Sioux City, Iowa. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/130 "2007-09-11T00:38:59Z")
Heck, we’ve even got a [site for it](http://www.pittsburghese.com/) . My personal favorite is “gumband”. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/131 "2007-09-11T01:07:30Z")
I was born and raised in Nashville and I’ve basically given up on trying to wipe out the crazy southernisms I use. You spend that long in Tennessee its just going to stay with you forever. The people I work with in SF and my boyfriend who is from Finland find it hilarious though. I’m sure you’ve heard all of these before these are just the ones I use all the time that get me teased You’re not about to do something you’re _fixin_ to do something you cotton? = you game? I don’t have truck with that = I have no problem with that I looked all over hell and half of georgia for you = what my mom says when she cant find me I am 'et up with you = I am exasperated with you you dont raise a child as much as you rear a child if it were a snake it would have bitten you = it was right in front of your face the whole time You don’t have the chance of a kerosene cat in hell = you have no chance Its raining n\*\*\*er babies outside = its raining really hard (I don’t actually say this one) I got tickled = I was amused and I laughed Don’t be ugly - refers to being nice and not to appearance bleeding like a stuck pig its a frog floater - its a really rainy day You can’t beat that with a stick - you won’t get a better deal snipe hunting (a classic) getting switched = spanked with a stick off a tree (no my parents didnt switch me) so good it makes you want to slap your mama hissie fit cant think of anymore right now ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/132 "2007-09-11T01:18:23Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > A crappie (CROP-ee) here is known elsewhere as a papermouth or a calico bass, among other things. NajaHusband’s Minnesota family says “crap-ee”. Here a “bubbler” is only ever a water pipe. I can’t think of any localisms, except I wanted to give a shout-out to my NorCal homies: the Spanish speaking kids would often end English sentences (most often questions) with a tacked-on word that sounded like “way”–as in “what are you doing, way?” I have no idea what that means, but it stuck, and I still do this all the time. Also, my cow-orker uses “chonies” for underwear… a word I _love_ and have wholeheartedly adopted. ---
**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 11, 2007, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/133 "2007-09-11T05:48:14Z")
[QUOTE=NajaNivea] I can’t think of any localisms, except I wanted to give a shout-out to my NorCal homies: the Spanish speaking kids would often end English sentences (most often questions) with a tacked-on word that sounded like “way”–as in “what are you doing, way?” I have no idea what that means, but it stuck, and I still do this all the time. [/QUOTE] _Güey_. Mexican for “dude, guy”, among other meanings. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/134 "2007-09-11T08:49:04Z")
“Sken” meaning to have a look at “Sken-eyed” meaning cross-eyed ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/135 "2007-09-11T10:40:40Z")
[QUOTE=Eolbo] I just did a quick impromptu survey of Australians. None of us have ever heard of the word ‘bubbler’ for drinking fountain. It might possibly be peculiar to parts of Australia but it doesn’t seem to be general if its used at all. [/QUOTE] Can confirm bubbler in Queensland. Along with togs, and port for suitcase. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/136 "2007-09-11T13:17:01Z")
[QUOTE=Bambi Hassenpfeffer] _Güey_. Mexican for “dude, guy”, among other meanings. [/QUOTE] \*Excellent. \* I shall triple my usage. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/137 "2007-09-11T13:22:57Z")
[QUOTE=Eolbo] I just did a quick impromptu survey of Australians. None of us have ever heard of the word ‘bubbler’ for drinking fountain. It might possibly be peculiar to parts of Australia but it doesn’t seem to be general if its used at all. [/QUOTE] There’s a little town called Sydney where it’s used almost exclusively - “drinking fountain” sounds to my ears either American or something official such as wording on a sign erected by the local council. Maybe it’s changed lately, but they were bubblers all through my childhood (70s/80s), and I don’t ever recall somebody being confused when I’ve used the word. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/138 "2007-09-11T13:26:05Z")
Yup, cutty and cub up around Ballymena, hey. Landed, sometimes, but not often. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/139 "2007-09-11T13:29:06Z")
**Irishgirl** , my dad says “scran”, but it’s possible he’s just trying to be cute. He’s an Australian bloke with Scottish ancestry (Irish connections are there but remote). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268/140 "2007-09-11T14:02:43Z")
Here in SC we have all the classic Southern ones - we cut off the lights, which is something I didn’t even know other people didn’t say until I was in my mid-20’s, we’re fixin’ to do something, we lack a certain amount of something, we reckon that might be so, etc. My dad with all sincerity calls underwear “drawers”, but that might just be an old-people thing. I came in to display something _really_ old-school, though, that I heard for the first time in _ages_ from an old lady yesterday - “I swanny”, or “I swann”, instead of “I swear”. Hadn’t heard that one in donkey’s years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-you-think-are-unique-to-your-country-region/418268.md?page=8)