English words you think are unique to your country/region.

In My Humble Opinion
101

Don’t know if this was covered… big long thread. :stuck_out_tongue:

Red up. As in Go red up your room. Clean up. Straighten up.

102

[QUOTE=chowder]
Skive: meaning to avoid work or be just downright pig idle
[/QUOTE]

That’s used in Australian english as well

103

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?

104

Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English.

105

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?

106

[QUOTE=calm kiwi]
Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English.
[/QUOTE]

Over this side of the Ditch too.

107

In some areas, Aboriginal English uses “ignorant” to mean belligerent or aggressive: “Alright, calm down. Don’t get ignorant with me!”

108

[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog]
Over this side of the Ditch too.
[/QUOTE]

Really? Every Aussie I ever knew called them swimmers.

109

In Ohio “briar” refers to a person from Kentucky, as in:

In St. Louis, “hoosier” is used to refer to someone/something low class.

110

[QUOTE=calm kiwi]
Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English.
[/QUOTE]

Cozzie over here.

111

A real Kiwi word, Jandals. The rest of you call them flip flops or thongs or similar odd words.

112

Mucker…meaning mate/pal/buddy

113

[QUOTE=calm kiwi]
Togs for swimsuit, in Kiwi English.
[/QUOTE]

Same here, sweet as!

114

[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”.

115

[QUOTE=calm kiwi]
Really? Every Aussie I ever knew called them swimmers.
[/QUOTE]

swimmers, togs, occasionally cossie. And lets not forget budgie smugglers!

116

[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog]
Over this side of the Ditch too.
[/QUOTE]

I’ve heard “togs” in Canada meaning clothes, especially of a specified kind.

117

[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.

118

And if you have your “glad rags” on, you might be said to be “all togged up”.

119

[QUOTE=pprgrl]
In Florida, 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.

120

[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.