# Love those cultural misunderstandings! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688 "2003-07-02T00:47:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Melanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Melanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melanie)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/1 "2003-07-02T00:47:11Z")
Fanny: In Australia fanny means vag, and in USA, arse. Chick from USA over here, at the office we ask her how things are and she says “I’m working my fanny off”. We all look a bit peturbed, thinking she is telling us she is a part-time prostitute. Root: In Australia root means sex, in USA it means cheering someone on. In Australia you really don’t want to ‘root for your team’ unless your partner and you are both really into sport. Others? ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/2 "2003-07-02T00:55:43Z")
Pecker: In the UK, it means “nose” (probably). On this side of the Atlantic, it means “penis”. Imagine my moment of shock when, in _Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix_, Fred and George say they “kept their peckers up!” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/3 "2003-07-04T07:40:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kung fu lola \* > \*\*Pecker: > > In the UK, it means “nose” (probably). On this side of the Atlantic, it means “penis”. Imagine my moment of shock when, in _Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix_, Fred and George say they “kept their peckers up!” \*\* In what scene did they say that? ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/4 "2003-07-04T12:20:46Z")
Merci=thank you. But in response to a question, in english ‘thank you’ means ‘yes, thank you’ and in french, ‘merci’ means ‘non, merci.’ ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/5 "2003-07-04T13:50:21Z")
Randy=American male name Randy=horny I’ve always liked that one. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/6 "2003-07-04T13:53:28Z")
Knock up=British wake someone up Knock up=American get her pregnant I’ve known Americans who didn’t know the British meaning who were truly horrified by it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/7 "2003-07-04T14:01:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*In what scene did they say that? \*\* I wish I could find the page number, but I am moving on Monday and all my books are packed away for now (_sob_… I miss them). They may have changed the wording for the American version (if that’s the one you have), because I know they do that. Since I live in Canadialand, I get the Brit editions, with the slang intact. I’m pretty sure they are in the Gryffindor common room and Fred and George are trying to reassure Harry about getting his OWLs, so it would be in one of the chapters right before Harry takes his exams. ---
**Author:** ![Yersinia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6bbea6/32.png) [@Yersinia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersinia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/8 "2003-07-04T14:24:03Z")
An old one, I’m sure, but a long time ago I learned this: Fag (British) – Cigarette. Fag (USA) – Male homosexual. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/9 "2003-07-04T14:32:51Z")
When I was in England many years we were in a restaurant talking about someone’s new sports car. My boyfriend at the time was with my and he was Irish. One of my my English friends (a girl) invited him outside for a shufty. I don’t know what he was expecting but he was out of his seat like a shot!! ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/10 "2003-07-04T16:01:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Randy=American male name > > Randy=horny > > I’ve always liked that one. Spike: _Randy_ Giles?! Why not just call me “Horny” Giles or “Desperate for a Shag” Giles? I knew there was a reason I hated you! Giles: Randy is family name, undoubtedly… ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/11 "2003-07-04T17:01:44Z")
Covered recently in a MPSIMS thread. Faggot = American homosexual Faggot = British meatball or sausage My favorite: Rubber = American prophylactic Rubber = British rubber band (or elastic) Mildly off topic: In Denmark there will frequently be a sign above freight elevators reading: _Godselevator_ Gods = Goods Still a bit of fun to point out to the devout. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/12 "2003-07-04T17:07:50Z")
Getting pissed: British - getting drunk Getting pissed: U.S. - getting angry ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/13 "2003-07-04T17:20:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blonde \* > \*\*Getting pissed: British - getting drunk > > Getting pissed: U.S. - getting angry \*\* actually “getting pissed” can mean both of those in England. In conversation it is obvious which one but in writing it can get a little confusing! ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/14 "2003-07-04T22:35:09Z")
Pow - A sound you make when you hit someone. Pau (pronounced the same) - A local word meaning finished. I love the faces mainlanders give you when you ask them if they’re pau. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/15 "2003-07-04T22:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blonde \* > \*\*Getting pissed: British - getting drunk > > Getting pissed: U.S. - getting angry \*\* There’s also the expression “piss drunk” used in the States. But yeah, not many Americans would interpret “she’s pissed” as “she’s drunk.” Anyway, no real contribution to this thread. When I think of one, I’ll come back. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/16 "2003-07-04T23:03:03Z")
**MeanOldLady** and **Angelic** : I learned from a (oh, the shame) US magazine that Prince William was given shots of alcohol at his 21st birthday party, and stated “you’re trying to get me pissed”, with brackets included by our press (drunk). I don’t know of any popular U.S. terms which could be construed as such different meanings! Sure there’s some out there, though. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/17 "2003-07-04T23:23:03Z")
During WWII, my uncle was stationed in Britain and got himself embarrassed at a home he was visiting when he mentioned that he had dropped his _napkin_ on the floor. I doubt that 3 Yanks in 100 have even heard the word _serviette_ (and I do not know whether serviette applies to the ones made of linen), but Yanks put diapers, not napkins, on their infant children. (A more nearly British usage remains in American with the phrase _sanitary napkin_.) ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-those-cultural-misunderstandings/185688/18 "2003-07-05T00:02:52Z")
I thought rubbers were rain gear as in “we leave for shooting at 5, it’s mucky so bring rubbers.”