# "Pants" is British for "panties" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 8, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576 "2004-09-08T01:05:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/41 "2004-09-09T11:26:58Z")
So he was basically referring to Bush as chavscum. Well,any word that calls him any kind of scum,I’ll go along with. Thanks **GorillaMan.** ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/42 "2004-09-09T11:31:20Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > More to the point, knickers are female underpants. Quite right. And “shreddies” are men’s underwear. I thought “braces” was the British term for suspenders. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/43 "2004-09-09T11:34:30Z")
> [@Tikki](#): > > Radio=wireless Now you really are taking the mickey! Nobody in the UK has called a radio a “wireless” since about 1962. And to clarify the “napkin” thing, we call what the Americans call diapers “nappies” (singular: nappy). While it is ostensibly short for “napkin”, nobody uses that word. Napkin means serviette, such as you’d put on the table or your lap, but not on a baby’s bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/44 "2004-09-09T12:59:16Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > And just to be contrary, we would say “getting into her knickers” 😉 > > What’s the American for pulling? :dubious: Pulling… _what,_ exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/45 "2004-09-09T13:10:05Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > :dubious: > Pulling… _what,_ exactly? Pulling, as in getting off with someone, hooking up, scoring. I’ve just answered my own question, haven’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/46 "2004-09-09T13:10:27Z")
A member of the opposite sex. Not \*their \* member, A member… ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/47 "2004-09-09T13:11:58Z")
That’s a very hetrosexual viewpoint. It doesn’t have to be a member of the opposite sex. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/48 "2004-09-09T13:17:25Z")
More Britspeak questions- courtesy of Are You Being Served? 1- What is “Knackered”? Sorry if it’s spelled wrong, but as I recall in on AYBS episode, they talked of sending Mr. Grainger off to the “knacker’s yard” or to be “knackered”. 2- What is “ginger”? Is that slang for homosexual? ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/49 "2004-09-09T13:17:29Z")
Quite right. Of course, I only posted in a desire to get that ‘member’ joke in. No, not MY member in, just the joke. Oh, come on! No, not on me, in general. No, not in THE General! Once you start with silly innuendo, you just can’t stop. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/50 "2004-09-09T13:22:13Z")
_Knackered_ is generally used to mean tired or exhausted, but is actually derived from a source word (which I forget \*) which is considered offensive, so should really not be used. Although it is used a lot. _Ginger_ (pro: GING-Err) is just a slang word for someone with that colour hair. I have ever heard it used to mean anything else. Although others may suprise me with this one… - Related to Travellers / Roma so\*\* Kal \*\* might know, if he was still posting here. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/51 "2004-09-09T13:49:04Z")
I always thought a knacker was a butcher or someone who worked in a slaughterhouse.But here’s M-Ws take on it [http://merriamwebster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=dictionary&va=knacker](http://merriamwebster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=dictionary&va=knacker) ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/52 "2004-09-09T13:55:42Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What is “ginger”? Is that slang for homosexual? More dreaded rhyming slang: **Ginger Beer** = **Queer**. Hardly politically correct, but yer Cock-a-knees could not think of anything to rhyme with “homosexual”. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/53 "2004-09-09T13:57:38Z")
> [@Aro](#): > > No, not MY member in, just the joke. Oh, come on! No, not on me, in general. No, not in THE General! Its OK **Aro** , we know all about those fantasies of yours on NADS. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/54 "2004-09-09T15:18:55Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Americans should be very careful when discussing their fannys too 😃 > > (or fanny packs :eek: ) Stupid American checking in. Please relieve me of my ignorance. I can’t figure this one out. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/55 "2004-09-09T15:27:25Z")
‘Fanny’ is UK slang for vagina. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/56 "2004-09-09T15:44:07Z")
> [@seosamh](#): > > More dreaded rhyming slang: **Ginger Beer** = **Queer**. Hardly politically correct, but yer Cock-a-knees could not think of anything to rhyme with “homosexual”. Also “Iron” - Iron Hoof = poof. As used in many a British sit com from the “golden years” eg on the buses, mind your language, bless this house, love they neighbour etc etc. Where I come from pants (mens) are called Shreddies. Sports kit is called “togs” eg “footer togs” “rugger togs” but that may be a localised school thing.l ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/57 "2004-09-09T15:45:45Z")
I told my husband that I should maybe get a fanny pack to carry the doggy poo bags in and was corrected right quick! :eek: My third day here I was told by the plumber type person that “yer tap’s knackered, mite” It took me days to decipher that one. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/58 "2004-09-09T22:58:36Z")
> [@slumtrimpet](#): > > I was told by the plumber type person that “yer tap’s knackered, mite” Was the plumber Dick Van Dyke by any chance? Brits are usually guaranteed a huge laugh when United States actors essay an “English” accent - e.g. Mr VD’s Bert in _Mary Poppins_. But, I wonder: how good or bad are Brit actors at doing American accents? Take Bob Hoskins in, say, _Who Framed Roger Rabbit?_ or _Mermaids_. Do you think, “wow I didn’t know he was from Brooklyn”? Or is it more “gawd elp us, what a twat”? ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/59 "2004-09-09T23:59:01Z")
I know someone who uses “cream crackered” when he means knackered. Cream crackers are a kind of biscuit… which is a whole nother transatlantic can of misapprehensions and disgreements innit! ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576/60 "2004-09-10T00:05:14Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Sports kit is called “togs” eg “footer togs” “rugger togs” but that may be a localised school thing.l ‘Togs’ is also a (not-so-localised?) generic word for ‘clothes’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pants-is-british-for-panties/263576.md?page=4)