# Rude English words the yanks don't get! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 25, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523 "2003-10-25T18:11:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/101 "2003-10-28T20:38:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biffy the Elephant Shrew \* > \*\*When I was in high school, I heard from a girl whose family hosted a foreign exchange student (I forget from what country; but from the accent I remember being used when she told me the story, let’s say France) who asked about buying knickers–meaning underpants–and was horrified to be advised that they were out of fashion in America. “You don’t wear _kneeckairs???_” \*\* When _I_ was in high school, the fencing team had t-shirts made that said “Real men wear knickers” on the back. I, as the resident Anglophile, found this slogan far more amusing than anyone else did. ---
**Author:** ![Dawne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Dawne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dawne)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/102 "2003-10-28T22:16:13Z")
As for the different uses of the word piss you forgot ‘piece of piss’, meaning very easy. For example, a friend might ask me if an essay was hard and i’d reply with ‘Nah, was a piece o’ piss’ At least, i think nobody mentioned that one… ---
**Author:** ![flapcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@flapcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flapcats)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/103 "2003-10-28T22:59:22Z")
STIMPY I thought Smeg (as used in Red Dwarf) was from Smegma, and that smegma was the cheese that gathers (if unwashed) under foreskin. ? Yikes! ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/104 "2003-10-28T23:09:03Z")
I thought “smeg” was a made-up word chosen purely because it sounded rude (i.e. like “smegma”), not actually a word genuinely derived from the term. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/105 "2003-10-29T00:18:41Z")
Here in midwest US, geezer and codger both mean “old guy” without any bad shadings. My old 12 pound dictionary says geezer may mean lying old (guise-er) guy, and codger may mean untrustworthy old guy, maybe dealing in falcons. In a long-ago article about the proto-punk band _The Sex Pistols,_ the Rolling Stone quoted one of Johnny Rotten’s bandmates. He said, (roughly) “He was the nastiest geezer I ever met.” In the same article, one of the Pistols, referring to injecting heroin, called it “geezing up.” So, I have to ask, what are geezers and codgers to the average Brit? As a 54-year old retired Yank, this is more than an idle curiosity. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/106 "2003-10-29T01:37:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \*\*\*A couple of times, people have asked _me_, “I can’t quite place your accent – are you English or Irish?” (I was born here in B.C. to parents from New Brunswick. What the hell? Do I listen to too much BBC programming?) \*\* First time I met a certain business contact from BC I asked her if she was originally Scottish – as she had a soft burr to her speech that I associate with that accent. She was raised in the Kamloops area, and later when I was living in Vancouver for a while I met a lot of people whose accent I could have mistaken for Scots or English. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/107 "2003-10-29T02:22:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bytegeist \* > \*\*peanut butter… is little more than ground peanuts mixed with a little salt and sugar. \*\* \ And there you have captured a cultural divide… in a nutshell, if you will. 🙂 Peanut butter does not have sugar in it. It is a savoury spread… which then explains why it doesn’t go so well with Jam / Jelly. Most major NZ brands = no sugar. (ETA and Sanitarium) Kraft = sugar. _bleech_🙂 And I can’t speak for the Brits, but the local here devour tons of the stuff – even more than Marmite. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/108 "2003-10-29T08:09:23Z")
For me a “geezer” means what **owlstretchingtime** described it as: > [@](#): > > A geezer jiust means the same as “bloke” or “chap” ie there’s a geezer in the pub who supports west ham… > > In London being a bit of a geezer implies a “dodgy” aspect to one’s character - ie slightly disreputable. Conversely “diamond geezer” is a mark of respect - ie a stand-up guy, who can be trusted. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/109 "2003-10-29T08:24:34Z")
relating to the above; a codger is an affectionate term for an old man. It’s the sort of thing one might call one’s father/grandfather. The Daily Mirror used to have a column called the old codgers where old people would send in truly outstandingly dull letters about cleaning your windows with newspapers or the correct recipe for Wooton Pie. And another use of piss - as a verb - meaning to do easily: “was your driving test hard?” “nah, I pissed it”. Here are some more that yanks (who incidentally we call septics) might not get: Nonce poof bender growler biff hand shandy sherman/jodrell/ J Arthur Gladys/eartha Doris BOBFOC When come back, bring words for hairy pie. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/110 "2003-10-29T09:25:54Z")
I have to hijack this thread slightly in order to make my customary expression of disgust when ever anyone mentions Marmite…Bleeeeeuuugghhh. Satan’s spunk. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/111 "2003-10-29T11:50:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > **BOBFOC** AKA “two bagger”. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/112 "2003-10-29T12:19:27Z")
I’m partial to the word “fannybaws” ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/113 "2003-10-29T12:49:30Z")
BOBFOC - Body off baywatch , face off Crimewatch. Eg Tracey Emin. THis amuses me enormously: [http://www.novell.com/training/cde/features/randy.html](http://www.novell.com/training/cde/features/randy.html) A few more: beef curtains fanny batter minge munter and about a million for gays eg uphill gardener etc. And a favourite expression for a messy muff " a fanny like a bear trappers hat" Also a biff like terry waites allotment" ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/114 "2003-10-29T12:57:47Z")
In the same vein as BOBFOC we also have **FAFCAM** : Noun: “Fit as fuck, common as muck”. E.g. Girls Aloud, Heidi off of Sugababes, and possibly an Atomic Kitten (at a push). ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/115 "2003-10-29T13:01:31Z")
Popbitch had a great phrase a while back that I can’t quite remember. It was something like “Labradoring” - the council estate equivalent of making a rough dog appear smooth and attractive, i.e. what the music industry did to Atomic Kitten. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/116 "2003-10-29T13:09:41Z")
…Which reminds me of the great Popbitch phrase “pram face” - the sort of face you’d see pushing a baby buggy round a council estate (again, see Atomic Kitten). My street is full of them, often with their hear pulled very tightly back off their faces into a pony-tail topknot, thus accentuating their pramfacedness. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/117 "2003-10-29T13:32:25Z")
The arrangement you are referring to is called a “croydon facelift” ie it makes young (but haggard) birds look like zsa zsa gabor would if someone had crept up behind her and burst a balloon (courtesy viz). “Wizzards sleeve” is a good 'un too as" is wet as an otters pocket." Perhaps we should write in to professor fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/118 "2003-10-29T15:07:53Z")
Not a word, but a gesture; and I found out the hard way that it’s rude. Either a “V for victory” sign, or a peace sign (you know, your index and middle finger raised up in a “V” shape), but with your knuckles turned outward, rather than facing you, is apparently akin to extending the middle finger to someone in England. One day, as my wife and I were walking into a pub in Northumberland, the manager asked, “how many?” and I replied “two” and held up two fingers with the knuckles facing the manager. He nearly smacked me! Then realizing I was an ignorant Yank, simply said to me, “That’s quite rude, you know!” I had no idea what he was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Herge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Herge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Herge)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/119 "2003-10-29T16:48:32Z")
😃 Labdad, you got off lightly! That sign with the fingers facing you means “F–k you”. I’m glad the person you showed it to was understanding! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/120 "2003-10-29T17:09:15Z")
**Herge** , that’s what extending the middle finger means over here! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523.md?page=7)