# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/141 "2003-10-31T13:03:26Z")
**Regarding Fags** I believe it was Peter O’Toole who was visiting Washington DC back before his career really took off and he went to a police officer to ask him, " Do you know where I can buy some fags?" Hilarity ensued **What I want to know** : I kinda know, but want more clarification: Bob’s Your Uncle/Fanny’s Your Aunt. What it’s all about? **Amusing Lost In Translation Moment** : We have a **Mott College** over here in Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/142 "2003-10-31T13:05:30Z")
[Mott Comm.College](http://www.mcc.edu/indexmain.shtml) Little wonder why the guy on the front page is smiling so big. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/143 "2003-10-31T13:36:21Z")
bobs yer uncle: P. Brendon, in _Eminent Edwardians_, 1979, suggests an origin: “When, in 1887, Balfour was unexpectedly promoted to the vital front line post of Chief Secretary for Ireland by his uncle Robert, Lord Salisbury (a stroke of nepotism that inspired the catch-phrase ‘Bob’s your uncle’), …” You yanks have a lot of funnily named places/people. As well as Randy Bender linked to above you have an estate agent: [www.coldwellbankerpbr.com/males/](http://www.coldwellbankerpbr.com/males/) this football stadium: [www.indianablast.com/games/kuntz.htm](http://www.indianablast.com/games/kuntz.htm) And a district Attorney called Randy Gaylord. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/144 "2003-10-31T13:54:28Z")
Let us not forget the [Wankier Insurance Agency](http://www.ocas.com/agtmap/agtpopup.asp?id=138691) of Bloomington, IN. ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/145 "2003-10-31T16:33:40Z")
All I have to say is that any country with towns named things like Upton Snodsbury and whatnot has no room to say anything about funny place names. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/146 "2003-10-31T16:37:42Z")
Cheesy poofs. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/147 "2004-02-11T18:17:05Z")
> [@mrsface](#): > > Handy, it’s “take the piss”. > > Correct usage is “to take the piss out of [someone/something]”, as in “are you taking the piss out of me?” ie making fun of, taking the mickey, satirising. > > You would never “take a piss at” someone, unless you were literally peeing in their general direction. Or there is: “going out on the piss” which is popularly used by my friends in Ireland… It means to ’ go out and get drunk’… My friends english Grandmother always said “piss up a rope” instead of ‘f-off’… ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/148 "2004-02-11T20:26:45Z")
> [@Herge](#): > > Any others? Also, any American words which would go over us Brits heads? > > 😃 How about Chippy? I know _you_ folks mean a Fish and Chips place, but if you casually announced you were going to a chippy after work to an american, they’d probably laugh at you. Or, if they’re religiously inclined, tell you you’re going to hell if you don’t repent your wanton ways. [sub] A chippy’s a whore, you know[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/149 "2004-02-12T01:53:13Z")
Fair crack of the whip, cobbers, no Aussie-bashing! Bob’s your uncle: it’s all taken care of (e.g. “All we have to do is take this down to the boozer and Bob’s your uncle, we’ll be rich!”) Root… (Sex) (She was a great root, hey, wanna root): Or “I was rooting around in the drawer for some money”. Smeg: [electronic appliances](http://www.smeguk.com/). Clacker: vagina (from cloaca). Bunt: inject drugs. Pull: pick up for sex (“Did you pull last night?”) Skirt: a woman (“Charlie pulled a nice bit of skirt last night.”) Bushpig: an unattractive woman. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/150 "2004-02-12T08:23:18Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > 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. > > The equivelent for females is “birds”. I had no idea of the richness of the word “geezer.” I always thought it just meant an old guy. Since I’ve been feeling old, I thought it fit me. I don’t think of myself as disreputable, rather as a stand-up kind of guy. An _old_ stand-up guy who happens to inhabit an arid place (which I hate as much as being old). Who said old folks can’t learn new things (or was that old dogs can’t learn new tricks?)? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/151 "2004-02-12T11:07:15Z")
What you call a geezer we call a “codger” ie an old codger is an old bloke. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/152 "2004-02-12T12:58:46Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > I’ve never heard of that album, but if I had, I’d be well aware that “Hampton” is rhyming slang (Hampton Wick = prick). Hence the joke about the man who changed is name from _Woodcock_ to _Oakhampton_😉 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/153 "2004-02-12T13:19:38Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > I had no idea of the richness of the word “geezer.” I always thought it just meant an old guy. Since I’ve been feeling old, I thought it fit me. I don’t think of myself as disreputable, rather as a stand-up kind of guy. An _old_ stand-up guy who happens to inhabit an arid place (which I hate as much as being old). > > Who said old folks can’t learn new things (or was that old dogs can’t learn new tricks?)? Though I know you’re American, and therefore realised that you’d chosen the name due to your age, I always difficulties thinking of you as anything other than “a bloke who lives in the desert”. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/154 "2004-02-12T13:32:26Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > Hence the joke about the man who changed is name from _Woodcock_ to _Oakhampton_😉 Oh… , bugger that typo. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/155 "2004-02-12T13:42:08Z")
When Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Beautiful Game” was released in the US, they decided to replace the naughty British words with ones less offensive to the American CD buying public. So they replaced “crap” with “twat.” I swear I am not making that up. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/156 "2004-02-12T14:04:54Z")
That is priceless! ---
**Author:** ![Mizzkyttie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@Mizzkyttie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mizzkyttie)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/157 "2004-02-12T14:14:09Z")
I remember being a huge Red Dwarf fan when I was about 11 or 12, and using the word “smeg” in place of any other naughty words, because nobody else in the house knew what I was talking about. My older brother often admonished me to stop using “that stupid, made-up word,” and I would just smile at him beatifically. For a while, I had some friends in the UK who, I swear, thought that I went out drinking a -lot-, because they’d hear me say (or, more specifically, see me type, as it was via IM) “-Man-, I was pissed the other night…blahblahblah”, and they’d take it that I was drunk, as opposed to the American meaning, that I was angry. I agree wholeheartedly with the earlier-in-this-thread discussions of the richness of the word “bugger”. Wholly underused over here in the US, and should, without a doubt, be used more often. My favorite usage of it, however, has hands-down gotta be Foul Ole Ron in the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. “Buggrit, buggrit, buggrem…” ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/158 "2004-02-12T16:57:42Z")
something ruder… Wankel Rotary Engine Seriously though, lots of us yanks are big fans of the “BlackAdder” series and get alot of our English swear word knowledge from them. I particularly remember when Rowan Atkinson (as Ebinezer BlackAdder) said in the “BlackAdder Christmas Special” : “Baldrick, I want you to buy me a turkey so large, that it looks like it’s mother had been rogered by an omnibus” I love that line. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/159 "2004-02-12T18:09:54Z")
I personally like the word ‘fuckwit’. I think that our turns of phrase could be really alien to Americans though: ‘She had a face like a slapped arse’ - she has an ugly boatrace (face) ‘they looked like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle’ - they were wearing a sour expression ‘I went down on her like a bulldog eating porridge’ - I enthusiastically performed cunnilingus ‘She looked like she had gone ramraiding on a moped’ - she had an ugly face ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523/160 "2004-02-12T19:02:26Z")
> [@boofy\_bloke](#): > > Bob’s your uncle: it’s all taken care of (e.g. “All we have to do is take this down to the boozer and Bob’s your uncle, we’ll be rich!”) FWIW that’s neither Australian nor rude. > [@](#): > > Pull: pick up for sex (“Did you pull last night?”) > Skirt: a woman (“Charlie pulled a nice bit of skirt last night.”) Not particularly Aussie slang either; they’re in daily use in Britain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rude-english-words-the-yanks-dont-get/209523.md?page=9)