# Things I, as an American, have learned from Terry Pratchett
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 7, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618 "2005-01-07T18:32:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/1 "2005-01-07T18:32:24Z")
The meaning of “Pull the other one, it’s got bells on.”
Manchester Center.
“Got it in one!”
Any others?
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### Author:  [@\_xiao\_wenti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_xiao_wenti)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/2 "2005-01-07T18:44:15Z")
A “swede” (swedish turnip) is a rutebage. We in the US use the same term (baggy root) as the Swedes do.
Sultana (oversized rasin).
I’ll have to look on the inside covers of my books – when I find one, I as a Brit.
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### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/3 "2005-01-07T19:08:00Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> Manchester Center.
As I’m not a Pratchett fan - huh?
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### Author:  [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/4 "2005-01-07T19:08:26Z")
If I ever visit England, I’m going to have to find some actual Morris dancers, and some scumble.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/5 "2005-01-07T19:20:33Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#):
>
> As I’m not a Pratchett fan - huh?
Ooo, I’ll have to find my copy of Good Omens, but it goes something like this:
“Manchester Center was built by the British to be a clean, organized, and well-run city. Interestingly enough, both sides (good and evil) claim this as a victory.”
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/6 "2005-01-07T19:24:58Z")
Isn’t it Milton Keynes?
I have learned the useful word “manky.”
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### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/7 "2005-01-07T19:34:33Z")
“and Bob’s your uncle” = you have successfully completed the task at hand.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/8 "2005-01-07T19:35:08Z")
> [@cher3](#):
>
> Isn’t it Milton Keynes?
> I have learned the useful word “manky.”
That’s it, right! Thanks.
And I second manky.
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### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/9 "2005-01-07T19:37:08Z")
“Pear-shaped” means, under certain circumstanced, “very bad.”
Why, I have no idea.
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### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/10 "2005-01-07T19:39:23Z")
> [@mks57](#):
>
> If I ever visit England, I’m going to have to find some actual Morris dancers, and some scumble.
Scumble I can’t help you with but Morris dancing exists in the US. [You may have to endure a renfaire to see it](http://www.rennfest.com/mrf/entert/music.htm). Next May search your local papers for a sunrise dance.
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### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/11 "2005-01-07T19:41:39Z")
> [@cher3](#):
>
> Isn’t it Milton Keynes?
That’d make sense. Nobody could claim Manchester to be clean, organised or well-run.
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### Author:  [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/12 "2005-01-07T20:23:09Z")
As I understand it, the phrase “pear-shaped”, “fruit-shaped”, “wahooni-shaped”, etc, are all Pratchett-only riffs on the phrase “gone bananas”.
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/13 "2005-01-07T20:24:03Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> The meaning of “Pull the other one, it’s got bells on.”
>
> Manchester Center.
>
> “Got it in one!”
>
> Any others?
Manchester **Centre**. 😃
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### Author:  [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/14 "2005-01-07T20:31:00Z")
> [@audreyayn](#):
>
> Quote: Allesan"“Pear-shaped” means, under certain circumstanced, “very bad.”
>
> Why, I have no idea."
> As I understand it, the phrase “pear-shaped”, “fruit-shaped”, “wahooni-shaped”, etc, are all Pratchett-only riffs on the phrase “gone bananas”.
Ummmm, there’s another meaning behind that, not very PC. “Gone all Pear Shaped” has the flavour of the disappointment of the svelte hottie you married getting broad in the hips. ie. she was once to die for, but now she’s gone all Pear shaped.
**I Wasn’t here, I didn’t say this…**
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### Author:  [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/15 "2005-01-07T20:36:10Z")
> [@audreyayn](#):
>
> As I understand it, the phrase “pear-shaped”, “fruit-shaped”, “wahooni-shaped”, etc, are all Pratchett-only riffs on the phrase “gone bananas”.
No, " “gone pear-shaped” is _fairly_ widely used in a non-Pratchett context, of anything that has gone wrong - you know, grand plans that once seemed like a good idea etc.
Look on the bright side, USA people - there are probably some UK readers who might not guess what is the “ **N** ” word that the raven so resolutely refues to utter. 🙂
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### Author:  [@wnorthr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wnorthr)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/16 "2005-01-07T20:38:10Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#):
>
> “and Bob’s your uncle” = you have successfully completed the task at hand.
I thought “Bob’s your uncle” meant everything’s easy after that point.
Am I wrong?
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/17 "2005-01-07T20:42:36Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#):
>
> “and Bob’s your uncle” = you have successfully completed the task at hand.
But, surely Thor Stronginthearm is my uncle?
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### Author:  [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/18 "2005-01-07T20:53:03Z")
> [@Celyn](#):
>
> Look on the bright side, USA people - there are probably some UK readers who might not guess what is the “ **N** ” word that the raven so resolutely refues to utter. 🙂
Actually the damned bird repeats it over and over again.
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/19 "2005-01-07T21:38:11Z")
> [@Exgineer](#):
>
> Actually the damned bird repeats it over and over again.
I don’t think you’re thinking of the same word **Celyn** was thinking of. Better go back and read the poem again.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-as-an-american-have-learned-from-terry-pratchett/283618/20 "2005-01-07T21:39:31Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> But, surely Thor Stronginthearm is my uncle?
::sputters::
Excellent!
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