Most annoying American sayings

[Aims]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

We should reverse this and get the American Dibbers to post what they find funny about us

I'm going for a fag

I'm talking the baby for a walk in the pram

Maths

Chips

Beefburgers

Bum Bags

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Ok, challenge accepted Mr. Tom Morrow! I am an American Dibber, and I have been reading this thread and having some good chuckles over it. I am guilty of using some of the phrase and words that have been mentioned. I do say "errb" instead of "herb"...that is very much a regional thing in the US. I grew up in California and most people here say "errb". But I do say caramel instead of "carmel" (another regional thing), so hopefully that wins me a few points back



Here are some things my British friends have said to me over the years that I have found amusing, and in some cases confusing...


"Are you ok?" or "You alright?" when greeting someone. I'm never sure if I am supposed to just say "I'm fine", or if I am supposed to give a more detailed answer- because in the US we usually ask those questions if we think something is wrong. I'm guessing it's used in the UK in the same manner that we say "How are you?", just as a general nicety when you greet someone.


"What are you like" This one always confuses me! The first couple of times I heard that, I thought I was either being asked what types of things I enjoyed, or to give a description of myself I think I responded with "What do I like? I like a lot of things" and my friend doubled over laughing at my reply. So, obviously I got it wrong but I am still not sure what it means.


Going out for a fag...I know what it means now, but the first few times I heard that it was a bit shocking Much different meaning here, as you all know!



I can't think of much else though. I have made so many wonderful British friends over the years and I have come to understand quite a few of the phrases. They seem to have a harder time understanding the things I say! I actually used the words "fanny pack" when I was at a pub with a table of people and all of them were on the floor laughing, to my bewilderment. They had to explain it to me and I was SO embarrassed!



Now, if you will all excuse me...I have been drinking a lot of water today and need to go potty!

[bonnies mum]

Calling trousers “pants”and pants “shorts”. Also calling a handbag a purse.

[Villainlover]

Originally Posted by bonnies mum

Calling trousers “pants”and pants “shorts”. Also calling a handbag a purse.

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I call trousers pants lol had my south western family telling me that it might be a bit chilly if I just wore my black pants and a top

[Bianca]

I accept most of these as the American way and they don't bother me, but I agree about "I could care less". It means the opposite of what they intend and they don't seem to have noticed!

Mind you we have plenty of quirks in our own language.

[Taffy1959]

Originally Posted by SquishTheWhale

The Irish thing mentioned winds me up no end. Yep you've never set foot in the country and only have like 5% Irish blood but you go around claiming you're Irish and saying things like 'don't mess with an Irish family'. Grrr.

But the one thing I noticed a lot when we go is everything is 'right there'
Where's my soda? It's right there.
You see that man right there?
Take that can right there and put it in the trash right there

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We were chatting to a couple in the hotel a few years ago they asked where we were from so told them Wales, she then said her grandmother was Welsh and grandfather Irish.
Later that evening we went in the bar and they were there they'd had a few drinks and she was telling the barman she was half Irish after a few more she was 100% Irish and had spent half her life there.

[suesmum]

Originally Posted by ERICSMUM

Al-loooo-minum

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Yes! When I first heard that, I was not sure what they meant, I assumed aluminium but felt I needed to check as the context in which it was said, did not make it obvious. I asked, is that the same as our "aluminium" (over pronouncing it). The reply was ... No I mean Al-looo-minum

[suesmum]

Originally Posted by bonnies mum

Calling trousers “pants”and pants “shorts”. Also calling a handbag a purse.

See more...

So agree, got very confused when I first heard those terms, especially pants in the context it was being used!

So if handbags are purses ... what are purses called ?

[Eeyore rocks]

Originally Posted by suesmum

So agree, got very confused when I first heard those terms, especially pants in the context it was being used!

So if handbags are purses ... what are purses called ?

See more...

I think purses are called wallets? 🤔

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Aims

Ok, challenge accepted Mr. Tom Morrow! I am an American Dibber, and I have been reading this thread and having some good chuckles over it. I am guilty of using some of the phrase and words that have been mentioned. I do say "errb" instead of "herb"...that is very much a regional thing in the US. I grew up in California and most people here say "errb". But I do say caramel instead of "carmel" (another regional thing), so hopefully that wins me a few points back



Here are some things my British friends have said to me over the years that I have found amusing, and in some cases confusing...


"Are you ok?" or "You alright?" when greeting someone. I'm never sure if I am supposed to just say "I'm fine", or if I am supposed to give a more detailed answer- because in the US we usually ask those questions if we think something is wrong. I'm guessing it's used in the UK in the same manner that we say "How are you?", just as a general nicety when you greet someone.


"What are you like" This one always confuses me! The first couple of times I heard that, I thought I was either being asked what types of things I enjoyed, or to give a description of myself I think I responded with "What do I like? I like a lot of things" and my friend doubled over laughing at my reply. So, obviously I got it wrong but I am still not sure what it means.


Going out for a fag...I know what it means now, but the first few times I heard that it was a bit shocking Much different meaning here, as you all know!



I can't think of much else though. I have made so many wonderful British friends over the years and I have come to understand quite a few of the phrases. They seem to have a harder time understanding the things I say! I actually used the words "fanny pack" when I was at a pub with a table of people and all of them were on the floor laughing, to my bewilderment. They had to explain it to me and I was SO embarrassed!



Now, if you will all excuse me...I have been drinking a lot of water today and need to go potty!

See more...

Yes I would say that if you are greeted by “Are you alright?” Or “Are you ok?” that it is a nicety and nobody is really expecting a detailed run through. The exception might be if you are visibly upset or trip up at the precise moment you meet someone.

“What are you like” is a rhetorical question. If you hear it a lot, then you are possibly an unusual individual, prone to doing things differently, have a unique style or maybe there is something you are always doing like forgetting your keys, turning up late etc. It could be said in either fondness or exasperation, you would have to judge from the tone in which it is said.

On a separate note, I say quite a few things that have been mentioned on this thread, didn’t realise some of them were Americanisms.

[mickeyspal]

Originally Posted by suesmum

So agree, got very confused when I first heard those terms, especially pants in the context it was being used!

So if handbags are purses ... what are purses called ?

See more...

My cousins are American and they call purses ,pocket books . don't know why