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This is NOT an anti English thread, it is about the funny expressions people in different parts of the country use. At least, I think they're funny.
I think it is stange when they say someone was "on Widnes station", eg "Paul Simon wrote the lyrics for Homeward Bound on Widnes Station". In Scotland you are either in the station or at the station.
Anybody got similar expressions?
I lived in Wales for a while, and if I asked anyone where they stayed they didn't have a clue what I was asking, so I had to ask where they lived instead
Pronounce the letter J as "Jai" and you will get some right weird looks.
I was told the word "outwith" is a purely Scottish term which surprised me. it's as useful a word as any :greengrin
Not doubting you but I have never heard anyone use that term. It's always been "at" or "in".Quote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
One thing I can't get my head round is the use of "haway" or "howay" by people in the North east. I know what it means but I automatically equate it to "Ach, away"...a similar sounding term we use which has the exact opposite meaning.
How did these terms originate?...because I can't think of any words in the English language that have been shortened or joined together to form this expression.
I'm stopping in tonight.
would love to know the background to that one. i say "jay" myself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hainan Hibs
It pretty much is. Confuses the hell out of MS Word anyway!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by givescotlandfreedom
The word 'bare' instead of 'very' confuses me.
E.g. "It's bare hot outside today."
Being brought up in an Anglo-Scottish home I've got a million of them Mr Rolls - mainly Nottinghamese. How long have you got? :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
I think it's a great word and also one I've never heard in England.Quote:
Originally Posted by givescotlandfreedom
Indeed it is. :agree:Quote:
Originally Posted by givescotlandfreedom
Not strictly adhering to FR's theme I have to say it tickles me that English people add an R to certain words and subtract an H from others. For example 'I was in Asdars omeware department' :greengrin
That's a grower, Jonny! One of the best I heard was the kids in a school I was working at talking about the vessels they were being served their tea in. Apparently (and I'll try to get this right) they were drinking from a 'bee-kar' ( a beaker).Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonnyboy
In England, language and dialect can, and often is, *******ised to within an inch of it's life. Witness the local 'Vale of Belvoir'. Sounds nice eh? 'The Beautiful Vale'? Only here it's the 'Vale of Beaver' (or should I say 'Beavar'! :wink:
I never knew that.Quote:
Originally Posted by givescotlandfreedom
My flatmate is from Hull and says "do one" as in 'do you want to do one?' i.e. leave.
I'm not sure if it's an English thing but it's a horrendous phrase.
He also calls rolls 'breadcakes'.
:faf:Quote:
Originally Posted by deano88
The only place you will find the word 'internationalist' is within the Scottish football media (according to my 2 English mates)
People in Coventry call them batches whereas the proper (Leicester) word is cob.Quote:
Originally Posted by deano88
Would you like butter on your baps?Quote:
Originally Posted by Leicester Fan
Where do you start?
Pop instead of juice, pants instead of trousers, breadbuns instead of bread rolls, swedes instead of turnips.
And thats before you get started on Geordies, who have a whole different rulebook.
I go mental at all these adverts that are selling "hay kay" products like Pantene, and Silvikrin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonnyboy
Surely bea-var?:greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by stu in nottingham
:faf:Quote:
Originally Posted by deano88
That has to be a contender for some sort of award. These are people who call a council scheme and "estate" of course.
Always, always an 'estate' in England. Never, ever heard the term 'scheme' used.Quote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
Enny rowd up, stop Prattinn abaht an don't be mardy. Ev a look at this bogger!
A Guide to Nottingham English
Now, if I could just find those Alan Sillitoe books that I hid because I couldn't understand them......Quote:
Originally Posted by stu in nottingham
Crackin' books yooth! Gerrum read.Quote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
I call them teacakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leicester Fan
I have a Scouse friend who calls his old man - The arl fella..
I couldn't find the phrase for "don't shoot" or "Where do I sign on?".:na na:Quote:
Originally Posted by stu in nottingham
"Anybody who can do anything in Leicester but make a jumper has got to be a genius." - Brian Clough on Martin O'NeillQuote:
Originally Posted by Leicester Fan
using "how" instead of "why" seems to confuse non-scots
How can you say that?Quote:
Originally Posted by thekaratekid
Likewise substituting 'but' for 'though'.Quote:
Originally Posted by thekaratekid
Think some people in the north-east of England tend to use that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marabou Stork
Examples of Nottinghamese:
Rammel - rubbish or nonsense
Sneck - a bolt or latch
Corsey - pavement
Bobbo - horse
Dudoos - sweets
Twitchel - alleyway
Nesh - feels the cold weather
Yitnee - a coward
Wobby - wasp
Mash - brewing tea
Dab in - hurry up
Tabs - ears
Mardy - spoilt, childish
They're Leicester too .AlsoQuote:
Originally Posted by stu in nottingham
Rocks-sweets
Jitty-Alleyway.
Jitty - close :agree:
Dont know if you fellow midlands notice but here they say "I brought a TV" Instead of "I Bought a TV" , never got this one , why? Just why?
Also Chewing Gum - Chuddy :confused:
You'll find the word 'jitty' used in D H Lawrence's works, HL. 'Ginnel' is another word for it but I think that's more at home in Yorkshire.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeeleicester
There's lots for baby talk in Nottm too. 'Bobbars' is sometimes said to young children to take their hands off something.
Best are some of the old expressions. 'So hungry I could eat a 'oss between two bread vans'. :greengrin
In Dublin, when they get in a cab they say "bring me to". For example, "bring me to Temple Bar".Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeeleicester
I'm finding this stuff from the Midlands very interesting. It seems that whereas further north we're speaking a Germanic version of English, the language of that area seems more Norse. Anybody able to put me straight on that?
I'm not sure of the language connections you're thinking of FR but I can tell you that there was plenty of Viking activity in the area I live in just north of Nottingham. Danes are recorded as marching down the main road here in the late 800s' on the way from York to sack Nottingham. There are also a good amount of local place names that are of Norse origin such as Woodthorpe and ****horpe - 'Gunni's steading (home) etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
Maybe you're onto something there?
Same with shot instead of go :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by thekaratekid
In Nottingham a 'shot' is something you wear underneath your jumper (ganzie)!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonnyboy
I would say that was an Americanism. Heard it in loads of movies.Quote:
Originally Posted by deano88
Why do we say a half loaf, when we really mean a whole one.
Slightly off topic but my cousin Patricia was down from Aberdeen one time when we were Kids. We were all sitting at the dinner table when she fell off the seat and bumped her head. The conversation went some thing like this.
Lex's Ma - You awright Hen.
Pat- (To her Ma whilst greetin her eyes oot) Fir why is Auntie Marion cryin me a Hen Ma? Sure I'm nae a Hen.
Like it happened yesterday.
:greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by greenlex
Calling your son a loon outside of Aberdeen brings some nasty disapproving looks, that's for sure
It's the East Midlands really. We're totally different to the West Midlands/Birmingham.Quote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
It has been said that English started around the Leicester area as it was on the border between the Danish(viking) area of Britain and the Anglo Saxon half. English was the hybrid language used when trading between the 2 groups.I don't know how true that is though.
That's interesting and makes perfect sense to me. As a dialect/language, the East Midlands words are strikingly different from those used a hundred miles, or so, up the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leicester Fan
I've always been struck by the way people from Nottingham especially have strong northern traits to their dialect and accent. It's a wee bit like Stranraer in that you get a mix of different influences - there it's partly Strathclyde, with a hint of Cumbrian, and a strong hint of Irish.
It's quite complex really and within a very few miles in this area the dialect can be quite different. The suburb four miles north of Nottingham I live in has a much different sound to the one in the town of Hucknall which is barely four miles West as the crow flies. You tend to find that towns like the latter, with strong former mining communities have a much more 'Northern' sound. A lot of the former coal mining areas of Nottingham are situated to the North and West of the county and some will have had the influence of miners and familes settling there from the North of England and indeed ScotlandQuote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
A few years ago there were a number of road accidents on Humberside caused by people going through red lights. The sign said "Halt while lights are red". In the local dialect while means until.
One that gets me is "I was made up". I think it's a Lancashire phrase. Is the speaker invented or simply covered in cosmetics?
... or constructed from parts like a robot. Example: Michael Owen, the most boring speaker in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by ballengeich
Quote:
Originally Posted by lapsedhibee
Ye ano
Shirley Paz is the best hay kay product?Quote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
My girlfriend is from deepest, darkest Lancashire and somehow manages to use that when talking about birthdays: "My Dad made up 60 last year". I know someone who is even doing a PhD on the peculiarities of the language/accent in that neck of the woods (Rossendale).Quote:
Originally Posted by ballengeich
And although it took me a while to pick up on the little Scottishisms, I must say I like and use a lot of them - "outwith" is a brilliant word and "juice" is a much nicer way to describe "pop".
I still haven't warmed to "who's first" being called when Im waiting in a queue though.
Oooh, another Scottish one:
"just now".
Love it!
One that seems peculiar to Edinburgh, is shop assistants who say "that'll be £5.99 thanks". Surely it should be "£5.99 please"?Quote:
Originally Posted by Posh Swanny
Another one I only hear in Edinburgh is "the next again day" . Fair annoys the weegies that one.
Big argument with a guy offshore many moons ago who wanted to know where to get tools from. Sent him to the Toolpusher as he was a driller. Came back even angrier wanting tools to dry himself.
Now that is posh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Posh Swanny
Us yins say "the now".
Has anyone ever heard Darren Gough on TalkSport? Hopeless.
:agree:Quote:
Originally Posted by stu in nottingham
Was in a place called normanton right in the middle of Derby, Nottingham, Mansfield. Its like a farmers accent. Think hot fuzz with a yorkshire hint :confused:
Really weird how different it all is withing a small(ish) area.
I thought having your tea lifted (i.e. it was ready and being served) was Scottish, but talking about it to other folk, it sounds like it might just be Edinburgh?
My personal favourite is probably 'clapping' a dog or a cat. Those unfamiliar with the expression must wonder what the pet has done to deserve such acclamation......
That's a new one on me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
I've never heard thatQuote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArabHibee
Nor meQuote:
Originally Posted by deano88
A witness at a trial in Lanarksire said their had been "a chap at the door".Quote:
Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye
The judge caused a few chuckles when he asked, "and how tall was this chep?"
(c. Weekly News)
I was working in a hospital in Fife, and someone said to my colleague "excuse me hen are you the doctor", and she said "no, I'm a nurse, and I' not related to the patient at all".
(c. Central Fife Times)
So a guy goes into a athletics stadium and the man on the door says "are you a pole vaulter", and the bloke replies "no, I'm German and how did you know my name is Walter?"
(c. Chic Murray)
I'm here all week.
In Scotland : I am going to the hospital.
In the US : I am going to hospital.
In Scotland : Shut up, woman! can't you see I'm watching the football?
In the US : Shut up, woman!, can't you see I'm watching football?
For some reason the "the" gets dropped over here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HibsMax
It's because they don't know how to speak proper English. Heathens!!
:greengrin
It's similar here where they would say:Quote:
Originally Posted by HibsMax
'I'm going on Saturday to watch Panthers'
I think it should be:
'I'm going on Saturday to watch The Panthers.
(I'm not by the way...)
They call it Galloway Irish and they all add "so it is" to the end of each sentence.Quote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
Personally I like local accents although coming fron Stirling I don't have one ken! Some are annoying like Hampshire but Geordie women I could listen to all day.
Roll = Barmcake
Piece = Buttie
Fizzy Juice (Any type) = Lemo
Ice Lolly = Lolly Ice
I don't know about that, if I had to listen to Cheryl Cole for more than 5 minutes I'd be sleeping. She sounds like she's on medication.Quote:
Originally Posted by ginger_rice
Aye fair point! Mind you most of the geordie women I know look nothing like she does, I think it's down to the bottles of Broon Ale they drinkQuote:
Originally Posted by Filled Rolls
the 1 that gets me is in newcastle at the fitba if the scores nil-nil they say nils each
LOL. Believe me, I correct them all the time. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by ArabHibee
It's embarrassing to admit but after spending 12 years here things I thought I would never say, and resisted for as long as I could, I now say:
gas instead of petrol
hood instead of bonnet
trunk instead of boot
rotary instead of roundabout
windshield instead of windscreen
for some reason most of the differences seem to be car-related. LOL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArabHibee
:hmmm: Circle anyone :wtf:Quote:
Originally Posted by HibsMax
You what??? :dizzy:Quote:
Originally Posted by HibsMax
And what the hell is a "turnpike"??
Pants instead of trousers is one that causes me some mirth, as is a rubber in US English being a common term for a condom.
ATM for cash machine is the only one that I use with any regularity, and I always scold myself when I do!! :greengrin
I find myself having to mispronounce English words and names to be understood across here.Quote:
Originally Posted by HibsMax
For example, nobody understands when I say that we were playing rangers or celtic, I have to say "ronjerz or celteek de glasssgow". Hibs are 'eebernianss" (in true Franck Sauzee style :thumbsup:).
Wimbledon becomes "wambliedon", David Bowie becomes Dahveed Boweee, etc.
It does ma heid in! :grr:
Fanny! :tee hee:Quote:
Originally Posted by lyonhibs
Yup - when I was over there, I was working with a class of 10-11 year olds, and several were football mad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peevemor®
I was teaching English, but explaining something in French, which, for some reason, involved me asking the question.
Who here has heard of David Beckham (with David Beckham pronounced properly)
This illicted not a twitch from the class - 30 blank looks, which perturbed me somewhat, so I asked the question again, this time pronouncing it a la Français:
Daveeede Beck'ammmmm
Bingo!! 30 hands shot up into the air.
:grr::greengrin
---------- Post added at 02:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:15 PM ----------
Lol aye, walking along a walkway (or "boardwalk") next to the beach in California, I was slightly taken aback to hear a mother tell her 8 year old bairn to "sort out your fanny pack"Quote:
Originally Posted by Peevemor®
Apparently his bumbag wasn't on quite right............. :faf:
Automobile-related. :tsk tsk:Quote:
Originally Posted by HibsMax
:greengrin
Down here they're called dobbers or jonnies.Quote:
Originally Posted by lyonhibs
What annoys me is the now universal habit of nurses, bank clerks, customer service folk etc of saying "for me" all the time - personalising some mundane task.
Example: Nurse taking blood pressure: "Just roll up your sleeve FOR ME will you?"
Example: In the Bank: "If you could sign here and here FOR ME please."
Do they use this expression at home too? "Could you do the washing up FOR ME dear?"
"If you could just put out the rubbish FOR ME, that would be great."
i lived in West Cumbria for a while - in Workington to be precise - and that is a truly weird accent.
"How you doin' mate" becomes "Oost tha jooyn, marra". Marra being the universally used word for pal/mate.
Also, virtually every sentence ends in "eh", pronounced with a hard "e" as in "egg".
Lastly, despite being married to a Cumbrian for 20 years it is an impossible accent to mimic, even badly. Imagine a hybrid of Lancashire, Scouse and Geordie, and you're getting a rough idea.
Finally a bit of sense on here!Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Nowt wrong with saying "made up" as a means of saying you're pleased with something; "I were made up with it" (shocking grammar to say 'were' instead of 'was' and all)
West Cumbria is one strange, strange place though, you're right there TC. Regularly speak to customers at work from the Whitehaven/Wukkington sort of areas and it's almost incomprehensible.
My wife's Weedge, disnae like " the morns morn"Quote:
Originally Posted by Hillsidehibby
15 years in the nations capital and refuses to call an outsider a heel..... :grr: