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Old Mar 30th, 2008, 11:09 PM
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My memory is that "chunnel" was invented by British headline writers in the early 1990s.

It never took off, and is now really used only by tourists trying to show off their (inaccurate) local knowledge, though journalists still have it as one of those words (like 'snub') that no-one uses, but save space and are widely understood.

I'm told British tourists in the US talking about somewhere called Frisco are a rough parallel.
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Old Mar 30th, 2008, 11:36 PM
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I think Time Magazine coined the word. It never caught on in Europe or among Americans who really travel.
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Old Mar 30th, 2008, 11:41 PM
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Actually, I found this in an article about the Oxford dictionary:

<b> 'Chunnel' (which dates from 1928!) is still occasionally encountered, but is used less now that the Tunnel is a reality.</b>
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Old Mar 31st, 2008, 04:02 AM
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One time when this anal British reaction to the use of the word Chunnel came up someone found zillions of Chunnel references still being used in English media

what the hell difference does it make

anal yes
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Old Mar 31st, 2008, 02:07 PM
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Sorry, I am one of those tourists , &quot;who does travel a lot&quot; who used the word Chunnel. To PalenQ, I want to thank you for Byron's number. He has made my Eurostar reservations (one-way to Paris first class for $164USD). I am going on the 12:30. I will take the 8:30 am from York to arrive by 12:00 at the Eurostar checkin. He was also able to purchase for me an 8 day British Rail Pass that I can use for Cardiff, York Edinburgh and Glasglow. It was very helpful. For example, if one travels to an from say Oxford or Cardiff or York and arrives before midnight, this counts as one day of travel. I am looking forward to taking several day trips. Having Byron take care of the train portion of my trip has been extremely helpful and time-saving!!! Thanks so much. Johanna
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Old Apr 8th, 2008, 12:04 PM
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Johanna thanks for the thanks but the word Chunnel is officially banned on Fodor's due to concerns for the sensabilities, if not sensitivities, of Brits

I've taken first class on the Chunnel trains a few times and there is a vast difference in seat sizes and they serve a great meal and IME keep bringing out the booze!
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Old Apr 21st, 2008, 01:16 PM
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'Chunnel' (which dates from 1928!) is still occasionally encountered, but is used less now that the Tunnel is a reality.

this from the Oxford dictionary sourcing and it originated in good ole England not the U.S.

Chunnel - get over it
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Old Apr 21st, 2008, 01:42 PM
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Given the number of posts from yanks absolutely desperate to blend in, I would have thought you'd all have avoided 'Chunnel' like the plague....

If you really want to stand out, (and don't want to do the whole photographers gilet and fanny pack business), you might want to just periodically plonk 'the' in front of Eurostar, use 'Brit Air' (instead of 'British Airways', 'Virgin Airways' (instead of Virgin Atlantic), and (my personal favourite) 'Stonehinge'.
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Old Apr 21st, 2008, 10:06 PM
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&lt;&lt;&lt; and (my personal favourite) 'Stonehinge'. &gt;&gt;&gt;

Don't you mean Stonehedge?
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Old Apr 21st, 2008, 10:07 PM
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BTW Britair is a genuine airline

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_Air
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Old Apr 23rd, 2008, 09:25 AM
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how about 'take a eurostar train'?

or is it in proper England English 'take eurostar train'
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Old Apr 23rd, 2008, 09:30 AM
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Take the Eurostar
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Old Apr 25th, 2008, 11:03 AM
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well is there only one or 'the' Eurostar train a day?

&quot;a&quot; signifies more than one train
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Old Apr 25th, 2008, 12:29 PM
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Take the Eurostar

Take a Eurostar train

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Old Apr 26th, 2008, 05:38 AM
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Announcement at St Pancras

&quot;Eurostar train 9341 to Paris is now ready for loading at platform 1&quot;

No &quot;the&quot; nor &quot;a&quot;
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Old May 7th, 2008, 08:54 AM
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I'm gonna take a Eurostar train to Paris - to reach the Eurostar i must go to St Pancras Station - Eurostar train 9324 is the one i'm taking thru the CHUNNEL
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Old May 7th, 2008, 12:01 PM
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In the technology sector, a chunnel refers to the large air duct that expunges approximately 1,000,000 cubic feet of supercooled air per minute (more or less) onto the area in which you are trying to work.

Usually found above cubes or in data centres above the KVM switches that attach to the monitors and keyboards, thusly making the affected technician shiver so much that he mis-types commands and destroys critical data.

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Old May 9th, 2008, 06:50 AM
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goldwynn

thanks for documenting that the word Chunnel is an authentic word in its own right and not some cute combo
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Old May 9th, 2008, 12:56 PM
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Not withstanding the fact that it doesn't actually mean a rail tunnel under the sea, then......
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Old May 11th, 2008, 10:04 AM
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&lt;Not withstanding the fact that it doesn't actually mean a rail tunnel under the sea, then&gt;

no and i've been scraping my head trying to come up with a cute link between the two but cannot - tante pis!
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