|
Do the English ajust their vocabulary upon visiting the US. Would you use the word "fag" over in the US? Curious...<BR>
|
My goodness I didn't realize what I started - this thread has wound round and round but thankfully has come back to where it began. Had to chuckle at the digression to the literal and/or figurative definition of 'fanny'when refering to fanny pack. Guess will call it my "mid-section easily-accesible multi-purpose zippered storage unit" (is that p.c. enough??)<BR>As for the appropriate term for the footwear formerly know as 'sneakers', yes, we used to call them 'tennis shoes' (or 'tennies' - see, I am from the mid-west jor - oklahoma to be exact...midwest enough for ya?) We quit calling them that because only about 5% of those who wear them actually play tennis - I did but that's a whole 'nuther story. Have decided that I'll probably wear my jean shorts, fanny pack, white sneakers, AND ball cap and be comfy and have a great time. Oh, and if anyone asks, I'll tell them I'm Canadian... <BR><BR>p.s. Our Itinerary was just finalized two days ago...if it doesn't start an uproar would love to post it and get feedback (am I a glutton for punishment or what?) <BR>
|
EnglishOne, probably the most frequently used, amusing to Americans, British phrase is "knock you up", as in, "Shall I knock you up at 8 tomorrow morning?" In American English, it means "Shall I get you pregnant at 8 tomorrow morning?"<BR><BR>And when I described a woman we were discussing as "spunky", my British friend told me not to use that word.<BR><BR>But the MOST difficult for me to get used to was the difference in the meaning of the word "cute". Pejorative in the UK, complimentary and used to describe everything from clothing to men to the decor of a pub in the US. The look on this woman's face when I told her that was a cute sweater she was wearing...
|
All of this discussion re words not appropriate to use in polite English company reminds me of a play called, "No sex please, we're British." Except that every other word seems sometimes to denote something sexual to this supposedly nonsexual nation! (And, Englishone, I note your population is now sixty million...are we to believe this came about by cloning? : - ) ) <BR><BR>Hightide: I've seen sneakers and, uh, waistpacks everywhere we've traveled. However shorts are not a sound choice should you wish to enter a church in Italy - you will likely be refused entrance. Go for very light pants instead, in order to avoid difficulties should you wish to enter a church.
|
I'm gonna wear a white T-shirt with a big American flag on it, a checkerboard hat with flaps to accentuate my mullet, frayed denim shorts and flip flops.<BR><BR>They'll love me in Paree.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>not.
|
Hi hightide, with all of the problems facing us as travelers right now, I think your shoes is the least of your worries. <BR><BR>Buy some black sneakers and go ahead and have a wonderful time and dont apologize for yourself.
|
Wear the sneakers. No one will notice.<BR>If you wear uncomfortable shoes, it will ruin your trip.<BR><BR>If you are concerned about fashion, take an extra pair of sneakers and dye them black. I did this with mine, and wear them on all my trips to Europe.
|
You know, I can't help adding this last thought: why is everyone so concerned about fitting in .. man, from my travels around Spain, Italy, Switzerland and living in France, I can definitely tell you that sometimes the "European style" is not what I'd call style. It's more like dressing in the dark and purposely NOT matching. Sure, the stereotypical American traveler is laughable, but sometimes I think that Europeans are worse ...<BR><BR>I've seen neon green tennis shoes, big bulky earrings, ratted hair, ladies in their 60s with gobs of neon blue eye shadow, mothers and grandmothers with amazingly crazy hair colors, men wearing "MC Hammer pants" -- and lets not forget the ever-popular Bart Simpson shirt and cartoon character socks. <BR><BR>
|
Dear Hightide<BR><BR> The only & most important thing is one's comfort. Who cares about anything else.
|
Hey, if you want comfort and style, get some gray new balances--problem solved. I have worn a pair everytime I have been to Europe and just bought a new pair to wear in Italy in May.
|
Hey, we have to deal with Englishmen who cover over to America in the summer and wear dark dress socks with either trainers/running shoes, along with embarassingly short athletic shorts (which last saw daylight in 1983), topped off by a short-sleeved buttoned shirt that's so thin you can see his chest hairs. Shiver.
|
sorry--"come over" to America.<BR>
|
For EnglishOne: Are your sneakers white or black? What is the rest of your attire? I don't wear denim but I do wear what we Americans call twill. I've heard that as a rule British apparel is not bright colors. I'm planning to visit the UK soon and would like to know the appropriate dress.
|
I'm curious... what's with "spunky" and "cute"? What is the "alternative" meaning in BritSpeak? As I mentioned before, my Welsh friend has only remarked occasionally when I have said something he found "amusing"!
|
<BR>There was an old washer-woman <BR>who lived in sneakers,<BR>She wanted to visit Europe<BR>But didn't want people looking at her like she was freakers. :) <BR><BR><BR>
|
P.S. Interesting website with differing opinions about the origin of the nursery rhyme: "There Was An Old Woman." <BR><BR>Was the "shoe" actually a reference to the British Isles? <BR><BR>http://www.rooneydesign.com/OldWoman.html
|
Icithecat--I like the way you think--very funny.
|
Icithecat--I like the way you think, very funny.
|
Hi Marilyn! When you laugh about 'being knocked up' it actually means the same here in UK too (ie. slang for being pregnant) as well as waking you up in the morning! But I s'pose for us its yet another Brit. double entendre to snigger at.<BR><BR>Honeycomb: I am a 38 yr old female. My attire is whatever is comfy, ie. Im off on holiday to New Orleans and Memphis next month, and I am taking Adidas trainers, (the usual sporty sort), mules, evening shoes (kitten heels). My daytime stuff includes capri type trousers and T's. Black trousers and smartish shirt type tops in the evening. IMO, generally, we dress the same as USA folks - but then, I am a smart/casual or casual person, personnally I don't visit overly posh restaurants etc. (Not my style!)<BR><BR>Michelle - oh dear here we go again ;O)<BR>do you really want to know what spunky means.... hope this thread isnt pulled!... its male ejaculate (I'm trying to be polite here!) - well spunky without the y at the end!) 'Cute' refers to something being sweet or if you describe someone as cute you may be saying you find them attractive - you fancy the pants off em!!
|
Thank you, once again, EnglishOne!!! I'm finding it hard to type as I'm laughing really hard right now. I promise I won't ask any more questions...... ;-)
|
Michelle ... I'm having a right ole giggle over here too as I'm typing! I just love the differences in our speech. Thing is, our slang over here always seems to be 'saucy' hehehe... what does that say about us? ;O)
|
What about Doc Marten's boots? Since they're made in the UK, I'm sure they're popular. My hubby will be wearing his since they are the most comfortable shoes he owns.
|
EnglishOne, I'm delighted that you answered michelleNYC so I didn't have to. I was trying to think of the most polite way to define "spunk" without getting the thread pulled.<BR><BR>As for cute, I was told it meant more what you call "twee", i.e., overly sweetsy cutesy pie. But perhaps the meaning has evolved over the last decade, influenced by American English?<BR><BR>We've been watching "Coupling" on BBC and really enjoying it. I wondered last night if Americans know that what you call "jelly" we call "jello" and "pudding" means "dessert" not just a type of dessert. (If you are a fan of the show you may recall Jeff's brilliant idea for "porn jelly", the stuff that's left after the girls finish wrestling in it.)
|
I've given up trying to figure out some of the pronounciation and slang used in Northern Ireland. My husband can't explain to me why he calls a shed a "shade", or why Belvoir is pronounced "Beaver" or why so many of his friends are called by their father's or older brother's first names, rather than their own.<BR><BR>And if you're a woman over 50 in Ireland, all you have to do to fit in is wear a skirt and cardigan combo every day. Oh, and uncomfortable heels that you have trouble walking in. I think it was Graham Norton who described the show "Father Ted" as a documentary on life in Ireland. Mrs. Doyle just popped into my head as I wrote that.
|
Ok... call me stupid. As a "Sex and the City" devotee, I should have recalled the "Funky Spunk" episode. I just didn't put 2 and 2 (or spunky and spunk) together...
|
OK, English One, what are kitten heels on dress shoes? Mules I know, kittens are new to me!
|
Marilyn - thats what I meant by cute meaning 'sweet'- as in a cute kitten, etc. (as well as the other meaning - 'wow, he's CUTE!! ;o) )<BR><BR>Ann- Father Ted is a fave old sitcom of mine with its wacky humour.<BR><BR>AimJo - Doc Martens are fine - we just call them 'Doc's' here! they have a place in our heart! (esp. us ex students!) <BR><BR>
|
Natalia - kitten heels are those very slim, short heels that taiper in, like tiny stiletto heels. They look dainty! (but not so much on my size 7's)!! English size that is - are shoe sizes different in the USA like dress sizes? I prefer my USA size - it makes me look smaller (on paper anyway!)
|
Oh, I like those heels, now I am going looking for kitten shoes! Are they in style now in Britain?<BR>They come and go here in the US, come to think of it, I think I have seen some in stores.<BR>I'm going to get some for my trip to Italy, thanks for the idea.
|
Natalia - yes they're in style at the moment :O)
|
Natalia, they're not kitten shoes, they're kitten heels. They might be on a variety of shoes -- sandals or little flats, for example.
|
EnglishOne, size 7 shoes in the US would be about average size feet, not particularly big. I think UK shoe sizes are different from US. A 7 US is about a 38 European size, I believe. What's a 7 UK in European size?
|
Marilyn - size 7 here is about 40-40.5 in europe. Once again, I like my US sizing much better! Size 7 for you must be about a 5/6 here? something like that.
|
A 7 US is 6 1/2 UK (if you can find half sizes). <BR><BR>As for width sizes in the UK -- don't ask! <BR><BR>
|
>A 7 US is 6 1/2 UK (if you can find >half sizes). <BR><BR>Sorry, I meant to say, size 7 US is 5 1/2 UK, not 6 1/2.
|
So, EnglishOne, the one thing we have established on this thread is that your feet are bigger than mine. :-)
|
....my 'plates of meat' are bigger than most people's!! grrrr!!
|
EnglishOne, you should move to America. Our size 8 to 8.5 is pretty much considered average here.
|
Size 7 here is at the top end of the scale for women's shoes. There are some size 8's in shops for women. Most people I know are about 5 - 6
|
I don't know....a white t-shirt, blue jeans, sneakers and white socks are perfectly acceptable tourist clothes everywhere, right? Wouldn't think of sightseeing any other way along with my Hard Rock Cafe baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes...whether it be NY, LA DC, London, Paris, Amersterdam, Copenhagen, Rome, Florence, Milan, Geneva, Zurich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Oslo, Stockholm, Vienna; all places I have visited wearing my sightseeing uniform and not once have I ever been refused service anywhere (I do change into a slightly more formal attire if I am going to a "fancy" restaurant...I put on a regular polo shirt, blue pants and even wear shoes with black socks but for the most part I have no problems going as I please....
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:28 AM. |