New York Slang Question: What's a bronsky?
May 29th, 2003, 01:34 PM
#24
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Had to resurrect this funny post. I had no idea what a bronsky was either. But then I've never had a stripper slapping me in the face with her breasts either. LOL
In spite of regularly using and hearing "Not for nothin, but.." it's hard to translate but I'll try:
"I don't mean to insult/embarrass/anger you with what I am about to say and if I do so, please understand that it only reflects a poor choice of words on my part and don't take it the wrong way"
That's about as close as I can get to the nuance of the phrase as I understand it.
I also have to add this about "howyadoin". My husband (yes, he's NY Italian) says this all the time. It's not even a question, it's more of a statement. In New York the response is always just "howyadoin". I don't even notice it anymore. Anyway, we were in London in January and he would always "howyadoin" all the clerks, waiters, doormen, cab drivers, etc. in London. And they would answer back very British-like, "Very well, Sir, thank you. And how are you?" He would look startled everytime anyone would actually answer him back. I had to bite my lip to not laugh every time.
In spite of regularly using and hearing "Not for nothin, but.." it's hard to translate but I'll try:
"I don't mean to insult/embarrass/anger you with what I am about to say and if I do so, please understand that it only reflects a poor choice of words on my part and don't take it the wrong way"
That's about as close as I can get to the nuance of the phrase as I understand it.
I also have to add this about "howyadoin". My husband (yes, he's NY Italian) says this all the time. It's not even a question, it's more of a statement. In New York the response is always just "howyadoin". I don't even notice it anymore. Anyway, we were in London in January and he would always "howyadoin" all the clerks, waiters, doormen, cab drivers, etc. in London. And they would answer back very British-like, "Very well, Sir, thank you. And how are you?" He would look startled everytime anyone would actually answer him back. I had to bite my lip to not laugh every time.
May 29th, 2003, 02:27 PM
#25
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I think this might be strictly a New Yorkers phrase, but I guess I will find out now if I am right-
my husband (the Yankee) says "six of one, half dozen of the other".
Until I came to NYC, I had never heard this and it never made sense to me
Now my son is teaching the girls he meets in Europe how to say it in English
OL
my husband (the Yankee) says "six of one, half dozen of the other".
Until I came to NYC, I had never heard this and it never made sense to me
Now my son is teaching the girls he meets in Europe how to say it in English
OL
May 29th, 2003, 02:47 PM
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alexis - having just been to London, i really got a kick out of your post! another regional 'misunderstanding' is saying 'Sir?' or 'Ma'am?' (meaning 'What?') when you didn't hear what that person said. i was talking to some lady from (up north?)on the phone; it was a bad connection and i couldn't hear her, so i'd say 'Ma'am?' -- and she'd say 'Yes?' this happened several times before i finally learned...
May 29th, 2003, 06:35 PM
#29
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Just made an interesting discovery. Scarlett -- you said you don't know where the frowny face came from. I happened to pause my cursor/arrow over it and within a second I got one of Microsoft's marvelous little explanatory icons that said you had typed a colon and a capital L with no space in between. So that explains the frowny face, but it also means we can figure out how to make any of these smiley-frowny face icons simply by pausing the cursor arrow over one to see what got typed.
(This would be an even bigger treat for me if I didn't find those faces all pretty tediously overused by now. Yippee.
)
(This would be an even bigger treat for me if I didn't find those faces all pretty tediously overused by now. Yippee.
)
May 30th, 2003, 05:25 AM
#31
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"Not for nuthin" (used in much of the Northeast US) essentially means, "This is really irrelevant , none of my business, or totally impertinent, but let me ask you ..."
Example: "Not for nuthin, but how much are they paying you in that new job?"
Al's Bronsky definition is dead on. That term is almost as old as "muff job."
Example: "Not for nuthin, but how much are they paying you in that new job?"
Al's Bronsky definition is dead on. That term is almost as old as "muff job."
May 30th, 2003, 12:17 PM
#33
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regarding "not for nothing":
i would guess that it might originate from german immigrants as there is a phrase exactly like it in german language ("nichts fuer ungut"). the meaning is the same: i do not want to offend you, but i will still give you my honest opinion...
greetings from hamburg
hsv
i would guess that it might originate from german immigrants as there is a phrase exactly like it in german language ("nichts fuer ungut"). the meaning is the same: i do not want to offend you, but i will still give you my honest opinion...
greetings from hamburg
hsv
May 30th, 2003, 12:30 PM
#34
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Gotta say K99 99 nailed the not for nuthin meaning the best... and yes, people say that all over NE.. I just said it here in Durham the other day to my boss about something stupid that keeps happening.. : Not for nothin but wouldn't this whole problem be solved if we used an electronic record" So I guess I was exasperated and wanted to be critical .. the not for nuthin "softens the harshness. Oh, and Rhode Islanders also say Howyoudoin with a bit of twist...how YOUSE doin????
May 30th, 2003, 01:08 PM
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May 30th, 2003, 07:51 PM
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My favorite Brooklynese expression is:
"He thinks who he is."
This means the person is arrogant or cocky.
The full expression is:
"He thinks who he is, and what he's all about."
The full expression can be said by one person, but it has it's greatest dramatic impact when the first half is said by one person and a second pipes in with the rejoinder.
Example...
Tony: Bobby's a big shot. He thinks who he is.
Tina: Yeah and what he's all about.
"He thinks who he is."
This means the person is arrogant or cocky.
The full expression is:
"He thinks who he is, and what he's all about."
The full expression can be said by one person, but it has it's greatest dramatic impact when the first half is said by one person and a second pipes in with the rejoinder.
Example...
Tony: Bobby's a big shot. He thinks who he is.
Tina: Yeah and what he's all about.
