Translations: American to British and vice versa

jro

jro

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Okay, I think we need to have a definitive resource to understand some of the more creative/bizarre/highly entertaining phrases and figures of speech that the UK folks use and perhaps some of the stuff us N. American folks use (don't know what to suggest, UK feel free to point N. American sayings that need translation, if there are any).

This could also go for Canadian vernacular, European, Asian, wherever.

I know a few from listening to The Streets and reading soulthug's impassioned rants, but I wanna hear more.

UK stuff I think I know:
Fit = hot, attractive.
Wank = bad, stupid (also means to jerk off, right?)
bollocks = ? testicles? At least I swear I remember Madmanjock making a thread about getting kicked in the bollocks once.
 
E

Ely13

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I believe there are some wasians here who'd like to bugger up Mushiki nice and good.
 
Vlad

Vlad

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arse=ass

underground=subway
 
bokmeow

bokmeow

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Tube=(Not sure) Train, public transportation, subway
Bird or tart=Girlfriend
tits=awesome
 
jro

jro

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Yeah, yeah, this is a good start! Southug, madmanjock, I'm looking at you young punks to lengthen the list.
 
Decepticon

Decepticon

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Now all we need is someone to translate the "English English" from Goldmember....I still want to know what she did before she shat on the turtle
 
F

FeelGood

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faggot = a really flimsy ciggy.

taking the piss = i think it means popping someones ego.

lavatory = where you go to piss and push feces out ur ass. im sure there are others but i cant think.
 
jro

jro

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bollocks = bullshit, also, in addition to testicles?
 
Tron

Tron

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arrested>nicked

It's fun picking up british slang from Rot ;)
 
bokmeow

bokmeow

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On the pull=trying to impress chicks, get laid.
 
T

toy_brain

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Its kinda fun reading all the guesses you guys are making at UK-English phrases. Some are spot-on, some are close, some are way off.

And just to confuse things, the same word can have slightly different meanings depending on whereabouts in the UK you are.

I'll clarify a few that have already been guessed at.


Bollocks: Refers to the testicles or can be used to mean crap, rubbish, shit etc.
EG: "Thats a total load of bollocks".

Wank: To masturbate. So "Wanker" is a general derogitory term, used in the same way as asshole, jerk, moron etc.
EG: "That guy is a total wanker"
Also, you can use the word 'tosser' to mean the same thing.

Faggot: Homosexual. (not to be confused with 'fag' which can mean either homosexual or cigarette)

Taking the piss: To jokingly refer to someone in a derogitory way.
EG: If a comedian was doing a sketch on G.W. Bush - he would be said to be "Taking the piss out of Bush"

Tube: Underground railway (Same thing as the subway)
 
Baseley09

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toy_brain said:
Bollocks: Refers to the testicles or can be used to mean crap, rubbish, shit etc.
EG: "Thats a total load of bollocks".
Click to expand...

Though the "dogs" bollox reffers to something that's the best, or very good.

Like neo geo is the bogs bollox.......or the mutts nuts.
 
T

toy_brain

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Baseley09 said:
Though the "dogs" bollox reffers to something that's the best, or very good.

Like neo geo is the bogs bollox.......or the mutts nuts.
Click to expand...
Doh, forgot about that one *slaps forehead*.

Bollocks: A truly versatile word. :D
 
Mawdsley

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What would be interesting would be to throw in some cockney (london) rhyming slang.

Dog and bone = phone
apples and pairs = stairs
pete tong = wrong (this is a more recent addition, last decade or so)
battlecruiser = boozer = pub
Don Revie = Bevvy = beer
 
sQuareh4t3r

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Mawdsley said:
What would be interesting would be to throw in some cockney (london) rhyming slang.

Dog and bone = phone
apples and pairs = stairs
pete tong = wrong (this is a more recent addition, last decade or so)
battlecruiser = boozer = pub
Don Revie = Bevvy = beer
Click to expand...
If you're on the Cockney slang, what the fuck does "Fancy a butcher's?" mean? That shit's at the end of the commercial for The Getaway: Black Monday, and I have no idea what it's supposed to be.

One of my favorite British phrases is "safe as houses", for some reason. :spock:
 
Mawdsley

Mawdsley

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sQuareh4t3r said:
If you're on the Cockney slang, what the fuck does "Fancy a butcher's?" mean? That shit's at the end of the commercial for The Getaway: Black Monday, and I have no idea what it's supposed to be.

One of my favorite British phrases is "safe as houses", for some reason. :spock:
Click to expand...
Fancy a butchers? = want to take a look?

according to http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/cockney/letter/B.aspx
Butchers hook = look
 
G

Gaelsano

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minger= ugly bird
knock you up in the morning= wake you up in the morning
rubbish=garbage
wot=what
bin=trash can
motor=car
mobile=cell phone
claret=blood
toss off=give hand job (i think)
 
G

Gaelsano

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it means that here too. I didn't think it carried that meanoing over there due to all of the times I heard it used seriously in movies
 
soopafamicom

soopafamicom

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FeelGood said:
faggot = a really flimsy ciggy.

QUOTE]

A faggot usually refers to a dish that consists of spiced meatballs(about the size of an apple)that are cooked in their own gravy.

a fag is a nickname for a cigarette be it either from a packet or a rollup.

If making your own fags,either of the normal kind or the 'moroccan woodbine' variety then you will use 'skins'(rolling papers) and are then 'skinning up'.

If you are wanting to refer or allude that someone may be a homo then you can call them things like
nob-jockey
ring raider
Arsenal(or Chelsea)supporter
shit stabber
poo pirate
asparagus tarzan
fudge packer
uphill gardener(you starting to get the idea!)
Click to expand...
 
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