Kryssie has put together a little questionaire of various English slang terms. The idea is to see how many of them myself and J know/not know. Mocking our ignorance is allowed--I fully expect to be harrassed for my answers.
As we all know, American slang has crept all over the world (sadly, since so many of our words are stupid), but here in the US--how many foriegn colloquialisms have we picked up?
Not very many, at least where I live, judging by my utter stupor when taking this test...
Here are the rules:
"Mockney Quiz! Basically, I'll put a list of words down and you have to tell me the meaning/American equivalent and THEN put it within a sentence, just to fully test your SE English-English speaking skillz."
Here are my answers *puts on hard-hat*-
Ace:
My guess: a good/likable person
Americanism: something that happens in tennis or vollyball
My sentance: "That man is a real ace."
*gets pelted with rock by Kryssie*
Afters:
My guess: after meal
Americanism: dessert
My sentance: "Let's save that cake for afters."
Bangers:
My guess:
Americanism: dangerous gang members who wreak havoc in our cities
My sentance
Beer Mat: *cough*
My guess: something you sit your beer on
Americanism: coaster
My sentance: "Pass me that beer mat, I don't want water spots on my table."
Blimey:
My guess: a statment of surprise/disbelief/shock
Americanism: "I'll be damned", "Holy shit", "No way", etc.
My sentance: "Blimey, that car nearly took my head off."
Blower: (no, not what you're thinking...):
My guess: handkerchief
Americanism: tissue/keenex/snot rag
My sentance: "No, you can't borrow my blower!"
Car Park: *coughcough*
My guess: a place to park cars
Americanism: car port/parking lot
My sentance: "The car park is always full, so stop driving around and pick a spot!"
Chin-wag:
My guess: someone who talks too much
Americanism: tongue wag/lip flapper
My sentance: "Aunt Bea is a real chin-wag; she never shuts up."
Crisps:
My guess: dried chips (I know this one!)
Americanism: potato chips
My sentance: "These crisps are too salty."
Dosh:
My guess:
Americanism:
My sentance
Faff:
My guess:
Americanism:
My sentance
Fringe:
My guess:
Americanism: something "extra" (finge benifits)
My sentance
Hoo-ha:
My guess: when something is really funny (ducks another rock)
Americanism: knee slapper
My sentance: "That joke was a real hoo-ha."
*put down the mallet, Kryssie!*
Knackered: (also means... something else...)
My guess: tired
Americanism: pooped/tired/wore out/ stick a fork in me
My sentance: "I'm knackered every day after work."
Loads:
My guess:
Americanism: a lot of something/can also mean...uh...well...
My sentance
Loo:
My guess: the restroom
Americanism: bathroom/pisser/potty (girls only)
My sentance: "Girls always travel to the loo in groups."
Minger/Minging:
My guess: something to do with mimes?
Americanism:
My sentance
Mitts:
My guess: hands
Americanism: hands/mitts
My sentance: "Get your grubby mits off my ass!"
Peckish:
My guess: someone who is irritible/picky
Americanism: grumpy/bitchy/snippy/grouchy
My sentance: "Beth is so peckish. She's always snapping at people."
Queue: (O_o)
My guess: a line of people
Americanism: line
My sentance: "There was a long queue for the movie."
Scorcher:
My guess: an ice cream cone?
Americanism:
My sentance
Sorted:
My guess: a state of being agitated
Americanism: jumpy; flighty;
My sentance: "This test has left me sorted."
Tickety-Boo:
My guess: I have NO CLUE...
Americanism:
My sentance
Wellies:
My guess: something to do with beer
Americanism: well-beer (beer from the tap)
My sentance: "Give me one of those wellies!"
Oh boy...I know I'll be getting a big fat F on this test, but at least I tried. *laughs* At least I can say I've learned something new.
J's answers:
Ace: If I remember correctly this means "great" but is used only toward
so contexts... like the british use brilliant. (This shirt is ace)
Afters: I'm going out on a limb to assume this means like an after meal
sort of thing because of LOTR LOL (Let's have cake for afters)
Bangers: Aren't these like french fries? (would you like bangers with
that?) I know I would!
Beer Mat: Ooh! I know this... this is like a coaster for beer! (Use a
beer mat! That table cost 25 bucks at Wal-Mart and you're ruining it!)
Blimey: Excitedly expressive phrase, like american "no shit!" or "what the..." (Blimey! I think you're right... for once!)
Blower: I have some ideas but they are a little unchastly...
Car Park: Where you take your car for a walk? hmm... I'm guessing
parking lot (We've driven around the car park 15 times!)
Chin-wag: Chewing the fat (brief conversation- We had a chin-wag at the grocery store?)
Crisps: I learned this equates to chips (I prefer BBQ crisps.)
Dosh:Woohoo! I learned this from a South African who called in to order the cricket channels from the place I used to work! MONEY!!!! (That's a lot of dosh for a sponge-bob bakini)
Faff: No idea
Fringe: Like edge? (He's on the lunatic fringe?)
Hoo-ha: Really? Do I have time to be decoding guttural noises?
Knackered: (also means... something else...) Drunk or Tired (She's
knackered let's grab 'er knockers...) sorry, flashbacks from high
school.
Loads: hmm... hehehe.
Loo: As I mistakenly spelled it... meaning shitter! (You've stunk up
the loo again Jesus)
Minger/Minging: I think I tried this once in college...
Mitts: Gloves? (put on a pair of mitts)
Peckish: hmm... in American dialogue this would draw an inference of
somebody who's kissing poorly. Must mean hungry in England then LOL.
(Let's get some grub I'm getting a bit peckish)
Queue: At work we used this to refer to a specific kind of phone call, probably means like a line of some sort. (I'm in the bastard customer queue)
Scorcher:
Sorted: Like sorted out? Resolved? (That problem with the french
prostitue has been sorted in a remote lake.)
Tickety-Boo: Is this a trick question?
Wellies: OOOH!!! This has something to do with the Duke of
Wellington... but I can't remember what.
********
To be fair, I constructed a test for Kryssie. She has skunked J and myself in the l33t knowledge of slang. I'm ashamed.
Here is her test and her answers:
Pick-up: Pick-up truck? "Who parked that pick-up over there?" Oh deary me.
(Right. Usually refers to a smaller truck here (Mazdas or Nissans). Larger trucks are simply called "trucks"**IE: Dodge or Fords.)
Hammered: Tired and/or drunk. "Oh geez, I'm totally hammered after last night".
(perhaps it might mean tired in other parts of the US, but here it means drunk)
Boo: Oh god, this isn't boo as in "boyfriend/girlfriend"? As used in various songs? "Oh sob, where has my boo gone?"
(Yup!)
Homie: We use that over here too... I'm guessing "mate" would be an adequate 'translation'. "Yo, me homie, over here!" I must sound like an idiot.
(Awww--this one was easy! A 'gimme' as we would say (as in it was so easy I gave it to you. Ha ha!)
Loaded (has two different meanings actually): Umm... rich and... full of stuff? Full of stuff might be the English version. Or maybe a loaded gun, I'm thinking of. "Dude, that guy's loaded!"/"That house is loaded with guns". Ahem. Sounds like Brixton, then.
(has lots of money/extreamly drunk)
Grub: Fooooood and or bugs. "Yubba dub dub, thanks for the grub!" (Sorry, couldn't resist! Now I can't remember where I got that from...)
(Yup again!)
Hottie: Fit guys/girls. "He's, like, a total hottie!"
(Ha ha! Another easy one. I should have made these harder! Can also say things like "Hot", "fine", "smokin", etc.)
Amped: Umm... no clue. I'm thinking souped up or wired up or something. "That thing is amped." No idea, never really noticed that saying before.
(Yeah, that'll work too. Usually used when someone is really excited about something though)
Benjamins: Umm... the posh word for Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream? O__O "..."
(LMAO--You know, I've never had Ben and Jerry's before...I wonder if that's a crime here in America? Nope, it's all about the money! Lots of money! Usually refers to 100 dollar bills)
BFE: Big Friendly Elephant.
(Bwha ha ha! Nice! This is the polite acronym of Butt-fucking Egypt. Means that something is in the middle of no-where---waaaay out in the middle of no-where.)
Cattywompus: A giant obese caterpillar, by the sounds of it. *needs to visit America sometime*
(Make sure you invest in some serious bug spray before you come here... ;) Actually means something is across the way from somthing else)
Crotch rocket: (not what you think) *resists to put what she thinks* ... I really don't know what to say other than the obvious... =S Wow, there's definitely a lot more slang than I assumed. *still resisting to write something about Viagra* *failed*
(LMAO! This is actually a motorcycle--usually one of those super fast ones like a Honda or Suzuki)
Fugly: Urrrrrrgly! "Jeez, that guy is FUGLY!"
(*giggles* Yeah, that's it! I like this one.)
Wife-beater: (not what you think) OH. I've heard of this... isn't this a piece of clothing? Or I'm thinking of something else. Dammit, can't remember.
(Right. It's a T-shirt with no sleeves. The name came from the sterotype that lots of drunks wear these shirts (because they're cheap and gross) and of course all drunks beat their wives--right? Ha ha)
Tool: Ahahaha. No, I won't put that. Mind you, I think it has all the same meanings in England as it does in America, unless it's some new slang I've not heard of. Yet.
(It probably does mean the same thing. We use it to indicate if someone is a moron-more specifically it means "dick")
Hoochie: O__o No idea. Sounds like a nickname for a dog. Here, Hoochie Poochie (okay, shutting up now).
(ha ha! This is a term for someone who is "easy". Usually used for just women)
Shotgun: (nothing to do with firearms) Hmm... I've heard it called to people when they're a little too, uh, trigger-happy with something. "Hey there, shotgun, be careful with that thing." I don't know. I think I'm the one who'll be mocked, here. XD
(Actually, it means to ride in the passenger seat of a car. No one wants to ride in the back seat, so the first person who calls "Shotgun!" gets to ride up front)
Snafu: OH. Heard this one before. Can't remember at all.
(A mess; usually used in reference to things you can't clean up. Ha ha. Example: "There was a slight traffic snafu on the bridge" Or "My work project has run into a snafu".)
Jacked: I want to say STOLEN but I'm so sure that's SE-English. I know jack is something to do with money but not in the past tense, so...
(Yeah, it can mean something has been stolen. Here, we often use it to say something is broken-badly broken.)
Wacked/Whack: Something stupid. "Dude, that's whack."
(Yup again!)
Yada yada: Blah blah blah. "And this and that and yada yada yada..."
(Yay! Let's here it for Sienfield! LOL)
Phat: Rockin'. "Dude, that's phat." Well, that's what it means over here, I'm assuming it's come over from America.
(Yeah, another term that has come out of rap music...like bling bling...whacked...boo...etc.)
Kryssie did GOOD! No mockage here...dammit. I should have put more thought into this test. *laughs* Still, this was fun. It might be interesting to do up another one and mail it around to see what people come up with.
Anyway, if anyone is interested in more slang, check out this web site. It's got ALL kinds of stuff!
Posted by Zoso at May 24, 2005 06:34 PMSo does this mean I did poorly? I assumed I was doing rather well... Dammit! Now how am I going to become an honarary Australian!
Posted by: J at May 25, 2005 11:04 AMWell...I dunno...you'd have to ask an Australian... (psst~Kryssie is from England).
*giggles*
She still has to grade us. She'll laugh and point at us when she gets some time.
(I think you did a hell of a lot better than I did).
Posted by: Zoso at May 25, 2005 01:38 PMAAARGH. I wrote this all out and then the box disappeared! ANNOYED. But yes, as I was saying, I'll admit, I was laughing out loud whilst reading it! Okay, here it goes:
Ace: Brilliant. "Dude, that was ace!" Not really used so much in the noun sense, but you both were right! 1/1
Afters: Dessert. I see you both got it from the same line. It's used more to describe the actual dessert as well. "Let's get afters at the Ben and Jerry's place!" Just keeping within the theme... 1/1
Bangers: I'm surprised at you! I thought bangers was the definitive English-word-that-Americans-don't-use. Usually found in the phrase "Bangers and Mash", yes, J, it is a kind of food, but it's sausages! No points for you and no sausages either! I have to say... I've never ever used this word. Most normal people call 'em "sausages". Or lumps of meat for the more intellectually challenged. 0/0
Beer mat: Hahaha, this newspaper seems to assume that Americans are stupid. Points for you and a pint of beer! 1/1
Blimey: HAHA at Zoso! What kind of drivers do you know?! This word is SUCH a Cockney cliche *glares at Dick van Dyke*. Cor blimey guv'nor indeed. I never use it, I prefer the American versions, which are so common here anyway. Holy shit is definitely considered more American, though. Man , I can't be arsed with speech marks at this stage. 1/1
Blower: Larf at J. Blower = telephone! "Oi, geroff the blower, mate, I wanna ring me bird!" (Bird = chick, as you say it). Never used this word. No points for youuu. 0/0
Car park: At least we can't blame people parking on the pavements on the Americans. This newspaper doesn't give the greatest examples. Pointy points. 1/1
Chin-wag: Ahhh, not quite, Zoso! Chin-wag = conversation/talk/natter/chewing the fat, as J put it. 0/1
Crisps: Yaaar. Crisps = horrible flavoured things that Gary Linekar spends WAY too much time advertising. Chips = fish and chips! Fries = horrible little slivers of potato as found in "our workers DO wash their hands!" McDonalds. Scum of the earth, that place. 1/1
Dosh: Nooo, Zoso! Yeah, South African's rather amuse me. Dosh = money/notes/moolah/the not-so-green stuff. Mallet for Zoso, one shiny pound for J. 0/1
Faff: According to the newspaper, it means "indecisive". I've actually used this word before in the context: "Stop faffing around!" Kinda like flapping around in a... flap. Not sure if that makes sense, basically stop flailing around like a madman, coz you ain't got no points! 0/0
Fringe: "He's on the lunatic fringe?" T-SHIRT DESIGN GO GO GO. No, this is a word that annoys me as a writer trying to describe character looks. Fringe = bangs. I have a blonde fringe, but if I go to America, I have "blonde bangs". Still not quite worked that one out yet. (btw my hair is all the same colour before you start making weird images of me in your head). 0/0
Hoo-ha: Mallet time! And I laugh at J. A hoo-ha is in fact a "commotion" or "aggro". "Sorry I'm late, but some idiot lorry driver was causing a hoo-ha on the M25". If you ever come to Kent, go NOWHERE NEAR the M25. Seriously. I don't use this word a lot, actually. 0/0
Knackered: Yes, indeedy, means tired/drunk. Comes from "knackers" which = "balls" so therefore, you're "balled". I use this word rather a lot. I had to laugh at J's sentence. Funny, but your high school memories sound like the background noise in a pub. XD 1/1
Loads: A lot. "I like a lot of brown sauce on my CHIPS." Such a common word. Somehow, judging by your reactions, I don't think I will be saying that in America... 1/0
Loo: Bah. Easy peasy. I could have used "bog" but you'd get that an' all. Points points points. 1/1
Minger/Minging: Mimes? Hehehehe! No, if you are a minger, you are ugly! If you are minging, you are also ugly! Now read J's answer again and see why I was laughing so much. Very common word. No points for you, you're minging! 0/0
Mitts: Hands/gloves. Indeedy. Zoso's sentence was also fairly accurate. O.o Points for your grubby little mitts.1/1
Queue: Line of teh people, often used in the same context as J, funnily enough. Pointy points. 1/1
Peckish: Strangely, Zoso's sentence does make sense. However, J is right - it does mean 'hungry'. Only slightly hungry, mind. "I'm feeling rather peckish, let's go and get some CHIPS." 0/1
Scorcher: Ice cream! Hahaha, no, in fact, a scorcher is a really REALLY hot day. "Bleeding 'eck, it's such a scorcher today, mate." So, yes, ice creams are relevant but no points! 0/0
Sorted: Oooh... J is sorta right. We kinda use it as: "Yeah, that bloke's sorted. He won the lottery yesterday." or "Yeah, I'm sorted. I'll leave tomorrow." More commonly, it goes:
"Yeah mate, I'll bring the stuff for you tomorrow."
"Sorted!"
Mmm... dunno. I might give you a point for that, J, since I can't really say it's wrong. *pickypicky* Oh ,and if you're totally hardcore mockney, it's pronounced "Sor'ed", the 't' replaced by a little stress rather than a 'd' as you do. I don't pronounce my 't's a lot... ooh, I'm so common. 0/1
Tickety-boo: Hah! I have to say, I've never used this, but it sounds like something one of my mates would say. It means "going well". Is everything tickety-boo with you? Apparently, not! Heehee! 0/0
Wellies: Omg Zoso! If you said that in a pub, I think I'd die of laughter! Wellies have nothing to do with beer unless you have strange drinking habits (although I see your logic). Wellies = gumboots, as you call 'em. It's muddy today, children, so let's all put on our wellies! Har har. Duke of Wellington, indeed. 0/0
So, the mark are out of 25:
Zosocrowe = 11/25
J = 14/25.
In conclusion, J is pretending not to be English and you all should come over and visit! And go into a pub and ask for wellies! XDXD Ahh, that was too funny for words. (ignore the pun) Bahahaa... I'm surprised I did okay (I kinda like Big Friendly Elephants, meself) but OMG. Eat Ben and Jerry's! Cookie dough ice cream! Chocolate brownie! Mudslide (or whatever it's called, too busy eating it!). Mmm... and eat some fish and chips too. Our chips are way better than fries.
Mallet me if I've miscalculated your answers or missed out a word... I somehow ended up with weird marks, which is why I've put them next to the answers. And now, I shall be totally English and say "Ciao!" ^__^
Posted by: DR at May 25, 2005 01:49 PMWhat the hell, man, I just re-read J's answer for "sorted" and now I'm having fits of laughter. T-SHIRT DESIGN GO GO GO
Posted by: DR at May 25, 2005 01:51 PMHow the hell did I miss "scorcher"? I'm such a tool...we say the same thing here...BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A DESERT. I'm such a dumbass. So is J, apparently, since he didn't get it either.
O_o
Gawd, this had me giggling.
Posted by: Zoso at May 25, 2005 03:19 PMI guess I was putting too much thought into what "scorcher" would mean. I have failed my climatary roots... how shall I ever go on?
Posted by: J at May 25, 2005 05:55 PM*snerk*
Yeah, me too. We've shamed God's Country! We are no longer fit to live in the "Evergreen State!"
*insides jokes between J and I*
There is a sign on the way out of town that says "God's Country" as it overlooks the most barren, desolate piece of landscape... God's Country indeed. This also applies to our state name: The Evergreen State. I guess we're suppose to be well known for our gleaming forests and lush landscapes...obviously no one took into account the land on the east side of the mountains...
http://shalaney.dreamhost.com/weblog/archives/images/Columbia%20River.JPG
(this is what it looks like where I live--I fail to see the evergreeness of the Evergreen State)
>>Loads: A lot. "I like a lot of brown sauce on my CHIPS." Such a common word. Somehow, judging by your reactions, I don't think I will be saying that in America... 1/0
You know, I was going to comment on this one earlier, and totally forgot. It made me laugh the hardest, especially when Kryssie mentioned "brown sauce on chips". Gawd, I'm horrible, but I can't stop laughing now.
Kryssie, if you ever do visit the US, using "loads" is fine, just make sure you mention what you have loads "of"... "I have loads of home-work" or "I have loads of stuff to do."
Never-ever-ever say anything like "My loads are big" or "I've got a big load." People will either stare at you, run from you, point and laugh at you, or offer you something with lots of fiber.
*LMAO*
Posted by: Zoso at May 25, 2005 07:12 PMAhar! I get it now! I meant to say "I like loads of brown sauce", and I did the first time, but I was kinda tired when I had to type out the answers all over again.
Man, it looks fairly nice where you live... I'd show you a photo of a graffiti-covered shed with a burnt-out car outside, but I don't want you to see my house! XD It's not too bad here in the wonderful suburbs, but some parts of Kent are lovely.
Posted by: DR at May 26, 2005 03:52 AMHeee! "Loads of brown sauce" would probably get you in trouble no matter what context you used it in. LOL
Ah, our area isn't so bad...it's pretty if you take the time to really look for the beauty. I don't think it's very pretty at all in the summer time when it's over 100 degrees and you can see the heat waves rising off the ground. That really sucks.
I don't live in the city, so it's actually quite peaceful at my house. There's a game refuge near by and stuff, so that's kinda cool (but the misquitos are bad in the summer). I suppose every area has its ups and downs.
Posted by: Zoso at May 26, 2005 06:27 PMThat's why we refer to it as HP Sauce... aheh.
I live near a high street, (umm... small town centre?) but it's not too busy. We don't really have mosquitos buzzing around but it gets pretty hot over here too (or maybe that's just me). I maintain that it's worse in London. I don't know if I'd ever want to live there... but it could be fun.
Posted by: DR at May 27, 2005 12:15 AM