British Sayings - What do they Really Mean?

just thought of another one -

US = it is humid here today

UK = boy is it close 

First time I heard it I was golfing with someone who said whew its close - I'm like what's close?  

This is a really entertaining and educational thread!  I love language and words, so maybe that's just me!

I recorded a recent episode of Charlie Rose that I just watched last night -- he was interviewing Peter O'Toole.  I love listening to him - he's a perfect combination of refined manners and incredible wit.  I was mesmerized watching it.  Even in his 80's, he's still so engaged and vital.  He was talking about "human language as an art form," and how he's not religious at all, yet he reads the Bible often because of the beautiful way it's written, the rhythm of the words, etc.  The way he expresses himself sounds like art to me!

As for accents, I'm from Connecticut and have always assumed I have no accent.  However, I've been asked many, many times in my life when people first meet me if I'm Canadian.  I think it has something to do with the way I say "about,"  as well as diction, etc. 

I love the word:  bumbershoot (umbrella), but I don't know if anyone really uses it!

tacran

I love the word:  bumbershoot (umbrella), but I don't know if anyone really uses it!

I'm going to now, believe me! 

Just remembered this, I am british and in the U.K. we have a slang word that means cigarette which means something quite different in the U.S. I was caught out once on a trip to Utah and ran out of cigarettes in a club and asked a lady if there was a *** machine anywhere.

 On the same subject in the states to buy a pack of cigarettes you would ask for just that where as in the u.k. you would ask for twenty (and then the brand name), and I have been in stores in the U.S. and said it in the British term and ended up with twenty packets.

I used to hear the expression of lighting a *** and it gave me the mental of image of a literally flaming homosexual.

FourIsCompany

I actually meant my "pretend" British accent.

I was thinking of you tonight *grin* -- we were down at Epcot to see Herman's Hermits (British Invasion band VERY popular back in the 60's/70's -- you know .. back before IPOD??).  I *think* I mentioned above that David always laughs at me and tells me that my "English accent" is VERY Manchester b/c I learned most of my 'accent' listening to Peter (a/k/a "Herman";) sing.  I was singing along with Peter tonight and David was again cracking up at what a perfect Manchester SINGING accent I have LOL

Someday when I get a chance to talk to Peter again, I have to clue him in that it took David (my David) to explain to me what "Chatting up the ladies" means (line from "Dandy" -- one of his songs he usually sings in concert).  It's not an American phrase -- it's one of those handy things that Brits have a perfect phrase for that we, Yanks, have to take more words to say ... like "fortnight" -- we have to say "two weeks";)