What the...? [A place for international understanding]

[Mikey]

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OK, here's my thought for this new thread.

In my relatively short time on this forum I've already noticed both cultural and lingual differences between us English-speaking posters from around the World, so I figured that it may be worth having a thread where we can ask friendly questions about all those words, phrases and stereotypes that have puzzled us from the forum, TV, or heresay.

I realise that with such a U.S. dominated forum there may not be too many opportunities for our American posters to be confused by foreign words or phrases posted on P1, but expand it to Film, TV, travel and I'm sure we could spark some interesting thoughts ...ever been baffled by something Basil Fawlty said? Can't understand a word Ricky Gervais is saying? I'll be happy to help

I'll be adding my two-penneth (that might start the ball rolling) at the end of this post, but the kind of general thing I'm thinking of is:

• Is it true that Britain grinds to a halt to drink tea every afternoon?

• Why do so many Ozzies leave that apparent paradise to work in London?

• Why, when Hollywood films (movies) show a World-famous landmark, do they subtitle it with the city and country (eg: scene featuring Eiffel Tower ...text appears saying "Paris, France")

...and then there's specific questions related to things you may have read, heard or seen ...here are some of mine to get things going....

Originally Posted by debbiefl

Batting 1000?

What does that mean?
(OK, as it's Debbie I'm aware that it may mean nothing at all to anyone else (luv ya Debs!))

Originally Posted by jayebe

...I gain weight inhaling Pam spray. What is a baker to do???

jb

What's 'Pam spray' ...and who's Pam?

Originally Posted by debbiefl

Deer meat, hams, boston butts, briskets, possum (just kidding), big chickens. The meat isn't what is so fattening, it's the potatoes and mac and cheese...

'Boston Butts'?!? ...are you making these things up? ...and what's 'mac' and cheese ...in England that'd be a thin waterproof coat - and cheese!?!

...and what are 'Molasses'? I've heard it in a few songs but haven't a clue


OK, time for me to shut up, sit back, and see if this inspires any replies
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[cvtree]

Explain Cricket and I will help you!

Fun Questions.

Pam is an aerosol cooking oil that you spray on the pans when baking.

This could be used in vast quantities for bangers and mash!

Batting 100 is hitting every pitch in Baseball.

Mac N Cheese Is macaroni and cheese.

If you can't understand Basil, you need another pint.

Enjoy he board. Some of us grew up in or live in Canada and might have a better chance of translating. If you have deeper Questions ask Doctor Who or
that crazy bastard from top gear "Jeremy".

Have fun, Sheyne

[stella]

OMG...that just cracks me up! A gut splitter.

If you find humor in global language barriers and want to take it a step further...come to minnesota and sit in an ice fishing shack with a bunch of guys drinkin beer. Dats where ya dun get da smarts on da slang. Ya. You betcha.

[cvtree]

Originally Posted by stella

OMG...that just cracks me up! A gut splitter.

If you find humor in global language barriers and want to take it a step further...come to minnesota and sit in an ice fishing shack with a bunch of guys drinkin beer. Dats where ya dun get da smarts on da slang. Ya. You betcha.

Try talkin' to a "Newfie" while jigging for cod and nursing a case of beer.


Here is one for all interested. What is a "Half Sack"?

[hour3suns]

Man, I tell you some of the different words for things in the United States can make the head spin too. When I was teaching in West Virginia the other teachers would tell the kids to put their "toboggan" on their head before they went out. Huh? To me a hat goes on the head and a toboggan is something a group of people sit on to slide down the snow hill. Oh, and "Nabs." Had a gal in North Carolina offer me Nabs before our work break. Didn't know what the world they were so I always said no thank you politely. Took a while but I finally figured out she was talking about those Nabisco crackers with cheese or peanut butter in the middle. Then there's the folks that eat breakfast, dinner, and supper. Took me a while to figure out my dinner is their lunch and their supper is my dinner.

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon

[stella]

Sharon writes: "Then there's the folks that eat breakfast, dinner, and supper. Took me a while to figure out my dinner is their lunch and their supper is my dinner.""

I definitely have the age gap on that one! Both my Mom and my MIL do "supper" instead of dinner. When I moved away to college I swithed up to lunch and dinner...Ill tell you this, one dinner invite found me at the door in my robe at 10 am with a confused look on my face...never made that mistake again. Just learned who to speak what language to.

pssst...I still call it lunch and dinner. Makes me feel worldly.
Hoo-Ya!

[Thad and Mary]

Molasses is a lot like cane syrup or honey. It is stronger as it is a by product of making white sugar. It makes great cookies and cakes and is what Thad uses to add iron and sweeten his fruit smoothies. It pours real slow as it is so thick. That's where the expression here in the south when speaking of someone who does something "slow as molassas".
Now, "getting some sugar" has nothing to do with what you would eat or sweeten something with, it's getting a "kiss" or as I tell the grand youngin's "I gotta have me some of that good Neck Sugar" as I grab them up and spread kisses all over their neck and we both have a good time as the little fellas cover their necks and squirm! Or "Hey, Sugar", is a term for someone you may be talking to...and the list goes on. m

[P1User]

"A common people divided by a common language."

George Bernard Shaw.



www.mayovictim.com (My website - if you're sensitive please forego looking at page 4).

[LACobb]

"Boston Butt" is a cut of pork and, as far as I can tell has little if anything to do with Boston, and is not cut from the pig's butt, but from the front shoulder. Rather like a roast it is delicious roasted. ...ann

[athena]

A cut and paste from the sour kraut recipe thread..... and speaking of Boston Butts!!!

"Althena:

Pork shoulder is much better. The loin is too dry and should be cooked like a good steak. The shoulder, sometimes called an English Butt roast, is the perfect cut. Bone in. Trim ALL the visible fat on the outside of the roast since you are using a pot, not roasting it. If you don't, you will have a large pot of grease. The roast has more than enough fat marbled in the meat to make it tender and juicy.

Trust me, it's WAY better than pork loin.

jb"

I had never heard of it called an English butt, always a Boston butt....which goes to show, even in the states there are nuances that differ from coast to coast or region to region!!


and I agree with Mary.... coming from Mass, when I moved to Georgia and Florida, and my grandkids "southern Grammie" said to them, Gimmie some sugar... I was suprised to learn she means kisses!!! (and they are wet kisses to boot!!!)