Words Brits use that Americans don't?

Bald as a badger

Sly as a fox

Old kiddie

 

Dependent on whether one lives north or south of Watford Gap, one could be a 'foreigner' !!!

 

Skin flint ....tight bastard.....lol

 

Boris. Various meanings.

 

Tight Arse = don't want to spend money

 

Ok, you UK lads, I've finally found a pronunciation you folks use that actually makes sense!

Over here in the States, one of the cable TV channels runs the program "Wheeler Dealers" which I'm sure some of you automotive types are familiar with (since every time the cost of something is mentioned, the guy speaking quickly converts it from dollars to pounds, implying that it's also shown in the UK). I was watching just now and the guy who does all the mechanical-type stuff was joining two electrical wires together. He pronounced the word, which is spelled "soldering", just as it is spelled. 'sol-der-ing' What? Eh? Here in the States, for some bizarre reason known only to God, it's pronounced 'sautering'. I have never understood that twisting of a word. My faith in you Brits' sanity was restored!

 

SAUTERING??? LOL
oh I see now
Solder vs. Sauter - What's the difference? | Ask Difference

 

Re: "Tight Arse".

Same over here (as 'tight-assed'), except it's mostly used in a societal, puritanical sense. Someone 'tightly-wound', a 'no-fun-type', controlled, rigid emotional behavior.

 

What the hell is -- ------änd Bobs your uncle."?

 

It actually means - Well there you go - voila lol

 

Thanks for the link, CG. But even then, the mid-stage root is from your 'Old English'. So, on this one, I gladly yield to the other side of the pond as more 'accurate' in meaning, as in 'to make solid.' ('course if I said it that way over here I'd get looked at funny.)

Funny how some of the French pronunciations have made the trip across untouched, yet others got twisted. Living here in Louisiana it's especially noticeable, growing up with certain pronunciations, and meeting those from other parts of the country. Examples:

Growing up, I went (briefly) to a rural school in south Louisana and heard such as, "Me, I'm gonna go do that, me." Found out later that sentence structure is 17th century French, which continued as what you folks know as "Cajun" French. In the 1970's I went to university in Lafayette, LA and visitors from France would have a tricky time conversing with the rural folks because of the 200 yr gap in word use and structure. It became a source of pride, and there is now an effort to preserve the "Acadian" heritage, music, and language.

 

I've ALWAYS wondered that one! But I mean,......HOW? What possible reference???

 

"Bob's your Uncle" actually refers to pre-decimal coinage where 12 old pennies were a 'Shilling' but in slang were referred as a 'bob' - hence "Bob's your uncle.

 

Ok, got the monetary reference. But how does 'your uncle' get in there?

 

Any adult male, friend, neighbour etc etc, (without actually being a relative) would be referred to as 'uncle' by children, hence the reference.

 

Just a few I noticed but some Americans do use each of these. Butt is very common for a cigarette where I'm from and we do have butt cans. Twat was popular when I was in high school. Pooch innit too popular but still used by some. Ruckus is something mostly only old folks use

 

If you Aunty had balls, she would be your Uncle. lol

 

It seems to me that rather than being different, words go in and out of fashion in different parts of the English speaking world.

 

Moosh
Boat race _ face
Conk = nose