I'll never forget the time an American colleague, new to the UK, announced in our open plan office that she had been "double fisting" the night before. When our jaws dropped in shocked silence, she explained she had had been bought two drinks, i.e. one in each hand. Our understanding was something very, very different. We had to explain that the Brits didn't use the phrase and would immediately assume it was related to 'bedroom activities'. A slightly awkward office conversation with a new colleague, but one I laugh a lot about now!!
Yep, same here - new US colleague announcing that they were double fisted in a bar last weekend nearly caused an embolism and a newfound respect for flexibility both moral and physical
This is very sweet! You are right about us Brits and the workplace swearing - even the vicar at the Parish meeting. Glad to see you are all-in on the weather chat. Oh and another code phrase is "that's a very brave suggestion" = you are obviously deluded.
(You’ll need to forgive the haircuts (and the clothes) things have moved on a bit. But some of the stuff is still spot on eg why the UK should be ‘in Europe’ and the discussion about ‘government savings’. )
Don't forget the "Yours Sincerely" vs "Sincerely".
The former is a perfectly cordial sign off, the latter is "I am not sincere at all and consider you to be barely tolerable".
The same goes for "Yours Respectfully" ("I respect your opinion on this matter") vs "Respectfully" ("Your incompetence on this subject is astounding and your views are being immediately disregarded").
RE: The weather: Observation — "Pretty rough today…" (meaning chill wind and near horizontal rain). Correct Brit response: "Aye. But it's worse at sea."
My favourite is 'Leave it with me', often said with warm enthusiasm. It means 'I will bury this idea so deep no-one will find the corpse until it's been eaten by worms'.
I worked for a Hawker Siddeley company for 8 years, the last 4 in Wiltshire. My list would fill a book. When my first trip to Chippenham was unexpectedly extended I asked if I could have a tablet. After a long wait I was given 2 paracetamol tablets. I was asked if I’d join a group after work and I said yes but I needed to go to my hotel to change my pants. That got some odd looks. I could go on and on. (sorry for the long post)
Funny 🤣 So true. “I am afraid not …” was the first one I learnt. For me it translated into “it’s negotiable”. To my boss it meant “it’s not happening. ever.”
I’m British, btw, but did a PhD in the US. A couple of other fave British expressions: “It’s not ideal”=it’s an utter disaster. “I’ll let you go”=go away, now. And the classic response to being asked how you’re doing, “mustn’t grumble”
This is excellent - I particularly liked the weather chat, though I think you’ve missed out ‘Bit breezy’ or ‘Bit blowy’ for days when there’s been a red warning for 100 mile an hour gales.
So true. Oop North, if the slates aren't actually flying off the roof - "bit of a breeze today". But we do like our extreme weather warnings, even if we don't have the tornadoes and hurricanes of our American cousins!
This is great, and I have to admit that I find so much of this confusing, despite being pretty much 50/50 British/American. I had no idea that there was a difference between made redundant/laid off. I use so many words and phrases interchangeably without knowing what's what. I am/was a long-time EFL teacher if students asked me whether something was British or American, most of the time I knew but other times I was stumped.
One of my favourites - run v stand for election. I find it fascinating that in Britain people merely stand for election - what does this imply about the differences between the two cultures?
I shall check out some of your other posts on this theme.
Oh, this one was new to me: "run v stand for election." Great example! And I'm still learning. My British partner and I still find different words for things on a regular basis.
It’s great fun finding all the little differences, and I was also thinking again about your observations on swearing, which are so spot on. The c—- word is another fine example, and when you bring Aussies into the mix, it gets even more confusing (they liberally throw that word around).
I’m Australian and happy to swear like a trooper. But, like Americans, I found that comparing anything in the UK to Australia, even just as an interesting point of difference, can bring a lot of hostility. Sometimes, if you make a suggestion, people assume that that is how things are done in Australia, rather than being a suggestion for how the matter at hand can be resolved.
We also have words which are embarrassingly confusing to the British. Durex is sticky tape, not condoms. A rubber is an eraser, again, not a condom.
I taught American students for 8 years ... hilarious experience . They would receive food parcels from their parents containing stuff which could be purchased in any corner shop in London . But i did make it my challenge to introduce them to proper chocolate
Note that in the UK and Ireland, it’s not the eye that don’t bat, it’s the EYELID. The eye has no battable parts. Example: “She didn’t bat an eyelid”. And don’t get me started on “I could care less”
Even within the UK & Ireland you can get variations & I am not talking about the bits of Irish/Scots Gaelic or Scots that have crept into our use of English but actual English words.
My daughter at College in Oxford was going to the shops and asked her friends if they had any "messages" they wanted her to get, i.e. small items of shopping that she could buy for them.
She got blank looks in return.
This very common term in Northern Ireland was never used in England.
On her next holiday break back home in Belfast she bought a shopping bag from a local craft company that proudly said "MESSAGES" on it.
Just discovered your substack, this made me laugh a lot! As a Brit now living and working in Austria, the "standard meeting flow" bit in particular cracked me up, as i do exactly that "can you see my screen?"
American nursing sister steps into her office to meet her new cohort of student nurses. One had perched on the desk due to a lack of chairs. There was a stunned silence when the nursing sister said ‘get your fanny off my desk’
I enjoyed this! Much has been said about British understatement and how to translate it, but you’re bang on re swearing (both that there’s a sharp line between internal and client facing, and that there’s a hierarchy dimension here on who takes the lead) and the weather (an occassionally tricky, but important member of the family, and not to be criticised too vigorously by those outside the group!).
I'll never forget the time an American colleague, new to the UK, announced in our open plan office that she had been "double fisting" the night before. When our jaws dropped in shocked silence, she explained she had had been bought two drinks, i.e. one in each hand. Our understanding was something very, very different. We had to explain that the Brits didn't use the phrase and would immediately assume it was related to 'bedroom activities'. A slightly awkward office conversation with a new colleague, but one I laugh a lot about now!!
Yep, same here - new US colleague announcing that they were double fisted in a bar last weekend nearly caused an embolism and a newfound respect for flexibility both moral and physical
This is very sweet! You are right about us Brits and the workplace swearing - even the vicar at the Parish meeting. Glad to see you are all-in on the weather chat. Oh and another code phrase is "that's a very brave suggestion" = you are obviously deluded.
That’s a fantastic code phrase! Will make a note and perhaps will do a second one to follow up on this article. Thanks for reading and commenting.
‘That’s a brave suggestion’ is from a TV series called ‘Yes, Minister’. Have you come across it yet?
Oh I haven’t, but will look for it. Thanks for sharing.
It’s an absolute classic!
(You’ll need to forgive the haircuts (and the clothes) things have moved on a bit. But some of the stuff is still spot on eg why the UK should be ‘in Europe’ and the discussion about ‘government savings’. )
Don't forget the "Yours Sincerely" vs "Sincerely".
The former is a perfectly cordial sign off, the latter is "I am not sincere at all and consider you to be barely tolerable".
The same goes for "Yours Respectfully" ("I respect your opinion on this matter") vs "Respectfully" ("Your incompetence on this subject is astounding and your views are being immediately disregarded").
These are wonderful additions and so true! Thank you for sharing.
On the subject of respect, "with all due respect" very often implies that absolutely no respect is due!
Every time mate !!
RE: The weather: Observation — "Pretty rough today…" (meaning chill wind and near horizontal rain). Correct Brit response: "Aye. But it's worse at sea."
Sorry Bill that would be a Scots reaction to a perfectly fine summer’s day up North
My favourite is 'Leave it with me', often said with warm enthusiasm. It means 'I will bury this idea so deep no-one will find the corpse until it's been eaten by worms'.
😆 That one I have heard before, but love how you’ve described it. Thanks for sharing
Whenever I say “leave it with me” I do usually mean it…but if I follow it with “I’ll have a ponder” it’s never happening. Pondering never happens☺️
One of my favourite coded phrases as a Brit is ‘that’s an interesting interpretation’ meaning I’m totally disregarding what you just said
I worked for a Hawker Siddeley company for 8 years, the last 4 in Wiltshire. My list would fill a book. When my first trip to Chippenham was unexpectedly extended I asked if I could have a tablet. After a long wait I was given 2 paracetamol tablets. I was asked if I’d join a group after work and I said yes but I needed to go to my hotel to change my pants. That got some odd looks. I could go on and on. (sorry for the long post)
These are great examples! 😂 I can especially relate to the pants story. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah i think you should change the pants thing ... its like sneakers
Funny 🤣 So true. “I am afraid not …” was the first one I learnt. For me it translated into “it’s negotiable”. To my boss it meant “it’s not happening. ever.”
😂
I’m British, btw, but did a PhD in the US. A couple of other fave British expressions: “It’s not ideal”=it’s an utter disaster. “I’ll let you go”=go away, now. And the classic response to being asked how you’re doing, “mustn’t grumble”
These are brilliant and I’ve definitely heard all of these. Thank you for sharing.
This is excellent - I particularly liked the weather chat, though I think you’ve missed out ‘Bit breezy’ or ‘Bit blowy’ for days when there’s been a red warning for 100 mile an hour gales.
So true. Oop North, if the slates aren't actually flying off the roof - "bit of a breeze today". But we do like our extreme weather warnings, even if we don't have the tornadoes and hurricanes of our American cousins!
So true 🤣
This is great, and I have to admit that I find so much of this confusing, despite being pretty much 50/50 British/American. I had no idea that there was a difference between made redundant/laid off. I use so many words and phrases interchangeably without knowing what's what. I am/was a long-time EFL teacher if students asked me whether something was British or American, most of the time I knew but other times I was stumped.
One of my favourites - run v stand for election. I find it fascinating that in Britain people merely stand for election - what does this imply about the differences between the two cultures?
I shall check out some of your other posts on this theme.
Oh, this one was new to me: "run v stand for election." Great example! And I'm still learning. My British partner and I still find different words for things on a regular basis.
It’s great fun finding all the little differences, and I was also thinking again about your observations on swearing, which are so spot on. The c—- word is another fine example, and when you bring Aussies into the mix, it gets even more confusing (they liberally throw that word around).
I’m Australian and happy to swear like a trooper. But, like Americans, I found that comparing anything in the UK to Australia, even just as an interesting point of difference, can bring a lot of hostility. Sometimes, if you make a suggestion, people assume that that is how things are done in Australia, rather than being a suggestion for how the matter at hand can be resolved.
We also have words which are embarrassingly confusing to the British. Durex is sticky tape, not condoms. A rubber is an eraser, again, not a condom.
Which, to wander slightly off-topic, brings me to Anglo-French rivalry. In English slang a condom is a French letter. In French it's a capot Anglaise.
For an Aussie, the c-word is a term of endearment surely? I thought my ears would fall off when I first went boozing with the Aussie football crowd.
Glasgow enters the chat
I taught American students for 8 years ... hilarious experience . They would receive food parcels from their parents containing stuff which could be purchased in any corner shop in London . But i did make it my challenge to introduce them to proper chocolate
Note that in the UK and Ireland, it’s not the eye that don’t bat, it’s the EYELID. The eye has no battable parts. Example: “She didn’t bat an eyelid”. And don’t get me started on “I could care less”
Even within the UK & Ireland you can get variations & I am not talking about the bits of Irish/Scots Gaelic or Scots that have crept into our use of English but actual English words.
My daughter at College in Oxford was going to the shops and asked her friends if they had any "messages" they wanted her to get, i.e. small items of shopping that she could buy for them.
She got blank looks in return.
This very common term in Northern Ireland was never used in England.
On her next holiday break back home in Belfast she bought a shopping bag from a local craft company that proudly said "MESSAGES" on it.
Oh that’s interesting. I’ve not heard that before but I like it 😊
Just discovered your substack, this made me laugh a lot! As a Brit now living and working in Austria, the "standard meeting flow" bit in particular cracked me up, as i do exactly that "can you see my screen?"
American nursing sister steps into her office to meet her new cohort of student nurses. One had perched on the desk due to a lack of chairs. There was a stunned silence when the nursing sister said ‘get your fanny off my desk’
oh dear! I can imagine how that went! 😂😂
Meant to say this was in a Glasgow hospital
I enjoyed this! Much has been said about British understatement and how to translate it, but you’re bang on re swearing (both that there’s a sharp line between internal and client facing, and that there’s a hierarchy dimension here on who takes the lead) and the weather (an occassionally tricky, but important member of the family, and not to be criticised too vigorously by those outside the group!).
Ahh glad you enjoyed it. :)