Britishisms sneaking into American vernacular

[3fingers]

Visible panty line. To overcome this, the more daring of our ladies will go commando. In other words, take their underwear off. Any other english speakers use the term commando? Or have you even heard of it?

Yes, that one is used here as well. Did your Princess not recently create a stir by being photographed when a breeze lifted her dress?

 

[BR Gordon]

"Commando" is a term commonly used among those who wear a kilt.

 

[GHT]

Just be careful when you have a Brit and a Yank and a pack of cigarettes. Misunderstandings abound, I'm sure...

Tell me about it! I didn't know that either a wood or woodie was an erection, nor did I know that a penis was a pecker.
Imagine being an American trying to explain that a woodpecker really is a feathered friend.

 

[Zombie_61]

...However, in Brit speak, women will always refer to the outline of their knickers by the acronym VPL, meaning: Visible panty line. To overcome this, the more daring of our ladies will go commando. In other words, take their underwear off. Any other english speakers use the term commando? Or have you even heard of it?...

According to the "experts" the term "commando" or "going commando" in this context has existed here in the U.S. since the mid-70s. I had never heard it until it was used in an episode of Friends that originally aired in 1996, immediately after which it seemed everyone was using it.

 

[LizzieMaine]

We never called it that. We always called it "all my drawers are on the clothesline."

 

[W-D Forties]

Whilst not wanting to lower the tone (any further), do Americans use the word '****e'? I have always said it with a slight Irish accent as that's where it's from (and being from Liverpool almost everything is slightly Anglo-Irish). I seem to remember reading somewhere, I think in relation to Father Ted, that it was ok to say ****e as it wasn't technically swearing!

Ohh I didn't realise I would be censored there - answered my last point!! The work I am referring to is sh*te! If I can get away with that.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I've heard both the UK variant and the local version -- younger kids tend to say it British style, but people my age use the traditional American pronunciation. As Shakespeare said, "By any other name..."

I'm rather fond of the German pronunciation, myself -- it makes a lovely under-the-breath hiss.

I've never heard an American say "bollocks" out loud as an expression of disgust or frustration, although we do freely use the shortened form. Although now that I think of it, in working-class Maine we refer to a toddler romping around with no pants on as being "bollocky bare-arsed"

 

[Edward]

Whilst not wanting to lower the tone (any further), do Americans use the word '****e'? I have always said it with a slight Irish accent as that's where it's from (and being from Liverpool almost everything is slightly Anglo-Irish). I seem to remember reading somewhere, I think in relation to Father Ted, that it was ok to say ****e as it wasn't technically swearing!

Ohh I didn't realise I would be censored there - answered my last point!! The work I am referring to is sh*te! If I can get away with that.

Very much still a swear, and one with much better emphasis. You might be thinking of "feck", which is not a euphemism for "the other eff word. The really rude one, Father..." but a word in its own right. On a par with mild rudes like bloody or damn.

I've heard both the UK variant and the local version -- younger kids tend to say it British style, but people my age use the traditional American pronunciation. As Shakespeare said, "By any other name..."

I'm rather fond of the German pronunciation, myself -- it makes a lovely under-the-breath hiss.

Ja. One of the few swears that has the same potential for emphasis as in English.

According to the "experts" the term "commando" or "going commando" in this context has existed here in the U.S. since the mid-70s. I had never heard it until it was used in an episode of Friends that originally aired in 1996, immediately after which it seemed everyone was using it.

Friends is both how I first encountered the term and the reason that it is not one for which I care.

 

[HudsonHawk]

We never called it that. We always called it "all my drawers are on the clothesline."

I often hear underwear referred to as "drawers". But if you were really old school, you called them "step ins".

 

[Vintage lover]

I found myself cursing more often in my everyday speaking than I preferred and was once told it made me sound unintelligent. I started changing out the harsh stuff for more British equivalents.

 

[GHT]

I often hear underwear referred to as "drawers". But if you were really old school, you called them "step ins".

Or bloomers.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Exactly. And our well-known morally upright press felt that it was inappropriate to purchase or print the photograph. Anyone not royal is fair game, of course. Any craven wannabe starlet merely needs to get our of a car the wrong way and … whoops!:eusa_doh:

Yes, that one is used here as well. Did your Princess not recently create a stir by being photographed when a breeze lifted her dress?

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Or bloomers.

Y-Fronts (Briefs)

 

[GHT]

Anyone not royal is fair game, of course. Any craven wannabe starlet merely needs to get our of a car the wrong way and … whoops!:eusa_doh:

Sometimes I wonder whether or not that's contrived. You take an actress/model/TV personality, whose star has waned, team her up with a grubby publicity agent. He suggests that she might be spotted, getting out of her car, having gone 'commando.' He further suggests that when it's published in "TITZ" or some suchlike young man's hand relief publication, she threatens to sue the photographer for every last penny. The agent then makes sure that the tabloids get hold of the story, repeating the offending photograph, with some sort black obscurity, censoring the image, whilst making it clear that's it's available at TITZ or online, or wherever. no litigation ever takes place, enormous free publicity is gained and furthermore, said offended female celebrity goes on various chat shows telling the world how mortified she is, and how would the world and her dog feel if they thought she had deliberately flashed the fou-fou? Heaven's sake, her mother might have seen it. Yeah right!

 

[jamespowers]

Sometimes I wonder whether or not that's contrived. You take an actress/model/TV personality, whose star has waned, team her up with a grubby publicity agent. He suggests that she might be spotted, getting out of her car, having gone 'commando.' He further suggests that when it's published in "TITZ" or some suchlike young man's hand relief publication, she threatens to sue the photographer for every last penny. The agent then makes sure that the tabloids get hold of the story, repeating the offending photograph, with some sort black obscurity, censoring the image, whilst making it clear that's it's available at TITZ or online, or wherever. no litigation ever takes place, enormous free publicity is gained and furthermore, said offended female celebrity goes on various chat shows telling the world how mortified she is, and how would the world and her dog feel if they thought she had deliberately flashed the fou-fou? Heaven's sake, her mother might have seen it. Yeah right!

:rofl: Sounds right.

 

[Edward]

A little photoshopping can also very easily make it look like one of these young women went out sans knickers.... I've seen the paps in London lying on the ground trying to get their upskirt shots...

There was also a conspiracy theory doing the rounds a couple of years ago, suggesting that it was some sort of bizarre initiation rights thing to get into the Brtiney / Xtina et al circle...

 

[PADDY]

Are English terms for Good Bye, such as..."Toodle loo! Toodle Pip! Cheerio! Ta Ra! used anywhere in the USA?

 

[HudsonHawk]

Are English terms for Good Bye, such as..."Toodle loo! Toodle Pip! Cheerio! Ta Ra! used anywhere in the USA?

I've noticed that "cheers" is poplular these days. I assume that's of British origin, correct?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Are English terms for Good Bye, such as..."Toodle loo! Toodle Pip! Cheerio! Ta Ra! used anywhere in the USA?

My grandmother, born 1911, was a great fan of "toodle oo," but she's the only American I've ever heard use it. It's a lot more pleasant than "smell ya later!"

 

[Shangas]

I've noticed that "cheers" is poplular these days. I assume that's of British origin, correct?

"Cheers" generally means 'thanks', but it can also mean "Goodbye".

"Here Johnny I brought along another sandwich 'cause I know you can't leave the office today..."
"Oh cheers Adam!"

Here in Australia we do use a lot of Britishisms for obvious reasons. And I have heard 'Cheers/cheerio' used on occasion, by young and old alike. Although folks of my generation and younger tend to use 'cheers' more.