All You Brits, Listen Up

[Marrk]

"I was rather chuffed . . . . "

Can someone tell me what "chuffed" means exactly? As an unwashed and benighted mere American, I am trying to master the subtleties of the Englsih language, and you assholes have claimed the right to that.










j/k about the "assholes" part.

[mopsey]

Chuffed means happy, ecstatic, pleased etc.

[toph]

Originally Posted by mopsey

Chuffed means happy, ecstatic, pleased etc.

thats exactly right

[Jimbits76]

chuffed???? You transatlantics can talk with your words like Cooties?

What about the meaning of words like faucet, hood and trunk, sidewalk.

Don't even get us started on what "fanny" means!!!!!!!!!

J

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

chuffed???? You transatlantics can talk with your words like Cooties?

What about the meaning of words like faucet, hood and trunk, sidewalk.

Don't even get us started on what "fanny" means!!!!!!!!!

J

Hey, "cooties" is a perfectly useful word, well suited for particular occasions. Just ask my 5 and 7 year olds!

[Mandrake]

"Chuffed to bits..." Oh, the memories of those years in London....

This may be useful:

http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml

Cheers
Carlos

[Jimbits76]

WTH is a cootie!!!!!!

And what the flippin Goonie is a Baby Ruth? (I understand it's a candy bar of some sort).

J

[Jimbits76]

Can we have the slang guide as a sticky?

However, in all me 32 years I've never heard of some of them...Biggie????

That gives a whole new meaning when an Englishman says Biggie Smalls!!!!!!!

[Marrk]

I could tell you about Biggie*, but the usage, starting with the man's proper name and moving on to the general slang, is nuanced. Chances are, you would not be that interested and, at bottom, you might find it lacking the afore-mentioned subtlety.








*Biggie, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. Christopher Wallace (1973-1997), an "East Coast" rapper, assassinated on Wilshire Boulevard as he was leaving a party for Vibe Magazine at Petersen's Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. This was during the East Coast-West Coast Rap Wars of the 1990s. Voletta Wallace, Biggie's mother, brought a suit against the L.A.P.D. claiming that her son was set up and gunned down by Los Angeles police officers in the hire of West Coast rappers. The suit was settled out of court, but new suits are pending.

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

Can we have the slang guide as a sticky?

However, in all me 32 years I've never heard of some of them...Biggie????

That gives a whole new meaning when an Englishman says Biggie Smalls!!!!!!!

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

WTH is a cootie!!!!!!

And what the flippin Goonie is a Baby Ruth? (I understand it's a candy bar of some sort).

J

Yes, a Baby Ruth is a candy bar - I believe the name references both the baseball player and the creator's daughter.

As for cooties? "Cooties" refer to maybe germs, or something yucky. One usually hears it said by little kids - as in when a 7 year old boy gets smooched by a 7 year old girl -- ewww, cooties!

[CoopJr]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

WTH is a cootie!!!!!!

And what the flippin Goonie is a Baby Ruth? (I understand it's a candy bar of some sort).

J

A Cootie is a bed bug and a Baby Ruth is indeed a candy bar consisting of chocolate, nougat, caramel and peanuts....personally I prefer a Twix

[CoopJr]

WTF is a Crumpet? LOL!

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Carolina

Yes, a Baby Ruth is a candy bar - I believe the name references both the baseball player and the creator's daughter.

As for cooties? "Cooties" refer to maybe germs, or something yucky. One usually hears it said by little kids - as in when a 7 year old boy gets smooched by a 7 year old girl -- ewww, cooties!

Am I remembering correctly that in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, cooties was another name for head lice? Some poor kid in Scout's class had them.

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Am I remembering correctly that in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, cooties was another name for head lice? Some poor kid in Scout's class had them.

Heyyy, I think you may be right about that one. Much better than my "something yucky" explanation.

[Jimbits76]

WTF is a Crumpet? LOL!

Crumpet can be either a toasted breakfast item served with butter...kinda like an English muffin.

Or

Top Totty!

Totty meaning female of the species whom is easy on the eye!

J

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by CoopJr

A Cootie is a bed bug and a Baby Ruth is indeed a candy bar consisting of chocolate, nougat, caramel and peanuts....personally I prefer a Twix

Mmmm.... Twix....

[Letsgodiving]

A couple that stand out in my memory from when I moved here from England as a kid that caused me a little trouble:

Rubber - no longer an eraser
Restroom - not a place to rest
Fanny - now a completely different part of the anatomy that I was allowed to say
Biscuit - now something you put gravy on
Chips - they come in bags and they are served cold but you can still get them with salt and vinegar


I'm sure I'm forgetting a few but those were the ones that really threw me.

[Marrk]

Thanks to all who responded.

I'm a reader of the British motor press (_Superbike_ and _Octane_), and I occasionally get lost in the idioms.

"Chuffed." Quite lovely, as words go. You've got to hand it to the Brits. They often know how to adorn this too-sad world.




Now, back to those crazy Swiss and their watches . . . .

[CoopJr]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Mmmm.... Twix....

I think this thread is very cool! Let the record show...I love English Muffins

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by CoopJr

I think this thread is very cool! Let the record show...I love English Muffins

Are English muffins really English? And are French fries really French? I really am asking this seriously!

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Are English muffins really English? And are French fries really French? I really am asking this seriously!

I have had too many beers tonight to talk about eating muffins! Now Hooters as my last meal

[Lisa]

Yes, Joe, I understand. You should be eating pretzels and hard boiled eggs. Got the shock collar on, too?

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Yes, Joe, I understand. You should be eating pretzels and hard boiled eggs. Got the shock collar on, too?

Geez, I tell a little secret and see where it gets me. You know, no matter what number wife you would have been (boy am I dreaming I could be that lucky) you would have been the last and only.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Geez, I tell a little secret and see where it gets me. You know, no matter what number wife you would have been (boy am I dreaming I could be that lucky) you would have been the last and only.

With the evening I've had, DON'T TEMPT ME.

[Jimbits76]

Lisa don't forget American Choppers!!!!!!!!!!

That also means something entirely different in UK

J

[Jimbits76]

And here in UK we have a sugared jelly sweet (candy) called American Hard Gums.

Do you have them in US? Are they just called Hard Gums?

J

[Marrk]

Nope, hard gums is what you get at our retirement villages.

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

And here in UK we have a sugared jelly sweet (candy) called American Hard Gums.

Do you have them in US? Are they just called Hard Gums?

J

[Ashley]

I thought that French fries actually were American, that's why they tried changing their name to "Freedom Fries?" Or is that just because they have a thing against the French?
This thread is hilarious, by the way
And Jim, America/Canada has tons of hard jelly sugar coated candies. With tons of different names. I don't know many of those names, I'm a chocolate fan myself

[WWOODDYY74]

What about Bollocks?

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

And here in UK we have a sugared jelly sweet (candy) called American Hard Gums.

Do you have them in US? Are they just called Hard Gums?

J

American Hard Gums? Never heard of them! But it sounds like you're describing jelly beans.



So, Jim, what are American Choppers in your fair land? Not the TV show, I take it!