nas_nhy
Joined: 24 May 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 4:44 pm
Post subject: British Culture |
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As everyone known the American Culture which is way different than the British one,,,
I'd like to ask about Some of Phrases and they are new for me really, and i'd* I'd ID id it'd i's IUD Ind ind I'm like to know them from u
1 1. As you arrive in the London airport, you overhear people saying their trip "went all pear-shaped". What are they saying?
2 2. The subway in London is called
3 3. While checking into your hotel, the receptionist says he needs to see a credit card and "Bob's your uncle". What does "Bob's your uncle" mean?
4 4. Your friend says to you that he's "Hank Marvin". What does he mean?
5 the pub is very expensive
6 6. At a restaurant, your waiter asks if you would like "chips"? What is he asking?
7 7. Your friend says that his girlfriend is "all over the shop". What does he mean?
8 8. You hear people on the bus talking about "having a bubble bath" at a newly released movie. What do they mean?
9 9. You are running late for the airport, and you're a nervous wreck. Your cab driver, though, tells you to "keep your hair on". What is he saying
10 10. At the airport, someone tells you to walk towards the "apples and pears" to get to your gate. What does "apples and pears" mean?
waiting for the answers 
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Geo.
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:45 am
Post subject: |
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I should like to preface this by saying I immigrated to the USA, coming to live in Canada years ago, and only ever really knew my own area -- Hampshire -- well.
| Quote: | | 1. As you arrive in the London airport, you overhear people saying their trip "went all pear-shaped". What are they saying? |
'It was disappointing, went badly'. This comes from an analogy to the female figure which goes from pear-shaped in time, as the breasts droop and the bottom widens.
| Quote: | | 2. The subway in London is called |
The London 'Underground' is the formal name for the American usage of the word 'subway'. In slang the London Underground is called 'The Tube'. N.B. Don't mix the British usage of the word 'subway' with American usage. In Britain 'subway' means 'pedestrian underpass' at a busy intersection or street crossing so that traffic can flow uninterrupted and pedestrians can walk across without waiting or risk taking to cross.
| Quote: | | 3. While checking into your hotel, the receptionist says he needs to see a credit card and "Bob's your uncle". What does "Bob's your uncle" mean? |
'Bob's your uncle' means -- in this case -- 'and you're all set' and ready to be shown to your rooms. It mean's that this is the last detail of business to be taken care of in this case.
| Quote: | | 4. Your friend says to you that he's "Hank Marvin". What does he mean? |
Cockney rhyming slang uses turns of phrase that have become well established by those who use them, and in turn, much of Cockney rhyming slang -- to the dismay of many Cockneys -- has become adopted into the speech of non-Cockneys. Hank Marvin = Starvin' ('starving', the final 'g' being left off in many slang pronunciations).
| Quote: | | 5 the pub is very expensive |
Well, if you mean that as a point of fact, I'll not argue with you. Meat in particular is very expensive in England, however veg. is of comparable price to America. Remember though, that English beers contain a considerably higher alcohol content than do American beers; (some English beers are next to malt liquor).
| Quote: | | 6. At a restaurant, your waiter asks if you would like "chips"? What is he asking? |
Chips are what are generally termed 'French fries' in America. Sometimes the term 'French fried potato chips' can still be heard, or in the phrase 'Fish & Chips', however both these terms may well depend on what part of the USA a person comes from, where as French fries are heard everywhere State side. N.B. In Britain, the American term '(potato) chips = (potato) crisps, the wafer thin extremely crisp snack food.
| Quote: | | 7. Your friend says that his girlfriend is "all over the shop". What does he mean? |
All over the shop means 2 things, but has one basis: All over the shop means: 1) Everywhere. 2) In all directions, confused, indecisive.
| Quote: | | 8. You hear people on the bus talking about "having a bubble bath" at a newly released movie. What do they mean? |
Cockney rhyming slang again: Bubble bath = laugh (As a side note, Cockney slang is sometimes best left to Cockneys, or a Cockney might think that a non-Cockney is using it in mockery).
| Quote: | | 9. You are running late for the airport, and you're a nervous wreck. Your cab driver, though, tells you to "keep your hair on". What is he saying |
'Keep your hair on' = Calm down. This term originated when powdered wigs were worn by gentleman, just as in colonial America. If a man took his wig off, or rather snatched it off quickly and cast it aside, it meant he was readying himself for a fight by getting it out of the way.
| Quote: | | 10. At the airport, someone tells you to walk towards the "apples and pears" to get to your gate. What does "apples and pears" mean? |
Cockney rhyming slang once again. Apples and pears = stairs. That one is very common, however, it should not be used with those whom it may only serve to confuse; 'stairs' will do nicely.
I rather hope this has been of some help. (If it should be any consolation, I found an equal number of North American expressions baffling when I emigrated). |
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