BS: American English Bl**p*rs

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 02:00 PM

Jon, too cold here yet for there to be much interest in gardens. Indoor starting is underway. Your photo of marrow looks like zucchini, but colors of varieties vary greatly! Seed catalogues offer zucchini with skins varying from pure gold to striped to dark green in color. We used "Goldrush" (golden yellow). Depending on growing conditions, we let some get to about 2 pounds. A favorite way of using them is to halve them, remove seeds, take out some of the pulp and stuff the halves with ground meat, chopped onion, the scooped-out pulp, seasoning, and bake. Ginger and garlic are often added to the seasoning. Very tasty! An English friend here grew marrows (Thompson and Morgan seed, of course) but it seems to me that the skin had more white. I believe the hybridists have them all mixed anyway. There are standards for naming colors (Munsell, etc.) but these systems appear only in academic works.
Names of some colors can be quite old (artists' paints) and are known only to those who paint or have an interest in art. Bismarck brown, Chinese white, etc. The names we see in paint stores are invented by the publicists and last only a few years, causing headaches to those who want to match colors they have used in the past.
Plant names are a real mine field unless the scientific name is used. Popular names vary from area to area, let alone from country to country.
There be thread creep here.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Roughyed
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 04:28 PM

Greengages are usually sweeter than ordinary plums. They are delicious and well worth trying if you see them. They seem quite rare. I once was out in the German countryside with a German and remarked about the view "There's a lot of mist about" My friend replied "Yes, it must be the farm." Mist means manure in German apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: The Walrus
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 06:18 PM

Liz,

There is one colour that can only be imagined "Isabella". Apparantly one of the Spanish queens (or princesses, I can't remember which) took a vow not to change or wash her shift until a some town or other, lost in battle was recovered. It took something like three years, the colour refers to the colour of the linen on removal.
I don't think I'll paint my living room Isabella.

Walrus (Sorry for the lack of detail, but my memory has gone on strike)

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 06:44 PM

The color is "isabelline," a gray color. Isabelline is used for gray in Colombia and probably most Spanish-speaking countries. (No particular shade). Carmelite, for the Carmelites, is used for brown in Colombia and some other Latin countries.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 07:11 PM

Dicho, I agree we have drifted but... I've just looked at a couple of gardening books. They both say that the courgette is simply a small marrow (although they do say that there are breeds with more fruit that are specailly grown for picking small). So I guess zucchini = courgette or marrow to me depending on the size - seems to tally with your 2lb samples which I feel sure would be called marrows over here. As for the cooking, I find marrow a bit bland but they can be nice stuffed and baked. Pip uses vegetarian mixes for the stuffing as she does with aubergine/eggplant and peppers.

Swan, I've not seen any greengages in a while. Pip used to make a nice jam with them.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 07:46 PM

Small zucchinis here usually sliced and quick-fried or eaten raw in salads.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Cappuccino
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 04:39 AM

Just to hoik this thread back to the subject, with a true story. As Mrs Duck carefully pointed out, the American 'fanny' is different from the British use of the word, although very close on the female anatomy.

When I was working for a daily paper some years back, a beautiful American movie star was in Britain doing a photo-shoot. Many of our British photographers were calling out requests for her to look this way, that way, would she pose this way or that way, etc.

Being helpful, her American manager called out: 'sure, guys, just pat her on the fanny and she'll do anything for ya!'

A very rare momnent of stunned silence from the British press.

- Ian B

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 10:06 AM

Thread creep alert!
"Blue" Doberman Pinschers are called Isabella, at least in the US. Personal opinion is that they are uglier than sin.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Kerstin
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 10:17 AM

I am from Sweden. Mayby that is an excuse as good as any. Writing to friends in Scotland some errors were made by me. Worm-soup instead of warm soup Yellow pies with pork = peas I shall fries the soup = freeze beer with the soap= soup I know how happy they are reading my letter. And if they are happy, I am. But, when I am back in Scotland the 20th of April I must try to find something to tease back

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Wotcha
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 12:01 PM

I remember going to college in Oklahoma ... and mentioning that my mother (a fine and proper English lady) used to make the Sunday joint for the family ... I don't recall that we ever smoked the beef.

You know you are having marrow, since it is steamed and best served covered in white sauce ... yummy. Zuccinni is best fried or used in Italian dishes.
Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: jimlad
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 01:07 PM

An American foot ball Star was asked which he preferred grass or Astroturf He replied that he had never smoked Asroturf.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 04:29 PM

When Malcom Rifkind was Secretary of State for Scotland he went to Japan the most senior Civil Servant (The Permanent Secretary at the Scottish Office) went with him.

They went introduced at functions as "Mr Rifkind and his full time typist" as the Japanese could not readily translate Permanent Secretary.

Davebhoy

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Penny S.
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 05:14 PM

A child's trick with a marrow - go out when it is zucchini sized with a knife, and cut your name on it. When it is big enough to eat, your name will be big, too. So you can't refuse it when it is served up on your plate, can you?

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Melani
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 05:20 PM

My aunt had a school friend who married a Frenchman and went to live in France. When they came for a visit, the guy was the stereotypical suave, sophisticated Frenchman, charming everyone else at the dinner party with his urbane wit. After coffee, he excused himself, saying he had to go "tinkle" (American kiddie euphemism for "urinate"). The diners sat in surpried silence, except for my uninhibited aunt, who cracked up. "What's the matter?" he asked. "Isn't that the "in" thing to say?" "Oh yes," says my aunt. "It's very big with the two-year-olds." "Lisa!" he says, with an accusing glare at his wife, who was snickering quietly. He had unknowingly picked the term up somewhere, and she had never corrected him, thinking it was cute.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:47 AM

This is a cross-post from the "Naming of Cats" thread.

We got two kittens last year, brothers, and named them Willie and Waylon (glad I did, now - Waylon lives on). The other day I wanted to get them in, and was on the back porch, yelling "Where's my Willie?"

My wife pointed out that it was a good thing we weren't in the UK.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Gary T
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 10:07 AM

At a Home and Garden Show, I heard an English presenter tell about the first time she told an American audience that she had a couple of nice boobs. That's when she learned that her word for minor injury (called a boo-boo here for young children) meant breast to us.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 12:02 PM

We were staying with friends in Dusseldorf, Germany and it was their little daughters birthday.

My wife asked the girls mother what we should get as a gift, only to be regarded with an expression of horror.

It was then divulged that in German, 'gift' means poison.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Hrothgar
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 07:36 PM

And the cricket commentator said "the batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey."

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:14 PM

Brian Johnston I think... Was it really that way round? I'd (probably wrongly) got it in my mind that Michael Holding was the bowler. I've looked on google and found it quoted both ways...

The other Willey one was (and again I can't be sure of the order except to say Dennis Lille must have been on the one caught) was Lilley caught Willey bowled Dilley.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: GUEST,celticblues5
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:17 PM

One more "fag" reference I have seen cause interesting looks from American audiences -

From the song, "Do you love an apple?" the line, "He stood on the corner, a fag in his mouth..."
quite a mental vision...;-)

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: E.T.
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:51 PM

told by a paper manufacturer they carried four hundred and seventy two shades of "white" paper.

No wonder they have to "reach" for names.

One of the reasons for lack of plums in US is that the ones they ship are generally hard as rocks and about as tasty. Unless you have a friend with a tree, they're worthless. I've only found the purple skinned ones and an occasional red. I've been looking around nurseries a bit ever since a friend cut down hers due to black knot. (virus/fungus which attacks plums). Made good jam, pardon the expression, plum good jam!

Best blooper I had was spanish - my teacher in high school was telling this one - beware of words "sounding like English" - she couldn't understand fast enough and was saying "estoy muy embarassado" meaning unfortunately, that she was not embarassed but expecting.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Yorkshire Tony
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 01:43 AM

One of my favourites is told by an Australian friend who announced on a visit to Canada that he felt like sucking on a few cold tinnies. To an Australian a tinnie is a beer. I understand that it is an ice hockey player's groin protector in Cananda!

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: HuwG
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 09:26 AM

A couple of years ago, I was roadying for a girl who was (then) a pub and club singer. She did a "Showcase" gig at the Bowling club in Chapel-en-le-Frith. "Showcase" gigs are attended by booking agents etc. and feature five or six acts who do a couple of numbers and then clear off stage to make way for the next act.

The first act was a five-piece band, who had a lot of equipment. As they finished, and began frantically stuffing leads and stands into various bags and cases, the Club's MC went to the house mike and said, "Give these lads a big hand, while they get their kit off!"

Some of the following acts asked whether a "Full Monty" was a compulsory part of the set.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: BanjoRay
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 09:50 AM

The best (worst?) fag one I heard was at Galax Old Fiddler's convention in 2000. I was in the crowd watching the string band competition with my mate Vic, when he turned to me and said "I could murder a fag". A large red necked guy in front of us turned around with a big grin and said, in what sounded to us like a texas accent, "me too, buddy, me too!". I think he meant it!

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: Grab
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 01:31 PM

Even the alphabet is a problem. Brits pronounce the letter Z "zed", not "zee". Occasional blank looks from Americans when we forget that one.

There is a further generational thing though. My aunt once asked my cousin to "hump those pillows upstairs", which caused the collapse in hysterics of all family members under the age of 25! :-)

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: jimlad
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 03:23 AM

Another cricketing tale,Brian Johnstone was heard to say "willis is trying to persuade Richards to have a slash outside his leg stump".

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: jimlad
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 05:02 AM

Brian Johnstone collapsed in laughter when his fellow commentator,describing Ian Bothams missing an attempted hook shot to Square Leg which involved jumping over the top of the wicket thus "Botham only just managed to get his leg over then"

After the Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race(does anyone really care?). The Television commentator reported that "Lady Jane presented the Trophy and then kissed the cox of the winning team.

Jack Nicklaus's wife when asked whether Jack had any pre-match superstitions said "Jack always gets me to kiss his balls before teeing off".

Subject: RE: BS: American English Bl**p*rs
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 01:16 AM

I believe a lot of these are just missed-spellings like in the spelling thread.