BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 07:20 AM

Don't forget, Allan...if it all gets to be too much for you, you can always log on to Mudcat and the rest of us will help you forget all about the silly gits (I think that's idgits in UKish).

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 07:39 AM

Re ice cream. When last in US I was always asked to choose between ice cream and yogurt. Frozen yogurt appeared here for a while but never caught on.
We say yog as in dog, not as in Bogle

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 07:46 AM

"gits" is standard Englsh, more especially Northern; "twits" is more contemptuous than hostile, and is more typically Souther. "eejits" is Irish, and is often quite friendly.

More than one variety of "Typically English". For example football hooligans.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:06 AM

Ah, but "idgit" is American (you sound the "d")

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Morticia
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:32 AM

well, he's just survived Banbury Folk Festival, meeting assorted Mudcatters and Shellbacks as far as the eye could see.He also very calmly ate black pudding on Sunday morning with barely a blink as a massed crowd of folkies, dressed in little policeman helmets erupted into The Laughing Policeman in a transport cafe....I think the assimilation is going very well....of course, I have taken the cautionary measure of hiding his passport *G*.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:34 AM

Don't forget to try out the echo in the British Museum Round Reading Room in the new Great Court: yodelling works best.
You'll find single person urinals on many street corners, some are red and some have glass sides. Dial 999 to flush.
London cabbies hate to be tipped and love you to haggle over the fare.
Want a free meal? The Queen runs regular Garden Parties at Buck House, just go along and join in.
Bringing your hunting rifle? Try potting the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

RtS
(Don't thank me, just enjoy....)

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 09:45 AM

"gits" is pronounced with a hard g; no connection with "idgits"

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Nigel
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 11:45 AM

"Git" : one derivation "Girl In Trousers"

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 12:55 PM

One way to understand the English is to study their proverbs, especially the ones that never caught on in America:

It can't be helped.
A change is as good as a rest.
Lie back and think of England. (Advice to a girl on her wedding night.)
…as long as they don't do it in the street and frighten the horses. (Anything is permissible as long as it's done quietly, in private—but more and more these days, it's being done loudly in public.)
Where there's muck, there's brass. (Translation: Where there's shit, there's money - from Yorkshire, I think.)

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 01:41 PM

Lie back and think of England was the advice to a daughter about to be raped in one of the revoting colonies.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 02:13 PM

I love a cartoon I once saw. The picture was of a door marked "Department of Philosophy", and a man was coming out of it saying "Oh well, it can't be helped..."

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Allan C.
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 04:17 PM

Thanks for all of the advice! I've been getting on rather well so far, much to my surprise. Quite honestly, I am starting to realize I have learned much more on the 'Cat than I thought. For instance, Phot made a derogatory remark about some artwork, saying, "Looks like the sort of thing Blue Pete would teach you to make." I knew just what he meant! I had read about Blue Pete here.

I've just finished my first adventure in cooking here. It was a challenge! Meats aren't known by the same names. There are condiments I've never before seen or heard of. But the most difficult realization was that I cannot divide by 5/9ths in my head in order to use the proper oven settings.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: jeffp
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 04:28 PM

You may find it easier to multiply by 9/5 instead.

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 04:37 PM

Ask Mortie she'll know Allan, or pretend you just don't understand, look helpless, and maybe she'll do the cooking for you!!
Giok
Ducks and runs for cover! {To Australia?]

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: Bassic
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 04:43 PM

And Allan, I know this is being very picky, and I am really sorry, but it is Blue PeteR not Blue Pete. If you went into a pub and started chatting to a regular at the bar and commented that the painting that the landlords wife had just hung up looked like it had just been made on Blue PETE you would get blank looks. If you said Blue Peter you would bring the house down and the Landlord would probably buy you a pint for agreeing with him!! :-) I now officially confirm that you are studying at advanced level !! (Nice to see you in Banbury by the way.)

Subject: RE: BS: Tips On Learning (to be) English
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 04:49 PM

"look helpless, and maybe she'll do the cooking for you!!

Naah! Look willing and do it, and wreck the kitchen in the process. That's more likely to do the trick for next time...