Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Quote:
John,
Actually no, it's new to me although I understand the context and usage of the term.
Quote:
Terry,

for the explanation, that's exactly as I see it.
Quote:
Eric,
Why be shy now? You never have been before!
EDIT - Ron, sorry your thread has gone off on such a tangent. But we do have fun!

This is one of the things I love about the English language. In the US, if you say "knock you up", it means to get a woman pregnant. This is why I said "There's so many places I could go with this".


Mal, knocked up, LMFAO! He DOES have the belly for it!!!

Activating the Queens English to North-American English translator:

"I'm come knock you up" -> Stop by your place, as in I'll coming knocking on your door

"Can I borrow a rubber" -> Can I borrow an eraser

"I'm going outside to smoke a fag" -> I'm going outside to smoke a cigarette

"Where's the WC?" -> Where's the Water Closet (aka Bathroom).

"Which way to the lift" -> Where's the Elevator at.

"Bonnet" -> Hood

"Boot" -> Trunk

"Tyre" -> Tire

"We are taking the tube (or underground) there." -> "We are taking the Subway there."

"Roundabout" -> Traffic Circle

"Lorry" -> Semi-Truck

"Hoover" -> Vacuum (as in "Where did I leave the Hoover." or "I need to Hoover the carpet."

"Biscuit" > Cookie

"Chip" > French Fry

"Crisp" > (Potato) Chip

"Give me a pint" > Give me a beer

"Colour" > Color

"Centre" > Center


That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Here is one I like: Charcoals in the dynamo (brushes in the generator).

Only German I remember:

Ein Bier bitte (one beer please)

Oh and use your thumb as the symbol for one. The index finger means two beers. A happy accident I learned the hard way.

I've learned the hard way about misconception & communication from folks across the pond.

I had a customer call and ask for a "windscreen seal", which left me dumbfounded for awhile. It was a windshield seal.

I has a customer call and ask for a "boot seal". A convertible top boot seal? There isn't a seal there. It ended up being a trunk lid gasket.

The worst (and most costly mistake) is when I sent a Driver side fender, & passenger side fender skirt to Australia. (Driver side in US is not the Driver side in Australia) After a good chuckle from the customer, we split the shipping back & forth which still ended up costing close to $600 when all was said & done. I never forget to ask my Aussie friends if Driver is "US driver or Aussie Driver side?"

Translation in the US can be hard at times as well. I sold an exhaust manifold to a guy who wanted one for the "Left side". Usually that means driver side. He was standing in front of the car with a cell phone ordering the manifold that was on his left side (which is the passenger side).

Oye Vey.

"Hoover" -> Vacuum (as in "Where did I leave the Hoover." or "I need to Hoover the carpet."

HEY!!!! is that an insult???? are you try'n to say i suck????!!!! just come out with it!!!!

just kidd'n so kev you say'n you speake de spaaaaannnish?
lol

guten aben mine herren! ich sprecken klin deutsch.

DAMN!! am gonna stop now before i embarras myself! mein german is very rusty!

Big Kev wrote"

"That's all I can think of off the top of my head."

Here are a few more off the top of my head:

Windscreen - Windshield

Wings - Fenders

Transmission - Gear Transfer Case

Adjustable Wrench - Spanner

Honour/Valour/Neighbour - and all of the other "O-U-Rs"

Connexion - Connection

Kerb - Curb

Programme - Program

Theatre - Theater

Centre - Center

Defence - Defense

Sceptic - Skeptic

Manoeuvre - (almost sixty years on I still don't know how to spell this the "right" way)

AND the sometimes transposition of "S" and "Z"

Certain "educators" in this country have real "bees in their bonnets" (is that their hats or their "hoods?") regarding these minor spelling differences and vocabulary usages. The Vocabulary usage is easily adapted to but the spelling is very difficult to overcome --- especially when one is in a hurry or under pressure.

Two countries separated by a common language (with apologies to W. Churchill), or something like that.