Terminology: US vs. UK - 1942

[MarkJohn]

I always used to call 'dampers' 'shocks' until my mechanic told me [off] stating the correct term is dampers, as its the springs that absorb the shock, and the dampers 'damp' the bounce

I love the differences in our shared language, but often feel the American versions sound more romantic.

Briefs (US) = Y-Fronts (UK) eeek, does anyone still wear Y-Fronts :eeek:

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Re: turf accountants. I fear from this thread that many members may assume that we Brits are living on some kind of absurd Downton Abbey set. At least half of the examples posted so far would certainly be encroaching on the realm archaisms.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Training Wheels (bicycle) (US) = Stabilisers (UK)

 

[MarkJohn]

Re: turf accountants. I fear from this thread that many members may assume that we Brits are living on some kind of absurd Downton Abbey set. At least half of the examples posted so far would certainly be encroaching on the realm archaisms.

So true... or as the modern internet terminology states 'spoken for truth'

 

[MisterCairo]

I've always called it the 'betting shop'.

I've only heard turf accountant in a few Britcoms - Keeping Up Appearances mainly, in fact. Hyacinth's brother in law is frequently called a TA by her. Is it an older term now out of fashion? Betting shop or bookie is more often heard in the programs I've seen.

 

[MisterCairo]

I am that soldier and I am unapologetic for it, it's what I am. I must confess though I really hate the term "whatever" and never has it passed my lips.

I for one am not sure what you mean by "that soldier"?

Just curious.

"Whatever" is, I agree, a silly term. Used mainly by children and petulant hipsters where I'm from...

 

[MisterCairo]

Re: turf accountants. I fear from this thread that many members may assume that we Brits are living on some kind of absurd Downton Abbey set. At least half of the examples posted so far would certainly be encroaching on the realm archaisms.

To enlighten us foreigners, can you explain which ones are now archaic?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

From memory of the thread:

Corking
Smashing
Turf accountant
[was Spiffing mentioned, or "old bean" or anything of that ilk? We really, really, don't talk like this! except for folks pretending to be "gentlemen".]
Smalls
Dynamo!

You'd think we were living in a bloody Wodehouse story! Or one of the less capable Wodehouse copyists whose protagonists just wander around spiffing and smashing and generally rysting abyte in jolly japes and larks having a corking good time pulling birds, high on Pimms and gin fizz.

 

[Widebrim]

From memory of the thread:

Corking
Smashing
Turf accountant
[was Spiffing mentioned, or "old bean" or anything of that ilk? We really, really, don't talk like this! except for folks pretending to be "gentlemen".]
Smalls
Dynamo!

You'd think we were living in a bloody Wodehouse story! Or one of the less capable Wodehouse copyists whose protagonists just wander around spiffing and smashing and generally rysting abyte in jolly japes and larks having a corking good time pulling birds, high on Pimms and gin fizz.

What?? "Smashing" isn't still used? What's all this, then? I better stop using it around the English parents we have here at school...But do you still use "corker," as in, "She's a corker"?

 

[Shangas]

Some Brits I'm sure, still use 'Smashing'. The others, I'm less convinced about. Corking, I certainly haven't heard in recent times.

The Baron is right though. It all sounds rather Wodehouseish, wot?

 

[Widebrim]

And I wouldn't doubt that some Brits who watch a lot of golden-age American movies think that we Yanks still use phrases like swell, hep cat, solid, toots, nuts (as an expletive), gin joint, shyster, private dick, gunsel, and swing it...although I do occasionally use a couple or so...

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

From memory of the thread:

Smashing

You'd think we were living in a bloody Wodehouse story! Or one of the less capable Wodehouse copyists whose protagonists just wander around spiffing and smashing and generally rysting abyte in jolly japes and larks having a corking good time pulling birds, high on Pimms and gin fizz.

 

[Two Types]

The phrase 'Turf Accountant' was something you used to see outside bookies/betting shops back in the days when most of them were independent shops, rather than part of some enormous chain of stores.
I can remember the first time I went into a 'turf accountants' (in the early 1980s): the windows were backed with board so that you couldn't see inside; the walls were lined with hardboard that sor some reason had small holes punched into it; there was a small bare desk and a single window at which you placed your bets. Nowadays, they are brightly lit and aim at dragging in the punters. The whole gambling industry, and its rapid expansion, really annoys me (but this isn't the place to discuss it).

Back to the point: I do occasionally hear people use the word 'smashing' but no one ever uses 'corking' - although I have heard people describe something as a 'corker' (as in 'look at the redhead over there, she's a corker'). But it is damn rare.

 

[herringbonekid]

the walls were lined with hardboard that for some reason had small holes punched into it

holes all over like perforated hardboard ? ... this is most commonly used in hardware shops behind the counter as a 'wall' to hang small items on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perforated_hardboard

 

[Two Types]

Thinking back, there was a hardware shop in that parade of shops. I think the bookies probably took over from that shop. Mystery explained.

 

[Two Types]

.... and I recall going in there in 2011. It now sells car spares etc. I think the perforated board is still in place. Strange how these things pop back into your mind.

 

[AntonAAK]

I've only heard turf accountant in a few Britcoms - Keeping Up Appearances mainly, in fact. Hyacinth's brother in law is frequently called a TA by her. Is it an older term now out of fashion? Betting shop or bookie is more often heard in the programs I've seen.

Ah, but the point of her character was that she was always seeking to impress. She was probably trying to make her brother-in-law sound more important. I don't know if they still do but when I was growing up betting shops certainly did often have 'Turf Accountants' written on them but I've never heard anyone use the term in general conversation.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Dinner (US) = Tea (UK)
Plan or Project (US) = Scheme (UK)
Activist (US) = Campaigner (UK)

The phrase 'Turf Accountant' was something you used to see outside bookies/betting shops back in the days when most of them were independent shops, rather than part of some enormous chain of stores.

Blackpool, 1963
Morecambe & Wise cycling past a turf accountant's shop

 

[Capesofwrath]

=

V.C. Brunswick;1591174]Dinner (US) = Tea (UK)
Plan or Project (US) = Scheme (UK)
Activist (US) = Campaigner (UK)

Blackpool, 1963
Morecambe & Wise cycling past a turf accountant's shop

[/QUOTE]

No difference in any of those. Tea for dinner is Northern English working class and dinner is much more common now even there. It was and still is eaten earlier when people got back from work, and they would have a light supper later. Supper is now fashionable again for the evening meal too.

Dinner really means the main meal of the day whenever it's eaten. So in the past most people ate it at mid day and the midday meal was called dinner, a tradition which stayed longer with the factory worker. While the growing Victorian middle class started to eat their main meal or dinner in the evening aping the fashion of the elite.

Sunday dinner is the main meal of that day, and even though it's traditionally eaten around lunchtime in the UK it should still be called dinner. Even if a growing number of people call it Sunday lunch. Which makes me wonder what they eat for a main meal on Sunday.

US usage of middle class is still a little different to UK usage too. In the US everyone is fondly believed to be middle class from a factory worker to a banker. While in Britain it used to mean the professional middle classes. However almost everyone in the UK now thinks of themselves as middle class too. Apart from union activists and strong Labour Party supporters at one end, and the upper class at the other.

Incidentally I very much doubt that wealthy upper class US Brahman families think of themselves as middle class either. Except for public consumption when they stand for political office of course. Or run in US parlance, and increasingly UK too sadly.

I don't know if Brahman is still a current usage for the US WASP elite. Probably not.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Another one that I find interesting is the division of the medical profession into surgeons and physicians. It seems that in the UK all physicians are surgeons but not all surgeons are physicians.

Doctor's Office (US) = Surgery (UK)