Author Topic: British versus American  (Read 1251 times)

Tom44

  • Paronomaniac
  • ******
  • Posts: 462
  • Pyrotechnics Live
    • View Profile
British versus American
« on: April 11, 2018, 12:53:36 AM »
I'm not sure if this belongs in whatever or words, but found a new article in the Guardian that may be of interest:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/apr/10/english-language-british-american-book?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=270836&subid=20253688&CMP=GT_US_collection#comment-114569383

Sorry, not sure how to make that a hot link in Chi, so you have to copy and paste.
Stevens Point, WI

birdy

  • Eulexic
  • ***
  • Posts: 3370
  • Brooklyn, NY
    • View Profile
Re: British versus American
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2018, 01:22:35 PM »
Sounds interesting. I just reserved it at my library, but there are two people ahead of me.

Les303

  • Guest
Re: British versus American
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2018, 07:01:41 PM »
Don't get your knickers in a knot ... Does it really matter where a genuinely funny phrase originated from.

" don't get your knickers in a knot " is a good example, it is immediately understood by most cultures & countries around the world & is a phrase that can be used in many situations.
No matter how many times i say it or hear it said, it always brings a smile to my face & quite often goes a long way to settling down a potentially nasty discussion.

My point is that it is only the really good phrases, those that roll of the tongue easily & are actually funny & popular, will be hyjacked, pinched, copied from other nations ad infinitum.

anona

  • Paronomaniac
  • ******
  • Posts: 442
    • View Profile
Re: British versus American
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2018, 11:52:03 PM »
I've not heard "... knickers in a knot" before, only " ... knickers in a twist". I must say, the Australian version sounds funnier than the British! Alliteration wins over assonance in humour.

anonsi

  • Glossologian
  • **
  • Posts: 1843
    • View Profile
Re: British versus American
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2018, 11:54:32 PM »
Here we'd say "Don't get your panties/undies in a bunch."