Literature The British English vs American English thread!

[Joe]

PBS broadcast a spy drama called Page Eight starring Bill Nighy. Two phrases came up that I had not heard before. One was play silly bugger. That apparently means to act like an idiot (possibly deliberately and with some ulterior motive). The other phrase was throw a wobbly. That means to suddenly become very angry.

 

[Muggle]

Throwing a wobbly also means having a hissy fit. Or getting really upset about something. Not just getting angry.

Whenever I heard it, it is usually parents talking about their toddlers having a temper tantrum.

 

[Joe]

Throwing a wobbly also means having a hissy fit. Or getting really upset about something.

Yes. That's consistent with what I wrote.

BTW, I found the phrase defined here:

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Wobbly

 

[Muggle]

Nah, "suddenly become very angry" isn't the same as "getting really upset about something". It can be just being really upset, or being really upset and angry.

 

[ledboots]

"Throwing a wobbly" is a great phrase! I can picture a toddler throwing a wobbly. Lol.

I learn a lot of interesting things here!

 

[Alice-Bee]

^I would say thats more how to use it. Its referring to an adult acting like a child. getting upset over something not worth getting upset over.
Joe, its definately not the same as being genuinely angry with someone. No matter what that website is telling you.

When Americans say 'Over...' as in 'chicken over rice' does that just mean chicken ON a bed of rice.? Its sounds weird, like the chicken is floating over the rice.

 

[RabbitLuvr]

When Americans say 'Over...' as in 'chicken over rice' does that just mean chicken ON a bed of rice.? Its sounds weird, like the chicken is floating over the rice.

I would guess that's what it means, but I've never heard anyone say that.

 

[ledboots]

^I would say thats more how to use it. Its referring to an adult acting like a child. getting upset over something not worth getting upset over.
Joe, its definately not the same as being genuinely angry with someone. No matter what that website is telling you.

When Americans say 'Over...' as in 'chicken over rice' does that just mean chicken ON a bed of rice.? Its sounds weird, like the chicken is floating over the rice.

I have heard some old people (and cookbooks) say "over" rice or "over" pasta. They should be quiet so the rest of the world doesn't find out the secret of the hovering American foods.

 

[Spidergrrl]

^
When Americans say 'Over...' as in 'chicken over rice' does that just mean chicken ON a bed of rice.? Its sounds weird, like the chicken is floating over the rice.

Yes--that's what it means. My old Texas granny used to say if she was going to be watching you closely "I'm gonna be on you like white on rice" --anyone heard that one?

Also once I was in a bank in England (back in 1990 when I was an exchange student) and I had very loud hiccups and a man in a posh business suit and hat leapt out at me and shouted Silly Buggers! and I was so shocked it cured my hiccups.

 

[Alice-Bee]

That would shock you..such language! lol

So no food hovering then...damn TV lied to me again!

 

[thefadedone]

I would guess that's what it means, but I've never heard anyone say that.

I have heard some old people (and cookbooks) say "over" rice or "over" pasta. They should be quiet so the rest of the world doesn't find out the secret of the hovering American foods.

I didn't realize it's so rare to hear that. That phrase is frequently used here especially in restaurants and on menus.

 

[Envy]

I knew about it before.

Think it sounds better.

 

[Envy]

Large image.

Spoiler

 

[FortyTwo]

Reminds me of this (slightly NSFW):

Spoiler

 

[Joe]

^I would say thats more how to use it. Its referring to an adult acting like a child. getting upset over something not worth getting upset over.

OK. Point taken. Thanks.

Joe, its definately not the same as being genuinely angry with someone. No matter what that website is telling you.

OK. I hate to chide you, but there is no a in definitely -- unless you were trying to be humo(u)rous.

When Americans say 'Over...' as in 'chicken over rice' does that just mean chicken ON a bed of rice.?

I think that's what it means, but I'm honestly not that familiar with that expression. Sorry.

My best guess would be:

2over

preposition
Definition of OVER

1
—used as a function word to indicate motion or situation in a position higher than or above another <towered over his mother> <flew over the lake> <rode over the old Roman road>

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over

 

[Joe]

In the TV show Elementary, and adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories where Watson is an American woman, Holmes is practicing singlestick and tells Watson that the object is to hit one's opponent in the pate. Watson replies, "Oh, you mean the forehead." Holmes goes on and on about the pate, the pate, etc., refusing to use the word forehead. (The words are not exact synonyms.)

Pate is a perfectly good word in American English, but I've rarely heard or seen it used. So is this a possible difference in preference between British and American English? Or just a fanciful affectation of this one TV show?

 

[Envy]

Reminds me of this (slightly NSFW):

Spoiler

but he doesn't mention "freedom" so it's not correct.

 

[FortyTwo]

Freedom? You forgot Liberty.

 

[ledboots]

Freedom? You forgot Liberty.

Lol we Americans really know how to tone it down!

 

[FortyTwo]

And remember: If you don't click the image and look at it in full size, you're probably a TERRORIST.