Literature The British English vs American English thread!

[Alice-Bee]

Another one Ive never ever heard of :/

Scam, sure but pup...nope sorry.

 

[kazyeeqen]

I've never heard either the pup one or the sell a bill of goods one.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I've heard of selling someone a dummy.

 

[Amy SF]

I've heard "sell someone a bill of goods"

 

[Joe]

I found a definition of "pup" in the Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary that seems to indicate that this sense of the word is not exclusively British English, so I was basically wrong to think it was.

3 slang : a prospect of apparent promise that fails of realization; especially : an investment that turns out to be relatively worthless <had sold him a racehorse for $1,600 which turned out to be a pup— Time>

Also did more research on Melanie Phillips and found out that, despite her ability to present herself as well-spoken and intelligent in TV interviews, she is basically an extremely unbalanced far-Right ideologue. She has been called "Mad Mel" for good reason. A bit ironic that she started out on the Left and moved very far Right.

 

[Joe]

During a re-run of Downton Abbey, Mrs. Hughes says to one of the men servants, "Quit your flanneling and get back to work."

The Collins English Dictionary defines this sense as

(British, informal) to talk evasively to; flatter in order to mislead

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/flanneling

 

[SummerRain]

I like the idea that you think Brits talk like people on Downton Abbey Joe - I wish we did, haha. I've never heard anybody say that, I think it's an old-fashioned saying.

If you came to the UK and said that you'd get some funny looks

 

[hungryraccoon]

Flanneling. What the hell! Never heard that used or even written in old books :s

 

[Amy SF]

It could be a dialect word and unfamiliar to people in certain parts of the UK. I know there are dialect words in the US that a lot of Americans aren't familiar with.

ETA: For example of the latter, I've read about the phrase "to redd up" which is used in Pennsylvania and came with Scotch and English immigrants. It means to clean or to clear up, such as clearing the dinner table. I've never heard it spoken by anyone and I'm willing to bet a lot of Americans outside of that region have never heard of it. My father grew up in Philadelphia and was familiar with it, but my mother, who grew up in New Jersey, had never heard of it.

 

[RabbitLuvr]

I've been watching Undercover Boss UK. Husband and I have turned it into a drinking game, where we have to drink any time anyone says "gobsmacked."

 

[Alice-Bee]

When I hear flannel I think 'facecloth'. May be a regional thing.

Is gobsmacked not used in the US. Sure Ive heard it on some shows?

 

[SummerRain]

Considering the context (a historical drama) I'd have thought it's old fashioned rather than regional. There are lots of regional words in the UK though

 

[Alice-Bee]

Its odd how sometimes people within the same Country dont use the same phrases. I mean the UK(England) is small compared to others, yet some words are unheard of from region to region. I find it fasinating.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I've heard 'flanneling' before, not sure where. I think I thought it meant time-wasting gossip.

 

[RabbitLuvr]

When I hear flannel I think 'facecloth'. May be a regional thing.

Is gobsmacked not used in the US. Sure Ive heard it on some shows?

I've heard gobsmacked occasionally in the US, but I don't think it's common.

In the US, 'flannel' is a particular type of fabric. (Wash cloths are not made of flannel, they're made of terry cloth. Plaid shirts and toasty pajamas are made of flannel.)

 

[Moll Flanders]

I've heard the expression "A load of old flannel" used by older people and it means talking rubbish basically or trying to flatter someone by lying.

 

[Alice-Bee]

^Yes! Thats what I was trying to remember. I knew Id heard it somewhere. Talking rubbish.
Or being flannel faced...like a bit stuck up I think.

I know flannel is a type of material, washclothes arent made of flannel here, theyre the same as towels but perhaps just regionally, ive heard them called flannels.

 

[Amy SF]

gobsmacked is definitely not a word used here in the US.

 

[ledboots]

gobsmacked is definitely not a word used here in the US.

Imma gonna start using it.
I am gobsmacked that the green beans are so good in my work cafeteria. And vegan.

 

[Alice-Bee]

Turn it round and its a threat, "Shut up or Ill smack you in the gob"