Proper English
- Thread starter prmurat
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I can think of few more, we have the highway code but ride on the road, in the US they ride on the highway.
side walk - footpath
median - central reservation ( without indians )
parking lot - car park
number plate - license plate
We are English but use Imperial gallon, in the US they they use English gallon!!
side walk - footpath
median - central reservation ( without indians )
parking lot - car park
number plate - license plate
We are English but use Imperial gallon, in the US they they use English gallon!!
Sometimes it's more confusing when the same expression is used.
I consider myself to be 'one of the old school' - somewhat traditional in outlook and a shade reactionary, but Americans (particularly on eBay) seem to use 'old skool' (sic) as shorthand for any sort of impractical visual abortion :? Where does that usage of the expression come from ?
I consider myself to be 'one of the old school' - somewhat traditional in outlook and a shade reactionary, but Americans (particularly on eBay) seem to use 'old skool' (sic) as shorthand for any sort of impractical visual abortion :? Where does that usage of the expression come from ?
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Madnorton said:
Not any more we don't! When did you last buy petrol by the gallon in the UK? :wink:
Madnorton said:
I think they actually call it a US gallon, but it is an equivalent measure to the old pre-Imperial English wine gallon.
Madnorton said:
"Sidewalk" is more correctly a "Pavement" in UK terminology I think, as a "footpath" wouldn't necessarily have to be either paved or be a roadside path.
Some old pumps that we still use are still rated in gallons, submarines were ( as the last imperial one paid off last week ) ballasted in gallons.
As for footpath, it has never been called a pavement by the local council who I'm convinced own the one outside my property but deny all knowledge off owning it and can neither tell me if I own it or someone else does!! It took 6 months for Hampshire county council to confirm to that the local council they were legally responsible for the road only on their behalf.
One thing I have never noticed is how tyre (tire) sizes are shown - are they the same as ours.
As for footpath, it has never been called a pavement by the local council who I'm convinced own the one outside my property but deny all knowledge off owning it and can neither tell me if I own it or someone else does!! It took 6 months for Hampshire county council to confirm to that the local council they were legally responsible for the road only on their behalf.
One thing I have never noticed is how tyre (tire) sizes are shown - are they the same as ours.
I suspect that, around NW Washington, there has been an English person helping with advertising. In Bellingham, there's a hamburger place called "Burger Me".
A recent campaign by a purveyor of what the Brits call "turf" (Pre-grown grass in its own soil) but what is called "sod" around here, used the slogan "Putting in a lawn? Don't seed it, sod it."
A recent campaign by a purveyor of what the Brits call "turf" (Pre-grown grass in its own soil) but what is called "sod" around here, used the slogan "Putting in a lawn? Don't seed it, sod it."
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I don't know if its in the British manuals, but the front of my shop manual has a section titled 'Glossary of Part Names and Alternatives' which gives the name for a part, then some synonyms.
For some, its the name I would normally use. For others, one of the synonyms seems more appropriate. For example, I would normally call it a 'muffler' rather than a 'silencer' or 'expansion box'
On my 2006 Speed Triple, the instrument cluster can be toggled through several screens, where information like speed, average speed, time elapsed, and fuel consumption are displayed. It can also be set to display in KPH/Liters, Miles/Gallons, and Miles/Imp. Gallons. At first, I thought I was getting fantastic mileage, only to realize the clocks had been set to Imperial. Instant 20% reduction in mileage.
Apparently, Imperial gallons are still used somewhere.
Can one still get bitter by the Imperial pint?
For some, its the name I would normally use. For others, one of the synonyms seems more appropriate. For example, I would normally call it a 'muffler' rather than a 'silencer' or 'expansion box'
On my 2006 Speed Triple, the instrument cluster can be toggled through several screens, where information like speed, average speed, time elapsed, and fuel consumption are displayed. It can also be set to display in KPH/Liters, Miles/Gallons, and Miles/Imp. Gallons. At first, I thought I was getting fantastic mileage, only to realize the clocks had been set to Imperial. Instant 20% reduction in mileage.
Apparently, Imperial gallons are still used somewhere.
Can one still get bitter by the Imperial pint?
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BillT said:
In the UK, beer is still sold in "pint" glasses, and road distances are still measured in miles, but petrol is sold by the litre, so we have the odd situation where fuel consumption is now often measured by Miles/Litres.
Hortons Norton
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Shag???
I remember at the time of metrication in the UK, the powers that be decided there'd be a serios risk of rioting if they did away with the boozers' pint. It was redefined as a certain proportion of a litre/liter. The expense of changing every road sign in the UK to read in Km and kph was so gigantic, they redefined the mile as a function of the kilometer and lef the signs alone.
I also remember a big fuss over the original term "metrification" rather than "metrication" on the basis there was no "if" about it!
I don't remember if folks still "fathom" things out, or has that gone metric too?
I also remember a big fuss over the original term "metrification" rather than "metrication" on the basis there was no "if" about it!
I don't remember if folks still "fathom" things out, or has that gone metric too?
Hortons Norton
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I remember watching a documentary on British spies once that had a guy named Austin, If my memory serves me correct he often used the code word "shag" around the ladies quite often. I was just wondering if you guys across the pond knew what that meant?
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Hortons Norton said:
Oh yes, we do!
"Shag" is a common slang term for sexual intercourse in the UK? :wink: It's also a type of carpet!
http://www.effingpot.com/
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