Anti Americans... The UK.

[Komeuppance]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796

Americanisms: 50 of your most noted examples

 

The Magazine's recent piece on Americanisms entering the language in the UK prompted thousands of you to e-mail examples.

 

Some are useful, while some seem truly unnecessary, argued Matthew Engel in the article. Here are 50 of the most e-mailed.

 

1. When people ask for something, I often hear: "Can I get a..." It infuriates me. It's not New York. It's not the 90s. You're not in Central Perk with the rest of the Friends. Really." Steve, Rossendale, Lancashire

 

2. The next time someone tells you something is the "least worst option", tell them that their most best option is learning grammar. Mike Ayres, Bodmin, Cornwall

 

3. The phrase I've watched seep into the language (especially with broadcasters) is "two-time" and "three-time". Have the words double, triple etc, been totally lost? Grammatically it makes no sense, and is even worse when spoken. My pulse rises every time I hear or see it. Which is not healthy as it's almost every day now. Argh! D Rochelle, Bath

 

4. Using 24/7 rather than "24 hours, 7 days a week" or even just plain "all day, every day". Simon Ball, Worcester

 

5. The one I can't stand is "deplane", meaning to disembark an aircraft, used in the phrase "you will be able to deplane momentarily". TykeIntheHague, Den Haag, Holland

 

6. To "wait on" instead of "wait for" when you're not a waiter - once read a friend's comment about being in a station waiting on a train. For him, the train had yet to arrive - I would have thought rather that it had got stuck at the station with the friend on board. T Balinski, Raglan, New Zealand

 

7. "It is what it is". Pity us. Michael Knapp, Chicago, US

 

8. Dare I even mention the fanny pack? Lisa, Red Deer, Canada

 

9. "Touch base" - it makes me cringe no end. Chris, UK

 

10. Is "physicality" a real word? Curtis, US

 

11. Transportation. What's wrong with transport? Greg Porter, Hercules, CA, US

 

12. The word I hate to hear is "leverage". Pronounced lev-er-ig rather than lee-ver -ig. It seems to pop up in all aspects of work. And its meaning seems to have changed to "value added". Gareth Wilkins, Leicester

 

13. Does nobody celebrate a birthday anymore, must we all "turn" 12 or 21 or 40? Even the Duke of Edinburgh was universally described as "turning" 90 last month. When did this begin? I quite like the phrase in itself, but it seems to have obliterated all other ways of speaking about birthdays. Michael McAndrew, Swindon

 

14. I caught myself saying "shopping cart" instead of shopping trolley today and was thoroughly disgusted with myself. I've never lived nor been to the US either. Graham Nicholson, Glasgow

 

15. What kind of word is "gotten"? It makes me shudder. Julie Marrs, Warrington

 

16. "I'm good" for "I'm well". That'll do for a start. Mike, Bridgend, Wales

 

17. "Bangs" for a fringe of the hair. Philip Hall, Nottingham

 

18. Take-out rather than takeaway! Simon Ball, Worcester

 

19. I enjoy Americanisms. I suspect even some Americans use them in a tongue-in-cheek manner? "That statement was the height of ridiculosity". Bob, Edinburgh

 

20. "A half hour" instead of "half an hour". EJB, Devon

 

21. A "heads up". For example, as in a business meeting. Lets do a "heads up" on this issue. I have never been sure of the meaning. R Haworth, Marlborough

 

22. Train station. My teeth are on edge every time I hear it. Who started it? Have they been punished? Chris Capewell, Queens Park, London

 

23. To put a list into alphabetical order is to "alphabetize it" - horrid! Chris Fackrell, York

 

24. People that say "my bad" after a mistake. I don't know how anything could be as annoying or lazy as that. Simon Williamson, Lymington, Hampshire

 

25. "Normalcy" instead of "normality" really irritates me. Tom Gabbutt, Huddersfield

 

26. As an expat living in New Orleans, it is a very long list but "burglarize" is currently the word that I most dislike. Simon, New Orleans

 

27. "Oftentimes" just makes me shiver with annoyance. Fortunately I've not noticed it over here yet. John, London

 

28. Eaterie. To use a prevalent phrase, oh my gaad! Alastair, Maidstone (now in Athens, Ohio)

 

29. I'm a Brit living in New York. The one that always gets me is the American need to use the word bi-weekly when fortnightly would suffice just fine. Ami Grewal, New York

 

30. I hate "alternate" for "alternative". I don't like this as they are two distinct words, both have distinct meanings and it's useful to have both. Using alternate for alternative deprives us of a word. Catherine, London

 

31. "Hike" a price. Does that mean people who do that are hikers? No, hikers are ramblers! M Holloway, Accrington

 

32. Going forward? If I do I shall collide with my keyboard. Ric Allen, Matlock

 

33. I hate the word "deliverable". Used by management consultants for something that they will "deliver" instead of a report. Joseph Wall, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire

 

34. The most annoying Americanism is "a million and a half" when it is clearly one and a half million! A million and a half is 1,000,000.5 where one and a half million is 1,500,000. Gordon Brown, Coventry

 

35. "Reach out to" when the correct word is "ask". For example: "I will reach out to Kevin and let you know if that timing is convenient". Reach out? Is Kevin stuck in quicksand? Is he teetering on the edge of a cliff? Can't we just ask him? Nerina, London

 

36. Surely the most irritating is: "You do the Math." Math? It's MATHS. Michael Zealey, London

 

37. I hate the fact I now have to order a "regular Americano". What ever happened to a medium sized coffee? Marcus Edwards, Hurst Green

 

38. My worst horror is expiration, as in "expiration date". Whatever happened to expiry? Christina Vakomies, London

 

39. My favourite one was where Americans claimed their family were "Scotch-Irish". This of course it totally inaccurate, as even if it were possible, it would be "Scots" not "Scotch", which as I pointed out is a drink. James, Somerset

 

40.I am increasingly hearing the phrase "that'll learn you" - when the English (and more correct) version was always "that'll teach you". What a ridiculous phrase! Tabitha, London

 

41. I really hate the phrase: "Where's it at?" This is not more efficient or informative than "where is it?" It just sounds grotesque and is immensely irritating. Adam, London

 

42. Period instead of full stop. Stuart Oliver, Sunderland

 

43. My pet hate is "winningest", used in the context "Michael Schumacher is the winningest driver of all time". I can feel the rage rising even using it here. Gayle, Nottingham

 

44. My brother now uses the term "season" for a TV series. Hideous. D Henderson, Edinburgh

 

45. Having an "issue" instead of a "problem". John, Leicester

 

46. I hear more and more people pronouncing the letter Z as "zee". Not happy about it! Ross, London

 

47. To "medal" instead of to win a medal. Sets my teeth on edge with a vengeance. Helen, Martock, Somerset

 

48. "I got it for free" is a pet hate. You got it "free" not "for free". You don't get something cheap and say you got it "for cheap" do you? Mark Jones, Plymouth

 

49. "Turn that off already". Oh dear. Darren, Munich

 

50. "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less" has to be the worst. Opposite meaning of what they're trying to say. Jonathan, Birmingham

 

Are the British really that ignorant??

 

-Robert

[Killtodie]

Nothing wrong with a fanny pack, Chuck Norris wears one.

[BAD]

Are the British really that ignorant??

 

-Robert

We already kicked their tails in WWII. Cheer-i-o, let's do it again!

[BOHO]

We already kicked their tails in WWII. Cheer-i-o, let's do it again!

 

What???

[ucw458]

We already kicked their tails in WWII. Cheer-i-o, let's do it again!

 

 

I know that's a quote from something but I can't remember.

 

 

Now I remember,... BEERFEST lol

Edited July 21, 2011 by ucw458

[Killtodie]

Beerfest

[carguygibby]

Are the British really that ignorant??

 

-Robert

That would be No Mr. Pantz!

Toady, fanny is a v@gina in Britain, so what does that say about Chuck Norris? :-P

Edited July 21, 2011 by carguygibby

[BrazilBoy]

That would be No Mr. Pantz!

Toady, fanny is a v@gina in Britain, so what does that say about Chuck Norris? :-P

That he takes a portable version with him where ever he goes incase of an emergency..

[JohnnyWadd]

It is what it is.#7. I agree.

[carguygibby]

It is what it is.#7. I agree.

Let's not forget 'more funner' and 'funnest'.

[euphoria]

Officially most of them are correct with there messages. American schools do not teach proper English which the Brtis speak, which our country was founded with, we are taught American English. It's like comparing our Imperial measuring system to there metric, they are two completely different things. Our education system is terrible compared to the UKs system. As for some of the other comments, sorry UK but we are American and we have our own swag.

[Blue]

Officially most of them are correct with there messages. American schools do not teach proper English which the Brtis speak, which our country was founded with, we are taught American English. It's like comparing our Imperial measuring system to there metric, they are two completely different things. Our education system is terrible compared to the UKs system. As for some of the other comments, sorry UK but we are American and we have our own swag.

Agreed. American Public schools are horrid.

[BrazilBoy]

Atleast we have better teeth...

[marso]

I hate the term "Take a (enter your own excrement)" Are you taking it to the store? Is it in your pocket? I always leave mine for those people to take.

[Scotty Dont]

So when is the Uk gunna start bashing Austrailia or spain bash the south americas? Oh what a'boot france and those maple leafs up north!

[Metric-man]

"YOU SAY POTATOE I SAY POTATO YOU SAY TOMATOE I SAY TOMATO LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF!"

 

WE DID IN 1776! WE SAYED THEIR ARESES IN 45 I DON'T KNOW WHY WE KEEP GOING BACK IT MUST BE THAT DAMN MUSIC!!!!

[greatscot72]

Like Gibby i grew up over there, maybe it's because i've been here for a while that some of these terms don't really bother me, and to be honest in can't really remember if they did.

But using Gibby's example of 'fanny' , i can remember being extremely confused the first winter i lived here when i was told to warm my 'fanny' by the fire. WHAT i don't have one of those.

I suppose there would be a few Brits dissapointed in me now, i do use some of those terms and saying's

[Guest]

Some of those terms really bother me as well. For exmaple "can I" isntead of "may I".

[patra_is_here]

I recently took a linguistics class, and ultimately, there is no "wrong" use of language. The language is alive and it's constantly being modified through use. As long as the information is being communicated properly to it's intended recipient than you can consider the language successful.

 

even things like ebonics and pigeon are 'incorrect' in analysis against proper english, but are successful as their own languages. they have rules, structure and grammar, and while different than english, the language can still succeed in communicating to others who speak the language.

 

The article, at best, is just a chance for british english speakers to feel they are still 'correct', rant and complain, and have a laugh.

 

but, really, their complaints are fairly empty from the standpoint of the nature of language.

[Ratmtattat]

Eh, this is just some humour (see what I did?).

 

We do the same thing in America just from the different colloquialisms that are prevalent in different regions. In Texas, we are always "fixin' to" do something. Seriously, almost every time I've gone out of state I've had people break their necks in confusion at the phrase because it sounds so out of place to them. Oh, and hey, I refer to it as a "feeder" whereas most people call it a "frontage road."

[spoolinturbo]

the UK has always taken pride in their communication and "proper english" where as we americans take pride in making communication unique to each person and region. a new yorker taking a trip to the bayou in lousiana wont understand a damn thing lol.

 

different strokes for different folks!

[polarisman14]

Sounds to me like a large group of sexually frustrated people.

 

Although I do consider myself above average when it comes to grammatical and spelling-related stuff, you have to let some things go. Not everyone is a wordsmith and some would rather concern themselves with doing stuff rather than sounding like they know. Some of the smartest people I've met are ones that use poor grammar and struggle with spelling.

[carguygibby]

the UK has always taken pride in their communication and "proper english" where as we americans take pride in making communication unique to each person and region. a new yorker taking a trip to the bayou in lousiana wont understand a damn thing lol.

 

different strokes for different folks!

 

Sorry to use you as an example my friend but here is something else that drives me nuts here in the USA. When did you all stop using capital letters?

 

 

The UK has always taken pride in their communication and "proper English" where as we Americans take pride in making communication unique to each person and region. A New Yorker taking a trip to the bayou in Lousiana won't understand a damn thing lol.

 

Different strokes for different folks!

[spoolinturbo]

Sorry to use you as an example my friend but here is something else that drives me nuts here in the USA. When did you all stop using capital letters?

 

 

The UK has always taken pride in their communication and "proper English" where as we Americans take pride in making communication unique to each person and region. A New Yorker taking a trip to the bayou in Lousiana won't understand a damn thing lol.

 

Different strokes for different folks!

 

i dont use capital letters unless im writing something in a formal format, i dont see a need to use them for any other reason.

[carguygibby]

i dont use capital letters unless im writing something in a formal format, i dont see a need to use them for any other reason.

 

Hoo boy.

Come on man, it takes nano seconds on the shift button to put in the appropriate capital letters formal or not.

I don't use capital letters unless I'm writing something in a formal format, I don't see a need to use them for any other reason.

Boom ! Done!

Jus' sayin'!

Edited July 22, 2011 by carguygibby