Thread: Understanding English at the Olympics (Funny)

Originally Posted by bearisgray

There was an author that seemed to refer to 'dangly bits' - - -

hmmm .... SO MANY terms for the "dangly bits" (including dangly bits!), but two of my favorites are "Wedding tackle" and "Meat and Two Veg".

I got a lot from a Police Video type TV show that I used to watch, like central reservation = median strip
Lay-by = rest area
slip road = exit ramp
dual carriageway = freeway

I always picture carriages driving down it, LOL!

[QUOTE=ptquilts;5397875]dual carriageway = freewayQUOTE]

No ... a dual carriageway is a road that has a central median (like a boulevard). What we call an interstate (or freeway) is called a Motorway in England.


another funny one my husband has used. "Put the wood in the hole" = close the door!!

And then there is the whole cockney (East End) rhyming scheme which seems to be increasing in leaps and bounds - thanks in small part to TV shows like "East Enders" and "TOWIE's" ("The Only Way is Essex" - Englands answer to "Jersey Shore"). I (we) don't know any of the new ones, but some of the old ones are still widely used:

I briefly worked with a British national once, we had great fun discussing the different words...

Togs = swimsuits
torch = flashlight
trolley = shopping cart

And I think biscuits are cookies, aren't they?

yes, DH's uncle was once hosting some young relatives from Australia and told them he would take them to a restaurant for "All you can eat" chicken and biscuits. They were quite confused until they saw the food, and said, "Oh, you mean SCONES!"

This is so much fun to read.