Are there any Americans out there that don't understand slang terms used by us Brits?

Question

What are they?

Answer 1

wen i lived in america i used the term pissed (meaning drunk) a lot cos i was young and wild, it was ages before someone told me that they all thought i was angry all the time!! lol

Answer 2

There are some of us "Brits" that don't understand slang terms used by other Brits without confusing the Americans!! lol

Answer 3

This is why we should all try to avoid slang as much as possible on the net, and strive to make ourselves clear. We don't want to be, as Bernard Shaw said, two nations divided by a common language. For example, if there are a hundred slang terms to describe drunk or angry on both sides of the Atlantic, why don't we all just say "drunk" or "angry"? Cheerio, mates. In America, that might mean oat cereal sexual partners, or it may mean nothing, eh?

Answer 4

I'm American and have lived here in the UK for over 12 years now. The thing that stands out most in my mind when I first came over was the difference in slang. Most of the time, hearing it in the context in which it was used helped me to understand what was being said.

It was always funny when our slang over-lapped, used the same words but with different meanings. The one that stands out in my mind most was, while living in uni dorms, when a British friend said that she would "knock me up" in the morning to go down to breakfast. I told her she would find that difficult, as in the States that means she would be trying to get me pregnant! :o)

Answer 5

certain, comprehend maximum of those from watching television, in the different case many times make an huge wager making use of context clues. 'Having interesting', i did not imagine that become purely to the united kingdom because that is not any longer uncommon the following and anybody ought to comprehend what it ability, lad, lass, garbage, those 3 words aren't any further uncommon in Hawaii, fiver and tener are self explanatory in spite of the undeniable fact that we do not use them the following. 'pricey' is likewise used informally the following as are 'sweety', 'honey'. some human beings do say bloody (some thing, many times a swear note) yet no longer bloody hell. we are saying "were you born in a barn" to informally say "the position are your manners" or "freshen up after your self", that is not any longer uncommon, a minimum of my grandparents stated it to me frequently at the same time as i become little. I did meet a guy from the united kingdom who did not comprehend what a undergo claw become, now particularly how do you persons stay with out such delicious nutrition, and my different pal, did not comprehend what smores were (ahemmm James) i imagine if I ever visit the united kingdom i'll make all my associates PB&J sandwiches with smores and undergo claws, we will all have cavities after we are finished lol :)

Answer 6

There are so many different dialects in this country, most people in Britain'll get confused by some of them. When I say dialect, I don't just mean accent, they use huge amounts of different words and everything, some of them are almost like their own languages.

I'm fine with a lot of slang, but the Scotch and Yorkshire dialects and accents, and indeed most northern dialects, accents and slang, are beyond me. On the other hand, Cockney I don't find that bad.

Answer 7

Ooooo...I loove British accents!
That accent coupled with the slang is brilliant. Seriously.
Every time I'm in London I always end up wishing I was born in the UK, just so I could talk like that.
And don't even get me started about British boys - yum!

Answer 8

To begin, I am a 'brit' and what did you mean by slang terms. As in cockney rhyming slang (used in London) such as 'bees and honey'-money and 'apples and pears'-stairs. It's just part of culture.

Answer 9

I live in Yorkshire and don't understand what half of the Londoners, Geordie's or Brummies are saying, our slang is off the scale in this country but still funny.

Answer 10

I doubt it as we have imported all the slang and the English language had become bastardised over the years from the USA to here.

Answer 11

Yeah, the whole rhyming slang thing is beyond me.

Like Frog and Toad road, or Ginger beers Queers...

Please explain.