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I keep hearing people whose accent is clearly north American using "bum" to mean backside. I'd always thought this was just a British/Australian/possibly Canadian thing.

Do US people do it too, or is it just Canadians? Peter does it in Family Guy once, and I'd assume he's not meant to be Canadian.

2007-03-10 05:18:56 · 13 answers · asked by garik 5 in Society & Culture Languages

Most people seem to say no. So what's up with Peter Griffin?

2007-03-10 05:48:16 · update #1

13 answers

In "Hearts In Atlantis", Stephen King makes reference in the first section of the book to Bobby glimpsing his mother's "bare bum" in the shower. Stephen King is from Maine and, if I remember correctly, "Bobby" was from Connecticut.

I read the book whilst staying with friends in Boston a few years ago (I am from the UK) and I recall that, when I pointed this out to my American friends, they admitted it was not a term they themselves used, but did not seem to think it unduly unusual.

2007-03-10 11:39:42 · answer #1 · answered by GrahamH 7 · 2 0

I have heard it often in Canada.

To the best of my knowledge, the only Americans who use the term picked it up because they were outside of the country long enough to pick up colloquialisms.

Geez... I wonder what a UKer would think if he heard an American talk about getting (or giving someone) a "bum steer," eh?
.

2007-03-10 05:27:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

I'm a Canadian living in California and no they do not use the word bum here.

They look at me funny when I say it too!

I, myself think it is a lot more decent to say bum rather than butt. Less abrasive to me. But, hey, that's just me.

2007-03-10 05:24:01 · answer #3 · answered by emaaaazing! 4 · 0 0

in america, bum is usually a homeless, jobless, or just lazy person.

if someone told me, look at that bum, i wouldnt think they were talking about a backside. id think they would be referring to the drunken man in the corner.

2007-03-10 05:28:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

North united statesa.: range or Oven U.ok.: Cooker North united statesa.: Cigarette U.ok.: Fags North united statesa. Elevator U.ok.: carry North united statesa. Make out/Kiss U.ok.: Snog and the lists is going on and one! Peace:)

2016-10-01 21:41:16 · answer #5 · answered by banegas 4 · 0 0

Occasionally, but "butt" is far more common. I think the more exposure you've had to British culture, the more likely you are to use "bum".

2007-03-10 05:22:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Only little kids call it that in the US. A common non-profane word is "butt", or the uncommon "backside."

2007-03-10 05:40:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Not in the south(North America) we call it a tush or butt or behind or another word that will be censored

2007-03-10 05:27:41 · answer #8 · answered by luminous 7 · 0 0

A lot of them actually do.
It's basically just a more polite way of saying my assss.

I personally like to say ... " Bun Buns "

Or cheeks ... for yanno... assss cheeks?

hahaha

hope I helped

2007-03-10 05:30:05 · answer #9 · answered by It's Just me.... Kiwi :) 2 · 1 0

No we don't use that word for backside.

The only time we use bum is to refer to our jobless brother-in-law.

Unless of course we're trying to sound worldly and pretentious.

2007-03-10 05:22:51 · answer #10 · answered by Captain Jack 6 · 3 0

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