I have been interested in the word "SCARF" as used on American TV, as in "he scarfed down his food", meaning he ate hungrily. I always said "SCOFF" as in "he scoffed down his food", meaning he ate hungrily. Is this because an American, saying "scoff", would sound like an English person saying "scarf" (because of the difference in accent?)
Also - in the news today "Black's lawyer said he sounded SNOTTY and arrogant..." To me, snotty has to do with what comes out of your nose. I would say that the lawyer meant that he sounded SNOOTY, with a long OO, meaning kind of snobbish. Is this an English/American difference?
What do you think? (People with different cultural backgrounds)
2007-03-20 11:57:48 · 9 answers · asked by Rose 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Which side of the Atlantic r u on? I would say (on the English side) That scarfing down your food was just scoffing down yer food, with an american accent. However, 2 b snotty could mean being ignorant or stuck up - whereas being snooty, 2 me, just means being posh or snobby.
2007-03-20 13:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by dajeridoo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a New Zealander... the English we use here is far more similar to UK English than American English.
I, also, have never really heard or used the term 'scarfed'...
But snotty is something we use quite regularly - I suppose in some situations we use it to mean the same as 'snooty', but it is also used to refer to a person who is generally disagreeable, eg a "snotty little brat" may refer to a child who's behaving terribly... either way, while 'scarfed' could be an English/American difference, I'm not so sure about 'snotty'.
2007-03-20 19:19:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wore my SCARF today because it was rather cold but at lunch time I SCOFFED my food down to get some heat in my body. This chap looked across at me with all the the hairs and graces of a SNOTTY little school boy, who does he think he is the ARROGANT little plumb in the mouth boys school snotty nose red nose scarf trodden snotty nose whimp lol (understanding the english language is a masters in the uk - I know that for sure) - but on balance you personally seem to have it sussed out - well done.
2007-03-20 19:06:44 · answer #3 · answered by deep in thought 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all I am not sure where the term "scarf" came from but have heard it plenty and used it myself. Next yes, on the news he very well could have meant snotty, meaning kind of mean or stuck up. Each country could have different uses for words. I once made a comment that someone was crazy, meaning silly, nuts, goofy...someone over heard me and really laid into me about it. Guess we all have different meanings for our language at times.
2007-03-20 19:09:03 · answer #4 · answered by hopetohelpyou 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im american, from the west coast. To SCARF down food means basically to eat it very quickly without pause.
Scoffing (at someone) is an expression of mockery or derisive scorn.
2014-06-19 22:50:49 · answer #5 · answered by lexie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In international English a scarf is something you tie around your neck.
Snoty does mean snooty too but i think its more of a slang.
2007-03-20 19:09:20 · answer #6 · answered by JoE BoY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are right about snooty, but I don't get "scarfed down his food." That makes no sense. "Scoff" doesn't either; to scoff at somebody is to mock them or ridicule their position.
2007-03-20 19:47:58 · answer #7 · answered by supertop 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those words were adopted from you guys and tweaked just a bit so we can have our own individuality
2007-03-20 19:03:13 · answer #8 · answered by amina 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
how best one that i can think of american/english slang is -
'fanny bag' - is it for the females only?
2007-03-20 19:22:44 · answer #9 · answered by bluecow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋