Why do Americans say... ?

Question

Why do American's insist on using metaphors like "football field" when describing distance, even worse, "three football fields". Who has seen three football fields, end to end?
And "War zone" to describe a storm's damage? How many Americans have actually seen a war zone, everyone has seen a storm damage.
One evening, on an American channel, I heard of a battle-field being described as looking like it had been struck by a tornado.
Now that is taking it too far.
STOP THIS DAMNED METAPHORICAL SPEAKING!
Any comments?

Well bubbujones, you idiot, three football fields would be 300 yards, not 300 feet.

Wee Ninja, you can stick your head up your A r s e.

SalKnows, right back at you.

And justin, you're being successful at that. Especially the English speaking countries.

Oh Brown Eyes, say 900 feet.

andrepb22, you f***ing idiot. Stay south of my border, you pr*ck.

Swanny? Call me massah.

VelvetBlonde,
Because in America, it is easier for us to "visulaize" those kind of things, rather than trying to compute something we havent ever seen. Anyway, git off my back! I have been feeling like a dawgg today!!!...and I feel like I could eat a horse

Just make sure those parts you eat are the masculine parts.

Joy, you're plain stupid.

HelloJuicy22. Two football fields do NOT equal 60 kilometers. Go back to grade three.

CowBoyDoc, you're talking about uneducated people. Get real.

pschroeter,, ahve you ever walked 1000 feet? Picture that. Three American football fields equal 900 feet, Dummy.

blueruble, you've described yourself perfectly.

Answer 1

Due to our educational system, we are not encouraged to think for ourselves, much less be creative about it. As an English professor, I see so much student writing filled with cliches. It's easier to teach them to change spelling than change how they use language.

Answer 2

This is too funny...

Two answers described the 3 football field length as 300 feet and 360 yards!

I guess that's why we speak this way - we don't know what the heck we're saying (especially on Yahoo Answers)

I do beg to differ though, its not metaphores as much as repeating the inane crap we hear on TV.

Orrrrr maybe I'm wrong and a football field is only 100 feet or is it 120 yards? Ahhh, what the heck, I think I'll go watch some TV...

Answer 3

What seams to be the problem/ Do you have a hard time understanding English?
A foot ball field, I and everyone I know how far that is or approximately.
In the old days it was "A see" described as "as far as one could see in that direction" Or down the road as far as one could see.

A ton, so, you can't lift a ton and I'm sure no one is going to but, what you can't lift can be-described as "as heavy as a ton" so what? it's a good way to descried something I think.

By the way if your from England, you all over there have the worst metaphorical way of describing anything in a normal life span as to leave the listener in total loss of what was said.
This and your cockney accents leaves one to wonder if your speaking English at all so, don't look down your nose at us Pal, look in the mirror.

Answer 4

Most Americans can picture a football in their head because of how popular the sport is. Can you picture 1000 feet in your head? I can't and that's about 3 football fields in length.

I sort of agree with you about war zone. All the images of war zones I've seen look more like the moon to me. Pock marked and more fire damage. War zone sounds dramatic and causes a more visceral response in the listener.

Answer 5

Yeah, good point. Tornado better metaphor for battle field than 'tomato', though.


Right now, however, I'm watching Minneapolis bridge collapse coverage and it looks as if that stone arch walking bridge in the background is only about a nine-iron from the 135W.

Answer 6

umm this is kinda weird and i dont really understand your question; but ill do my best to answer!!

well here in america we use alot of familar things to describe things we arent really familar with. its just easier to get the full picture. and even though a battle field doesnt really compare to a tornado; it just gives people a visual affect of what it kinda looks like.

and as far as the football thing goes; well its just easier to comprehend the distance. (i dont really now the approximate measure of a football field but ill just guess) we say if someone says a distance of 60 kilometers; most people dont know how much that is but if someone says its the lenght of 2 football fields; thats much easier to picture. cus everyone in america has probably seen a football.

sorry did my best to answer; hope this helps!!

Answer 7

Because in America, it is easier for us to "visulaize" those kind of things, rather than trying to compute something we havent ever seen. Anyway, git off my back! I have been feeling like a dawgg today!!!...and I feel like I could eat a horse!!!

Answer 8

You can imagine a football field and then imagine it 3 times but it's harder to imagine 360 yards. And we see a war zone every day on TV.. When a tornado hits, it often looks like a war zone.

GET OVER IT OR QUIT WATCHING 'AMERICAN TV'

JOY

Answer 9

Ummmmm.......yeah. I have one.

Why do you give a sh*t how Americans talk? When Americans like myself talk, we don't have you in mind. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but we're not talking to you.

So in that regards, you can stop listening. In fact, since it pisses you off so much, it's probably a good idea that you don't listen.

Answer 10

sterio type, if you visit america we dont ALWAYS measure things with football fields, we dont say warzone alot, here we most likely would say 28,000 miles or just say 300 yards.
even though its on tv doesnt mean its true.