Americanisms...is it just me that finds them irritating?

ALIBOBSY

This_Year wrote: »

It's not just you. I hate "do the math" or hearing a customer in a coffee shop asking "can I get...?" plus I'm sure that I will think of plenty more later!

My OH would love you, that drives him crazy in shops alongside insincere "have a good day".

Another one is the way people miss off the ends of words especially "ly". It went bad-no it went badly.

Plus sayings like "my bad" and "talk to the hand". I do find myself insisting the kids say biscuits not cookies and little finger not pinkie :rotfl:.

The worst thing was when DS came home with a word being classed as spelt wrong. I was shocked to find "doughnuts" CORRECTED by the teacher to "donuts".

Then again "English" has always been an evolving language and on the whole the American terms and spellings are often easier and make more sense so I can see why some people just let it slide.

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

Orlando_Virgin wrote: »

When people call their mates "dude or "bro"

The overusage of awesome and "no way"

ROFL this has reminded me of a really good mate in the 70's when we were growing up, lovely lad and good mate. But he insisted on answering the phone with "yo" and calling ev1-even us girls "dude" :rotfl:.

Ali x

MrsAtobe

alias*alibi wrote: »

I've just remembered another very annoying one when you're at a restaurant. They call cutlery 'silverware' and have no idea what you are talking about if you ask for cutlery! And never ask for a cider; you end up getting handed a can of soda! That was an interesting conversation in Newark airport...

That was also an interesting conversation the day after a night in the pub with a naive tee-total American, who was VERY hungover

dacouch

Can we teach the Americans to start saying "Innit" I would find it highly amusing

ALIBOBSY

Lucy_Lastic wrote: »

I'm glad I'm not a waitress (for a number of reasons) because if a customer said "can I get......?" I would just have to say, "no it's OK, I'll get it, it's my job" :rotfl:

Do you think I would get a blank look?

That's what hubbie always says to me when he hears people say "can I get" lol and "no, but you can have or ask for"

Ali x

jm2926

The most annoying word for me is "lighted". What happened to "lit" ?

I'd like to know the answer to this as even Brittish literature is using "lighted" and derivatives and I'm not sure when it appeared.


Hmm, seems Hemingway used it in 1933, but I was definitely taught "lit"at school. Just my teacher?

Candy53

Or: "I can't be ar*ed."
:rotfl:


Candy

piglet74

I hate the overuse of "awesome".. I imagine the Great Barrier Reef may be awesome, Niagara Falls too.. But my hair is not awesome, nor my clothes or shoes, that song is not awesome, it is everywhere!!

i also don't like when people think Scottish and English is the same thing, and I HATE it when people think Irish and English is the same thing, eg "are you English".. "No, I'm Irish".."Same thing".. Makes my blood boil!

I find Fanny pack really funny!

My friend does laugh at my saying (usually via email) "mummy", she says (types) "mommy", we are both Irish and we both pronounce it the same way, just type it different,

I didn't realise jumping jacks was a USA thing?

Loz01

If kids come out with a lot of Americanisms then its probably because of the extremely poor programmes they watch on TV - my niece watches all sorts of carp like 'Sonny With A Chance', 'Suite Life on Deck' and 'Austin and Ally' _pale_

gravitytolls

pollypenny wrote: »

'Can I get' annoys the hell out of me, too!

Another one is the increasing use of 'bring', instead of 'take'.

I remember a poster asking 'what shall I bring to university?'

Well , as those you are asking are not there, it should be What shall I take .......'

I did too, until I heard my 17 year old son say to the girl in McDonalds 'Can I get,,,,your number?'

It was so corny and so sweet.