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We’ve come across a fun British English/EU English Translation chart. Basically what the British say and what they really mean. It’s hilarious.
Hat tip to Anglophenia for the discovery.
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“You must come for dinner” operates precisely the same way in the American South. I found it disconcerting when I lived there–in NYC, where I was raised, if you said it, you meant it–and I find it disconcerting here in the UK.
I am totally English and when I say “you must come to dinner” I mean it!!
Our English friend says:
“taking the piss” and he eats at the “cob” shop.
What do those mean?? lol
“Taking the Piss” means making fun of someone/something – we also say “taking the mickey”.
Have never heard “eats at the cob shop” (I live in Somerset), but a person can be described as “having a cob on” when they are in a bad mood.
Cob is one of the most horrendous names for a sandwich, can’t remember where it comes from, possibly south Yorkshire / Derbyshire / nottinghamshire – it’s rubbish though.
Not for the people who come from or live there.
A ‘cob’ actually refers to the type/shape of the bread roll.
What you chose to put in it is up to you.
If you simply have trouble with the terminology, perhaps you shouldn’t blame the sandwich, but your own snobbery?
Nah, when us Brits say ‘come to dinner’ we mean it! We just get busy or distracted. On the other hand, we’ve known LOADS who’ve met people from the US whilst travelling, got on like a house on fire, been invited back to stay/dinner/drop in for coffee and find out the hard way that they never intended the invite to be followed through.
these translations are boring.
the real meanings are usually far harsher (and i’ve seen much more entertaining versions on other websites – was this written for a foreign english speaker?).
“that’s not bad” = “i can’t believe you’ve produced such a pile of utter crap.”
“you must come for dinner” = “….but not in this life”
The British have perfected the art of the understatement.
Lovely – yes, I’ve seen other versions (there are even books that claim to translate for Americans/Australians/foreigners).
What about “With all due respect…” It means, no respect whatsoever is due or offered – often used by English trial lawyers when speaking to the Judge.
But every language has its tanktraps.
I know an Englishman who was a roadie for a rock band on tour in New York some years ago. To understand why it’s a miracle he’s still alive, you need to know that in UK English “to bum” means “to borrow/beg” and “a fag” means “a cigarette.”
Yes, he did indeed ask a US roadie if he could borrow a cigarette…
haha this is so true 🙂 We use “that’s not bad” as a compliment most of the time!
so funny!
I must say, that in my country (Argentina) we also use the same sentences…..and the same meanings…..and also people understands what THEY want and that is the SAME that british citizens …..can’t believe the similarity ! love it, and also is my dream to going to live in UK
Wow, I see that “That’s not bad” has a very literal translation from italian where “Niente male” is indeed a compliment. (Some italian fellows could point out that “niente male” would be “that’s not bad AT ALL”, while a simple “Non è male” has a weaker positive force). Then again, american blog on english culture: I’m definetly off topic.