Colloquialisms

[StumpyDave]

I grew up in London.  Although Dick Van Dyke's accent in Mary Poppins and Cockney Rhyming Slang aren't quite the norm, there's a lot of odd phrases that do get used regularly.  Some are now so old that a lot of people aren't aware of the original derivation. 

One phrase that doesn't cross the Atlantic well is "bum a fag" which actually means to scrounge a cigarette.

A local greeting where I live in Lincolnshire is "Now then".
That always confuses me.  Do you mean "now" or "then"?  It surely can't be both at the same time?

[schro]

I grew up in London.  Although Dick Van Dyke's accent in Mary Poppins and Cockney Rhyming Slang aren't quite the norm, there's a lot of odd phrases that do get used regularly.  Some are now so old that a lot of people aren't aware of the original derivation. 

One phrase that doesn't cross the Atlantic well is "bum a fag" which actually means to scrounge a cigarette.

A local greeting where I live in Lincolnshire is "Now then".
That always confuses me.  Do you mean "now" or "then"?  It surely can't be both at the same time?

Funny you mention the "bum a fag", Dave. I heard that phrase first hand when I went to Scotland. I heard it said (in all places) IN A HOSPITAL in Troon. My brother was having circulatory problems after the trans-atlantic flight. After our first round of golf, we admitted him to the hospital. One of the guys in the wing asked the nurse if he could bum a fag.

Hopefully smoking has since been banned in Scottish hospitals.

[The Scottish Ambassador]

I grew up in London.  Although Dick Van Dyke's accent in Mary Poppins and Cockney Rhyming Slang aren't quite the norm, there's a lot of odd phrases that do get used regularly.  Some are now so old that a lot of people aren't aware of the original derivation. 

One phrase that doesn't cross the Atlantic well is "bum a fag" which actually means to scrounge a cigarette.

A local greeting where I live in Lincolnshire is "Now then".
That always confuses me.  Do you mean "now" or "then"?  It surely can't be both at the same time?

Funny you mention the "bum a fag", Dave. I heard that phrase first hand when I went to Scotland. I heard it said (in all places) IN A HOSPITAL in Troon. My brother was having circulatory problems after the trans-atlantic flight. After our first round of golf, we admitted him to the hospital. One of the guys in the wing asked the nurse if he could bum a fag.

Hopefully smoking has since been banned in Scottish hospitals.

Smoking has now been banned in all public buildings in Scotland. They now do it outside so you have to walk through a cloud of reek from the smokers standing outside the building rather than breathe it in when you get inside 

[DCdome]

I grew up in Kentucky.  In the hill country there and probably in other parts of Appalachia the word "hateful" is used to describe something that is difficult or tough to use.  Once, when I was in the area and wanted to use the men's room at a gas station, I was given the key with the warning that "the lock is hateful."

[Sooner Steve]

One of my favorites is "I gotta see a man about a dog" which means I need to urinate.  Don't ask me why.

[Rob]

going to 'water the horses' has a similar meaning

We also say 'he couldnt stop a pig in an entry' meaning he (or she) has bandy legs. and the phrase 'going around the Wrekin' (a hill in Shropshire) meaning going out of your way or on a roundabout route to get somewhere.

[Papa Don]

Since I speak in Texan,  the only thing that comes to mind " Ima fixxin to do (whatever)" and of course Howdo for hello.

[Mike]

I was watching a hunting show this morning and there was a southern guy that said something that included "usetacould" and I dont know what it means. Is it like "I used to be able to"?

[Alexander215]

I grew up in Hants County, some of ours: [had to get my brother to remember all these]

“What you don’t think"
“Get er’ Done"
“You better F*uckin’ Relax"
“Right Rough"
“Giv’er"
“Up the road, down the shore" [you guys wouldn't know this one up the road, is anywhere not near your place your traveling to, but down the shore means togo literally down the shore, along the Bay of Fundy]
"F*uckin' Spinner"
"Whaaaa"
"Ol' trout"
"Shore 215"
"Back Er Up & Hook Er!"
"Rev Er Up & Dump It!"
"Get Yer Petrodactyl Outta My Friggin Yard!"
“Poplar Grove”
“Hold my beer, I'm puttin' 'er in fourth”
"Romp er and stomp er Just dont swamp er"
"Get the f**k outta that!"
"Drop er down and hold er like you love er"
“What nothing”
"I Wouldn't Mind Puttin The Blocks To Her"
"Meet me down bottom!"
"Not even a possibility"
"Right good"
"Got in a gow"
"Avant tu taker off, please close the lights!"
"Holy Jesus Jumped up f**k"
"I never heard tell of that"
"We're off like a herd of turtles"
"You got er pontiac"
"Heck yes"

[GASlick]

Down here in the south, we have many, many.....

geetyet? - Did you eat yet?
yonder - anywhere other than where you are. usually used when giving directions, also pronounced "yonda"
fixin' - getting ready to do something
to up! - literally this is "tore up" meaning drunk
Every soft drink is a Coke.  If you ask for a Coke in GA, they will ask you what kind you want
up the road - going to see someone
headin' to the house - going home

[wpruitt]

I was watching a hunting show this morning and there was a southern guy that said something that included "usetacould" and I dont know what it means. Is it like "I used to be able to"?

You said I could ?