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[Closed] Which americanisms would you like to see erased from the english language?

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[#6081235]

I'll start.

Fanny pack.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 8:54 pm
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"Can I get"


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 8:58 pm
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If you're going to moan about language, at least make an effort.

Americanisms and English language.

Capital letters, you see?


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 8:59 pm
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Did you know that "okay" is an Americanism. And "hello".


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:01 pm
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All of them.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:02 pm
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"Can I get"

closely followed by:

"I'll take that with..."

You uneducated, impolite, imperialist slime!


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:03 pm
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As above all of them.

Was reading LOTR the other month it was so enjoyable to read something written in pure English without a single Americanism or cliche


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:05 pm
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Movies.

Awesome (in THAT context).


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:06 pm
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+1 "can I get" init


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:08 pm
 DezB
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Every single bloody one!
Number 1:"Heads up" (used regularly on stw!)

"Step up to the plate"
etc etc

And AND AND! DID ANYONE HEAR THE M&S mother's day ad???? "MOM"? m[b]O[/b]m?? UNBELIEVABLE!! 👿


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:09 pm
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All the ones that duplicate the meaning of words or phrases already in current British English usage.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:09 pm
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I'm amazed this has never cropped up before.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:10 pm
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Winningest.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:11 pm
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'erb


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:12 pm
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Is 'heads up' an Americanism?


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:13 pm
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I'm sorry to disagree, but the Americans gave us one of the finest neologisms ever coined.
Gentlemen, please put your hands together for 'embiggen'.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:16 pm
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Overmountain


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:25 pm
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You uneducated, impolite, imperialist slime!

That's a little impolite to those who post on here from the US. And if you're English it's probably best if you ease off accusing others of imperialism. I blame a lack of education on your part 🙂


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:25 pm
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Howdy, the one that does my nut in is "He needs to step up to the plate", they use it on sports radio all the time. I'm trying to establish "He needs to step up to the cricket crease". I appreciate it hardly rolls off the tongue.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:27 pm
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Anything spelled with a zee


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:27 pm
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Can I vote to save 'misunderestimate' as used by George W Bush?

But get rid of 24/7 etc....


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:28 pm
 DezB
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[i]Is 'heads up' an Americanism?
[/i]

You are joking?!

First heard it on NYPD Blue!!


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:28 pm
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Was reading LOTR the other month it was so enjoyable to read something written in pure English without a single Americanism or cliche

😆


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:31 pm
 DezB
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Another one the pillocks use at work is "reach out".
Too many meetings with yanks. Its not as if there aren't plenty of other ways to say it!


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:33 pm
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"swap out"

I've never "swapped out my crankset" in my life, I've changed them over


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:38 pm
 aP
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It is nice to hear people moaning about [i]Septics[/i] giving us back words and phrases that we exported and then forgot about.
Oh, [i]awesome[/i], [i]stoked[/i], [i]MaccyD[/i], and [i]customer focused[/i].


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:38 pm
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sssimon - Member

"swap out"

See also 'fry off'.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:39 pm
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I like 'swap out' 😳


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:42 pm
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Why?
What's wrong with 'replace with' or 'change over', or even 'swap'?

Perfectly good phrases that have been in use for years?
Why suddenly start using a phrase from a different language and culture?

Serious question, btw.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:45 pm
 Moe
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I work with them all the time and I take every opportunity to re educate them but it's an uphill struggle when they can't even pronounce Norwich or Edinburgh properly! 😀


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:45 pm
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De-plane (grinds teeth.....). Otherwise know as "leaving a plane"


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:46 pm
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Change over ? Why not just say change ?


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:47 pm
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As it goes none. I don't have any problem with language evolving. Even if that change starts in the USA.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:47 pm
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I work with them all the time and I take every opportunity to re educate them .......

Isn't this thread about American words and phrases which British people choose to use ?

Who are you reeducating .......the Brits ?


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:48 pm
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shipping as in posting something...apple store your item has been shipped...no it bloody hasn't its been parcelled and posted and stuck on a lorry !


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:49 pm
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Not a common one, but the US use of 'in back of' to mean 'behind' is an odd one - very jarring to read that if you're immersed in an American book.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:50 pm
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Sweat pants


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:51 pm
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There are three creases to be found on the cricket square, these are bowling, return and popping crease, more options than your plate dude oh bugger!


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:52 pm
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But our language isn't evolving - it's being subsumed word by word into American English.

I've nothing against American English, but it's a different language.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:53 pm
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That we enjoy Emglish as the lingua franca, allowing us to be lazy when it comes to learning other languages, simply shouting loudly and slowly at foreigners when we wish to be understood has been maintained by America. So when it comes to spoken English, they're the boss of us. It's painful for some to come to that realisation. But stopping the encroachment of Americanisms is as useful as King Canute telling to tide to go back out. Time to swap out those crappy old phrases we use all the time, give ourselves a reality check, wake up, smell the coffee and embrace it.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:56 pm
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Elevator
Sidewalk
License plate (number plate, it's a f******* number plate in this country!)
Power outage

When No2 son kept using americanisms (Microsoft English, offer the option of English English you computer programming fools!) I said if he didn't stop I would pay his pocket money in dollars, took him a while to realise that $20 isn't the same as £20 😆


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:57 pm
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Or we could beat people who use americanisms until they stop doing so.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:58 pm
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Anything that uses an unnecessary number of syllables.
......"Momentarily" meaning "soon", or "at this time" meaning "now"


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:58 pm
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cookies

I like Bill Bryson's use of language though but he's an honoury Brit now. He does make the point that a lot of the American language is old English with the way it is written and said


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:58 pm
 jruk
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"reach out" / "out reach to" - you mean email or call?

"curate a list" - you mean write a list?

"touch base" - you mean talk to?

"27.5" - you mean marketing fodder?

Just **** off and don't come back until you can make proper beer.


 
Posted : 31/03/2014 9:59 pm
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