Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 124 total)
  • Which americanisms would you like to see erased from the english language?
  • ohnohesback
    Free Member

    I’ll start.

    Fanny pack.

    coolhandluke
    Free Member

    “Can I get”

    CaptainFlashheart
    Free Member

    If you’re going to moan about language, at least make an effort.

    Americanisms and English language.

    Capital letters, you see?

    molgrips
    Free Member

    Did you know that “okay” is an Americanism. And “hello”.

    MrSmith
    Free Member

    All of them.

    hot_fiat
    Full Member

    “Can I get”

    closely followed by:

    “I’ll take that with…”

    You uneducated, impolite, imperialist slime!

    rocketman
    Free Member

    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

    glasgowdan
    Free Member

    Movies.

    Awesome (in THAT context).

    cyclebiker
    Full Member

    +1 “can I get” init

    DezB
    Free Member

    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”? mOm?? UNBELIEVABLE!! 👿

    RustySpanner
    Full Member

    All the ones that duplicate the meaning of words or phrases already in current British English usage.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    I’m amazed this has never cropped up before.

    toppers3933
    Free Member

    Winningest.

    shifter
    Free Member

    ‘erb

    molgrips
    Free Member

    Is ‘heads up’ an Americanism?

    crikey
    Free Member

    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’.

    johnnystorm
    Full Member

    Overmountain

    ernie_lynch
    Free Member

    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 🙂

    barrytheflea
    Free Member

    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.

    aracer
    Free Member

    Anything spelled with a zee

    madeupname
    Free Member

    Can I vote to save ‘misunderestimate’ as used by George W Bush?

    But get rid of 24/7 etc….

    DezB
    Free Member

    Is ‘heads up’ an Americanism?

    You are joking?!

    First heard it on NYPD Blue!!

    vinnyeh
    Full Member

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

    😆

    DezB
    Free Member

    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!

    sssimon
    Free Member

    “swap out”

    I’ve never “swapped out my crankset” in my life, I’ve changed them over

    aP
    Free Member

    It is nice to hear people moaning about Septics giving us back words and phrases that we exported and then forgot about.
    Oh, awesome, stoked, MaccyD, and customer focused.

    RustySpanner
    Full Member

    sssimon – Member

    “swap out”

    See also ‘fry off’.

    bearnecessities
    Full Member

    I like ‘swap out’ 😳

    RustySpanner
    Full Member

    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.

    Moe
    Full Member

    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! 😀

    tonyg2003
    Full Member

    De-plane (grinds teeth…..). Otherwise know as “leaving a plane”

    Edric64
    Free Member

    Change over ? Why not just say change ?

    piemonster
    Full Member

    As it goes none. I don’t have any problem with language evolving. Even if that change starts in the USA.

    ernie_lynch
    Free Member

    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 ?

    unfitgeezer
    Free Member

    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 !

    Garry_Lager
    Full Member

    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.

    Hohum
    Free Member

    Sweat pants

    hodge
    Full Member

    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!

    RustySpanner
    Full Member

    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.

    deadlydarcy
    Free Member

    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.

Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 124 total)

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