20 Wonderful British Words That Will Confuse Americans

OK....I knew 10 of them. I don't count thingamajobby as that has been part of the American vernacular for a very long time. Particularly in red neck culture where it's a to ten word. Also, you Brits only used the word half-assed and that's bollocks. The actual complete term in "thingamajobbydohickey". e.g. "Hey Bubba, hand me that thar thingajobbydohickey.".
 
Mott the Hoople said:
OK....I knew 10 of them. I don't count thingamajobby as that has been part of the American vernacular for a very long time. Particularly in red neck culture where it's a to ten word. Also, you Brits only used the word half-assed and that's bollocks. The actual complete term in "thingamajobbydohickey". e.g. "Hey Bubba, hand me that thar thingajobbydohickey.".
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Thingamajig (Early 19th century origin)) evolved from Thingummy (Late 18th century origin) which evolved from Thingum (Late 17th Century origin) which evolved from Thing (Old English origin, 6-9th Century). Comes from Old High German (ding) and Old Frisian (thing) and both had their origins in Norse.
 
Mott the Hoople said:
OK....I knew 10 of them. I don't count thingamajobby as that has been part of the American vernacular for a very long time. Particularly in red neck culture where it's a to ten word. Also, you Brits only used the word half-assed and that's bollocks. The actual complete term in "thingamajobbydohickey". e.g. "Hey Bubba, hand me that thar thingajobbydohickey.".
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Yeh and what did I say about the cognoscenti?
 
Milagro said:
Thingamajig (Early 19th century origin)) evolved from Thingummy (Late 18th century origin) which evolved from Thingum (Late 17th Century origin) which evolved from Thing (Old English origin, 6-9th Century). Comes from Old High German (ding) and Old Frisian (thing) and both had their origins in Norse.
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Still, point being it's been part of the common vernacular here for a very long time.
 
I consider myself to have been educated after reading this as I only knew 9 of them. Here's a rundown of new words to me:

Numpty
Minging - Very interesting
Snog - I think we call it French kissing
Gobshite
Twat - Pretty sure that means something else over here. I do call such people "twits" though.
Pants - Again, interesting. I definitely agree with the Superman vs. Batman reference.
Wazzock
Wank - Maybe past tense of "wink?" :D
Manky
Plonker
Cackhanded
Bellend

I might also mention that I had to force my IPad to accept most of those words. :)
 
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leaningright said:
I consider myself to have been educated after reading this as I only knew 9 of them. Here's a rundown of new words to me:

Numpty
Minging - Very interesting
Snog - I think we call it French kissing
Gobshite
Twat - Pretty sure that means something else over here. I do call such people "twits" though.
Pants - Again, interesting. I definitely agree with the Superman vs. Batman reference.
Wazzock
Wank - Maybe past tense of "wink?" :D
Manky
Plonker
Clockhanded Cackhanded
Bellend

I might also mention that I had to force my IPad to accept most of those words. :)
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ftfy
 
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