Unfamiliar Expressions
#31
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#32
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Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
It comes from the times when cotton products had to be imported to New Zealand and the thriving cotton industry of Manchester was the only place to get good cotton. The term was originally 'Manchester Linen', but this was soon shortened to just "Manchester".
#33
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Joined: Oct 2010
Location: Lower North Island
Posts: 86
Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
What about 'tinny' for lucky or 'tinny house' a house that sells drugs.
Even though I've been here 27 years I like to use kiwi sayings and understand most of them, but some English ones I use at work don't get understood (my workmates are in their early 20s). eg 'talk about the pot calling the kettle black' I think though that's just my age showing, maybe that is also used in NZ.
When I first came here I was the only female in the company and they said things like: 'good as gold' and 'she'll be right' and 'get off the grass mate' which I absolutely love.
And as mentioned above the shortening of everything, like 'sunnies' for sunglasses, 'veges', 'hoodies', 'togs' for swimwear, whereas in UK it generally means clothes.
What about people who say 'woman' when they mean 'women' gets my goat that one and is just laziness. Language of course is forever evolving and expressions come and go.
My teens use 'like' quite a lot and I used to say 'good aye' because I had a good friend who spoke like that (Lyn of Tawa - you might need to look her up if you don't know who she is).
Even though I've been here 27 years I like to use kiwi sayings and understand most of them, but some English ones I use at work don't get understood (my workmates are in their early 20s). eg 'talk about the pot calling the kettle black' I think though that's just my age showing, maybe that is also used in NZ.
When I first came here I was the only female in the company and they said things like: 'good as gold' and 'she'll be right' and 'get off the grass mate' which I absolutely love.
And as mentioned above the shortening of everything, like 'sunnies' for sunglasses, 'veges', 'hoodies', 'togs' for swimwear, whereas in UK it generally means clothes.
What about people who say 'woman' when they mean 'women' gets my goat that one and is just laziness. Language of course is forever evolving and expressions come and go.
My teens use 'like' quite a lot and I used to say 'good aye' because I had a good friend who spoke like that (Lyn of Tawa - you might need to look her up if you don't know who she is).
#34
Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
Joker really makes me shiver, I just find it a bit insulting really but it seems to be a friendly term in NZ.
I don't really to this day know what a 'Hard case' is. Is a fun person or someone who's eccentric?
'Smoko' for breaks mystified me too at first, I thought everyone must be going outside for a fag!
But then it's used in some workplaces and not in others. I prefer 'Morning tea' .. now that sounds much nicer
I don't really to this day know what a 'Hard case' is. Is a fun person or someone who's eccentric?
'Smoko' for breaks mystified me too at first, I thought everyone must be going outside for a fag!
But then it's used in some workplaces and not in others. I prefer 'Morning tea' .. now that sounds much nicer
#35
Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
Hard case seems to mean, 'what d'ya make of that, eh ?'
As in mate of mine worked in a mine in Australia then spent all his money on a boat to travel back to NZ but it sank.
It seems to be said in some sort of admiration.
As in mate of mine worked in a mine in Australia then spent all his money on a boat to travel back to NZ but it sank.
It seems to be said in some sort of admiration.
#36
Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
I am apparently a 'hard case'.
I have come to think that men have 'smoko' and ladies (posh iccint) have morning tea.
I have come to think that men have 'smoko' and ladies (posh iccint) have morning tea.
#38
Happy in Wellington
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Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Tawa, Wellington, Aotearoa
Posts: 2,286
Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
The other day I heard this conversation:
How are you?
Box of fluffies mate!
?!
How are you?
Box of fluffies mate!
?!
#40
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Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
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Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
'Done my dash' - that's it I'm outta here I've done enough / or can't do anymore
#41
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Location: Lower North Island
Posts: 86
Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
Are you sure we didn't use any of these in UK? I really can't remember now, it's so annoying.
What about British sayings that kiwis may not understand or colloquisms. My nephew a few years ago (in UK) was talking about 'pikies' for gypsies and I'd completely forgotten about that one, mostly unheard of here.
What about British sayings that kiwis may not understand or colloquisms. My nephew a few years ago (in UK) was talking about 'pikies' for gypsies and I'd completely forgotten about that one, mostly unheard of here.
#42
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Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
Kiwis nicked half their phases and sayings of Brits and Aussies - I don't think many of them are home growen.
I don't know if it is connected to pikies but Kiwis call people a piker - i.e. to be a wimp, a shirker or lazy person. It's also used as a verb 'to pike out' - back out of a promise or slack off from doing something.
Another Aussie import I reckon is: 'as mad as a snake'
I don't know if it is connected to pikies but Kiwis call people a piker - i.e. to be a wimp, a shirker or lazy person. It's also used as a verb 'to pike out' - back out of a promise or slack off from doing something.
Another Aussie import I reckon is: 'as mad as a snake'
#43
Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
Used piking and piker or to pike in Plymouth....
#44
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Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
I am quite concerned that I'd hear these in UK corporates and considered them NORMAL before I came out six years ago
#45
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Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
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Re: Unfamiliar Expressions
saying "aye" "a" at the end of most sentences.