Bob

That's a weird one and I cringe every time I say it, as we've a uncle called Craig, the other one is Colin, being Coowlin

Egg and Cress

As though to rhyme with "colon"? I thought it was supposed to be "kahwlin". At least that's the way this American has always pronounced it. And I've always said "crayg", never "creg".

cindyabs

I don't use 'em down here.

One of my coworkers and I were discussing the difference in expressions/words here regionally. She's from Texas originally and her ex husband was from Pittsurgh. He used to use the expression- "knock yourself out" and her mother didn't know what that meant.

AlienUk

Which island?
In Jamaica, they say Car-ri-bean as opposed to Carib-bean (which I HATE!)

Orangepants

I worked in Antigua, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands - most time in Cayman, about 12 years - and never came across anyone that said it the way Brits do (not that I ever did a survey or anything!)

SalopianFunk

Word, dope, hella, are the primary ones. I call football soccer to people that know little about the sport.

scrubbedexpat097

I say "awww shnappp" (aw snap).......I feel good when I say it as well!

robin1234

What the heck does it mean though??

scrubbedexpat097

I have no idea, but I like saying it



(actually I think it's a term of surprise? maybe????)

Egg and Cress

Maybe it's a "good girl/boy" way of saying "aw Sh*t" - kinda like "gol-dang it" instead of God-D**n it", etc.? As I try to maintain ladylike-hood, my favorite saying in times of stress is "sonoma beach"!

SultanOfSwing

None. The only thing I have done is (and only while coaching my teams mind) use the convention of calling football soccer, but as soccer is a British word anyway that hardly counts. And even then, at practices I forget myself and say football and nobody notices and/or cares.

Amazingly enough, even though I still talk essentially the same way I did at home, everyone seems to be able to understand me without any difficulty anyway. I do have to broaden the Belfast in my accent sometimes though, just so I don't lose it

Squirrel

The long aa is a southern England thing. Anyone from the north doesn't pronounce the long a. So I say barth, my sister who's lived in Nottingham for nearly as long as I've lived in London, says bath.

I've picked up quite a few American words even though DH lives in London with me. Like I'll often call his trainers sneakers. Generally though, instead of changing British words into American ones, I like adding new ones that we Brits don't have. Like 'I'm Jonesing for a drink..' and 'Put your John Hancock on this.'

DH has picked up lots of British words and phrases. Funnily enough he doesn't sound odd to me saying them, I guess he's become 'multilingual' lol. Still prounounces things the 'Merican way though.

robin1234

Dagnabit, that is a swell expression!
Talking of old fashioned expressions, my late MIL had a passel-ful of old-time words & expressions that I use now.. "discombobulated" is one. "That and a nickel will get you on the subway." (And variations thereof.)

I was going to include "Tell it to the Marines" but a little research indicated that is a British expression originally..

Squirrel

My mum (British) has some hilarious ones apparantly from her mother. Like 'I wouldn't have him if his arse hung in diamonds and each one played God Save The Queen.'

robin1234

That is a good one but how often do you get to use it?