PzFus

I just thought it would be funny to find out which British turns of phrase confuse Canadians (or vice versa!).

The blankest looks I have had recently came when I described a politician as:

"bent as a nine bob note".

I also nearly choked on my dinner last week when I heard an expression on a Canadian advert for A&W burgers when the fake news presenter shouts out:

"SHUT THE F...RONT DOOR!"

I must have missed that one in all the time I've been here, because I hadn't heard it before.

dbd33

Lately, I have seen Canadians confused by:

"As much use as a chocolate fireguard"

"as a chocolate teapot"

"as two short planks"

"no, we're brassic"

"taking it up the Gary" (in reference to a path to career advancement)

I was also in an extended argument over the use of "which" and "that" with an American, that there was such an issue left the Canadian onlookers nonplussed.

I think that, after a while here, one adjusts. One cannot teach them all colloquial English and must just accept that they'll always seem a bit slow.

bats

Why did you choke?? what have I missed?

dbd33

I think it's a coded reference to Dick Emery. Canadians don't do camp.

dbd33

"not if you were on fire" was another one that would have gone over like a lead balloon, had the bystanders known about lead balloons.

dbd33

also "arse. both hands". I know more onlookers around here could follow us in Urdu than they do in idiosyncratic English.

haggis88

when you say "9-bob note", i've always known this phrase as "10 bob note"

of course both are as bent as each other, as you'll never see a 45p or 50p note

GC44

"Nipping outside for a fag" raised a few eyebrows at work initially .

bats

You mean "shut that door?" Larry Grayson I think. But that still doesn't go with 'shut the front door" maybe it's meant to be shut the f....?

But you did used to see 10 bob notes, so bent as a 9 bob makes sense.

chrissyb

Lol this thread made me think of when I was at a mums group the other day, After a couple of hours I said "well we're going to make a move".

I just got completely blank expressions! When I explained what I meant they said why didnt you just say "we're guna get going"

GC44

Thought the expression was "bent as a nine bob bit". 10 bob was 50p, if I remember correctly.

PzFus

For your amazement and edumication - a 10 bob note!

haggis88

was a shilling 5 pence then?

pre-decimalisation of course!

dbd33

Right you are. I have my flamers all in a tizzy.

dbd33

Yes. (Well, at decimalisation, before that it was 12 pence).

"One pound is a hundred new shillings, a hundred newpence to the pound"

and

"use your old coppers in sixpenny lots" were the governments jingles of the time.