Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Yes, you're right. Skid. Knew it was a daft word.
I did know the equivalent of Heath-Robinson, but I've forgotten it again :-)

Duh.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Rube Goldberg maybe !

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

:blink:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

where i work, they call pallets "pallets" :lol:

they do call it a pallet jack, rather than a pallet truck though!

can't think of any expressions i've heard that have confused me though....

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

"It was a gong show"

It means it was chaotic. :eek:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

"So whaddya figure!"

My other half still randomly says that to me from out of nowhere - and I still to this day say "how the hell do you want me to respond to that????"

Whaddya figure means to me that someone wants my opinion on something - Canadians seem to use it instead of "So hows it going" which you can give an answer to. Whaddya figure just seems rhetorical :confused:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Having a hissy fit threw me when I first arrived - oh and the 'double fisting' one too of course!.

I think I have been here too long to be confused about any now.

:)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I came across this for the first time recently! My boyfriend used the term and I thought he was being dirty :rofl:

He and I often have lively debates about the merits (and otherwise) of one another's use of English...

Canadians are pretty entertaining ;)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

There is no debate, never forget that we speak English, they dont, and always remember, they are the ones with accents, this is what English is supposed to sound like!

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Innit! ;)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

What does charley horse and double fisting mean over here? :confused:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Er... where in the world are you? Depending on your location they will have completely different meanings... and I means streets/blocks apart!

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

You could at least credit that to Jimmy Carr!

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I thought 'hissy fit' was English, have been using that one for years but you're right saying 'Having a fit' here always means being angry, otherwise an epileptic type fit is always called a seizure.

At work, there are loads of differences, most too specific to mention here but a few of them are:

trolleys, trolleys are carts, or stretchers. Drip stands are IV stands, walking sticks are canes, of course the whole pants/trousers thing, and vest/undershirt.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I am in Calgary.

I know what it means in the British way but have no idea what it means in Canada and can't think how it could mean something innocent/clean.

I also remember explaining what Howay meant to you! Sooooo..... :p

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Totally innocent, lol - it means a beer (or drink) in both hands at the same time.

:)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

HAHHAHAH - seriously? :D:eek:;)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Absolutely! First time my husband used that expression (at our wedding reception) I nearly fell over...

verb - ambitransitive

to hold two alcoholic drinks, one in each hand.
Jack is such an alcoholic he's double fisting.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Thanks I'd never heard that. Hoser is one term, which they seem to use affectionately, that I still can't really get my head around even though some of tried to explain it to me. As far I can tell its just a drunk div?

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

We borrowed a sat nav when we got here (left ours in the car we sold in the UK) and it had a running commentary

"Hey Hoser - you're going the wrong way, turn around"

Made us laugh like drains every time :D

I presumed it was just a term for someone a bit silly etc?

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

It seems lot of their slang terms have sexual connotations e.g. cottaging, double fisting. I can't figure out as a culture if they're just naive or a bunch of pervs.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Its the McKenzie brothers eh....

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I'm right then, drunk divs. I just don’t understand why they hold them in such regard. Is it another example of celebrating NA anti-intellectualism?

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

As opposed to the Royle Family, Paul Calf, most of Coronation Street except for Ken Barlow, Vicky Pollard?:thumbsup:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Think you might have taken the notion of assimilation a bit too much to heart. ;)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I always understood it meant "loser" ...

Apparently originates from:

Hoser: (n) Canadian hockey derogatory term that is similar to the American "idiot" or "loser". It is derived from the pre-zamboni days, where the LOSING team would have to hose down the ice after the game.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

:D:D:D:starsmile:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Cottaging is definitely my fave...as in the weather lady yesterday telling us that this weekend would be dry & sunny and perfect weather for cottaging.

Teehee.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I never knew that (not that I'd attempted to find out). I'll tuck it into my memory, so I can shine at some future dinner party.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I told some canadian friends that there are no pavements where I live. Imagine my surprise when I realized they thought I meant there weren't any proper roads. Apparently literal minded Canadians call the things you walk on by the side of the road 'side-walks'. What a country!

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I had a similar response when I told someone I had sausages for my tea. They thought I had put sausages in my tea. :blink:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

And you probably place luggage in your boot and lift the bonnet to get to your engine

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

I told somebody that I was having a rocket salad. I had to laugh when they thought I was eating some kind of astronaut food.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

No I bet he has a Porsche.

O/h uses the term w***er quite a lot. As in term of affection like saying "you silly sausage".

I have to tell him not to call his son that in front of me - I can't get past the English meaning ;)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

HID called my mother that once thinking it was a term of affection. She got quite the dressing down.

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

Me being from Scotland , I use the word fanny a lot ,but it has a whole different meaning to me :p

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

What meaning does it mean when you call a cradle a fanny? I'm confused. :confused:

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

A fanny here is the buttocks or a bum - what we call a 'bum bag' is called a 'fanny pack' here - so when you call a cradle a fanny, you are saying they're a bum.

:)

Re: Canadian Expressions that confuse the British
 

So you can call them a **** and they'll think you're just calling them a bottom? Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I think I'll just stick with calling them a ****. Less confusing all round.