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British words/expressions you DON'T like

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British words/expressions you DON'T like

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Old Oct 30th 2011 | 2:10 am
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Default British words/expressions you DON'T like

OK, just like the two USA Forum threads, this is the Ying to the other (words/expressions you DO like) thread's Yang.

An expression I saw creep into British English while I was away is the word "gutted". I really dislike it, when it is used to describe a situation in which you were merely "disappointed".

To me, gutted means eviscerated, your intestines were removed. It's a symptom (IMO) of the way in modern British culture, it seems more acceptable to react over the top to things (reflective in doom and gloom news headlines, the popularity of mis lit, and programs like East Enders where everyone seems to get angry about everything). Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it.
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 2:22 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

How long were you away? I don't think it's that new.

I'm sure Gutted has been in use for at least 30 years.

"At the minute" is one I don't like.
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 3:07 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by BristolUK
How long were you away? I don't think it's that new.

I'm sure Gutted has been in use for at least 30 years.

"At the minute" is one I don't like.
30 years is about how long it is since I first left the UK (1983). I don't recall ever hearing it used before then.
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 3:20 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by dunroving
30 years is about how long it is since I first left the UK (1983). I don't recall ever hearing it used before then.
I don't like gutted or gobsmacked - they both turn my stomach.
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 5:26 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

"Bung it in there" learnt from my Romford-raised Mum!

Innocent to me, but my US Son and Spouse would make big noises
when I used it over any other expression.

What gets me every time is "at the end of the day"
It's always some supercilious middle manager with a nasal voice
trying to sound like they actually think.
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 6:37 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Innit - usually vaguely placed somewhere in a sentence, often at the end.
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 7:32 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by BristolUK
How long were you away? I don't think it's that new.

I'm sure Gutted has been in use for at least 30 years.

"At the minute" is one I don't like.
I've never heard the word "gutted" used in the UK ever - must be a new one.
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 8:11 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by quoll
Innit - usually vaguely placed somewhere in a sentence, often at the end.
And sometimes the beginning.

Originally Posted by Derrygal
I've never heard the word "gutted" used in the UK ever - must be a new one.
I was curious, so I did some googling. I found this from a blog by an American commenting on different language use.

It was added to the OED in its 1993 edition, with quotations going back only to 1984 (but, of course, it could be much older in speech).
 
Old Oct 30th 2011 | 8:48 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

literally- as in 'I literally died laughing' .

Gay- I loathe 'it's so gay' - used by the yoof to mean pathetic.It seems pretty insulting.

And currently my number one hated expression is courtesy of Transport for London ' A good service is operating on all lines' which means ....except the one you want to use.
 
Old Oct 31st 2011 | 6:26 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by Derrygal
I've never heard the word "gutted" used in the UK ever - must be a new one.

It is big in our area in kids, teens and adults alike!

I first started hearing when I got here in 2000.
 
Old Oct 31st 2011 | 6:27 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by quoll
Innit - usually vaguely placed somewhere in a sentence, often at the end.
or it is the whole sentence!!
 
Old Oct 31st 2011 | 6:37 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by reeni
or it is the whole sentence!!
yeahbutnobutyeahbutnoitwasthatslagdeirdewhowozdown erelasnight!
 
Old Oct 31st 2011 | 6:40 am
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by reeni
It is big in our area in kids, teens and adults alike!

I first started hearing when I got here in 2000.
I think it must be the prerogative of aspirational migrants, they seem to be gutted at every little hiccup that gets in the way of their visa progress. I'd not heard it before lurching onto this board and, I agree, it is way OTT
 
Old Oct 31st 2011 | 4:06 pm
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

I don't think it's purely a Brit thing but I've heard a few Brits say it and it sounds awful. When people pronounce the work 'ask' incorrectly and it sounds something like "arrxed" or "arghhst"...I can't even begin to try and spell it but it's some kind of street way of saying it. It's willfully wrong and I just want to slap anyone who talks like that, but because I'm quite a nice guy I just smile and nod and then come on here and rant about it!
 
Old Oct 31st 2011 | 7:38 pm
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Default Re: British words/expressions you DON'T like

Originally Posted by RChappo
I don't think it's purely a Brit thing but I've heard a few Brits say it and it sounds awful. When people pronounce the work 'ask' incorrectly and it sounds something like "arrxed" or "arghhst"...I can't even begin to try and spell it but it's some kind of street way of saying it. It's willfully wrong and I just want to slap anyone who talks like that, but because I'm quite a nice guy I just smile and nod and then come on here and rant about it!
"axed" (asked), "nucular" (nuclear), and other lazy pronunciations of English are just a sign of the times. It's not uncommon to hear TV presenters mis-pronounce all kinds of words these days. It's embarrassing that many Europeans speak English better (more clearly, technically more correct) than we do.

Ah well, it will give me something to complain about in my old age.
 


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