Dubai / Middle East Sayings
May 22nd 2017, 6:20 pm
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 79
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
Some of my favourite Dubai / Middle East Sayings
"Tell me, tell me" When answering the phone.
'What to Do' catch all for when there is a cock up, and don`t blame me.
"Where are you" when you turn up and meet people.
"Inshalla" get out clause for lying.
"Habibi/ Habibti" trying to sound nice when they mean I would steal the sperm from your testacles given half a chance.
"Yannie" I have not got a clue what I want to say but will keep repeating this until I have thought of something.
"Is`nt it" still figuring this one out
"Ma`am Sir" chirrup from the flips
There are more, but I think this will get a list going!!
"Tell me, tell me" When answering the phone.
'What to Do' catch all for when there is a cock up, and don`t blame me.
"Where are you" when you turn up and meet people.
"Inshalla" get out clause for lying.
"Habibi/ Habibti" trying to sound nice when they mean I would steal the sperm from your testacles given half a chance.
"Yannie" I have not got a clue what I want to say but will keep repeating this until I have thought of something.
"Is`nt it" still figuring this one out
"Ma`am Sir" chirrup from the flips
There are more, but I think this will get a list going!!
"Upgradation"
etc...
May 23rd 2017, 3:36 am
#18
...we killed the flame
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Dubai
Posts: 1,086
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
Availing things unprepositionally.
Speaking of prepositions, the following is creeping in everywhere, not least on this bored: between x to y. It doesn't even make sense! You go from x to y and en route you are between x and y.
Meow, it's time to dig up that pedants' revolt meme...
May 23rd 2017, 3:57 am
#19
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Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi by body and Sydney by soul
Posts: 1,841
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
'Do the needful' and 'revert back to you'. Both make me very shabby and I see native English speakers writing them too.
May 23rd 2017, 4:16 am
#20
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
Yeah, I guess so.
Hateful. A bit like random '-ings' added on to the end of words.
May 23rd 2017, 4:23 am
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
The only one that really annoys me is...
It's ok sir
When clearly it is not ****ing ok.
It's ok sir
When clearly it is not ****ing ok.
May 23rd 2017, 5:24 am
#23
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 990
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
Yes this, along with Jew-bai (irony much?).
Availing things unprepositionally.
Speaking of prepositions, the following is creeping in everywhere, not least on this bored: between x to y. It doesn't even make sense! You go from x to y and en route you are between x and y.
Meow, it's time to dig up that pedants' revolt meme...
Availing things unprepositionally.
Speaking of prepositions, the following is creeping in everywhere, not least on this bored: between x to y. It doesn't even make sense! You go from x to y and en route you are between x and y.
Meow, it's time to dig up that pedants' revolt meme...
I usually travel from A-B never took the X-Y route!!
May 23rd 2017, 7:07 am
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Dubai
Posts: 13,547
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
the Mrs got very confused on a driving test when the examiner instructed her to signal straight. think she was looking for the straight ahead indicator.
May 23rd 2017, 7:36 am
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: The Sandpit
Posts: 265
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
I'll be reaching the office in the second half.
I met with an accident.
Revert on the same.
Same same.
Prepone.
Kindly.
Needful.
Plz.
I'm round the backside.
Do one thing.
Suggest me.
Cabin (no, it's an office).
Hello? Hello? Hello? (when someone's calling me).
No problem.
Thrice.
I've got my down (I'm menstruating).
You're from the UK? Is that in London?
I met with an accident.
Revert on the same.
Same same.
Prepone.
Kindly.
Needful.
Plz.
I'm round the backside.
Do one thing.
Suggest me.
Cabin (no, it's an office).
Hello? Hello? Hello? (when someone's calling me).
No problem.
Thrice.
I've got my down (I'm menstruating).
You're from the UK? Is that in London?
May 23rd 2017, 8:31 am
#28
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
Sorry he's currently out of station. (Not at desk).
May 23rd 2017, 8:59 am
#30
...we killed the flame
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Dubai
Posts: 1,086
Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings
Isn't it usually not "on his seat" or "in his cabin".
Anyway, I realise a lot of these sound odd but many are not grammatically or syntactically incorrect (hence it's the "avail something" one that drives me nuts; oh and "upgradation").
Some of the phrases probably reflect English terms that were in common use at the time that the India civil service was set up or indeed became independent. Needful is a clear example of this. Usage has evolved separately subsequently, especially as English is a second language for most of the sub-continent population and so has become heavily "functionalised". American English retains some relics of 18th century UK usage like Fall and Eggplant which in England were supplanted by the French terms Autumn and Aubergine (I believe Afrikaans has a similar relationship to Dutch). Perhaps in the 1930s people were on their seats in their cabins in Surbiton and Dudley also?
Anyway, I realise a lot of these sound odd but many are not grammatically or syntactically incorrect (hence it's the "avail something" one that drives me nuts; oh and "upgradation").
Some of the phrases probably reflect English terms that were in common use at the time that the India civil service was set up or indeed became independent. Needful is a clear example of this. Usage has evolved separately subsequently, especially as English is a second language for most of the sub-continent population and so has become heavily "functionalised". American English retains some relics of 18th century UK usage like Fall and Eggplant which in England were supplanted by the French terms Autumn and Aubergine (I believe Afrikaans has a similar relationship to Dutch). Perhaps in the 1930s people were on their seats in their cabins in Surbiton and Dudley also?