yellowroom

Rather than take another thread completely off topic, I'm posting this here. I've had this pinned to my cube wall with EU crossed out and USA added in. Everyone found it hilarious, I thought it was absolutely true and should be part of company procedure!

(with apologies if its been on here before!)

Jerseygirl

Lion in Winter

Additional ones:

"That's not bad" - UK: That's excellent US: My work was just insulted.

RoadWarriorFromLP

In American, "with all due respect" generally means "what you just said was incredibly stupid."

You've probably all figured out by now that in American, "I'll call you!" usually means "I have no intention to speak to you ever again."

Lion in Winter

Both very true.

Pulaski

That's not bad!

civilservant

The wife posted this to my Facebook before, the good news is is that I now have things I can say that I know are insulting and no one else will understand.... mrburnsmodeon/ Exccccellent! mrburnsmodeoff/

Speedwell

I must have a speech impediment; with the exception of "quite good" (which I also hear as "perfectly acceptable and maybe a touch above"), I hear and use all those in the "British" mode.

SiKee

I think the only people in the US that have consistently been able to understand me and not ask me to either explain or repeat myself were those I met in Seattle and Boston. Others just treat me like an amiable alien (which, I suppose, I am).

toopie28

Brilliant!

Also, have you noticed how "that's a good question" is the new - "I don't freakin' know, nor do I care or will even make the attempt to find out..." That's for the US - I think the UK would say - "how the f**k should I know!"

Speedwell

"Brilliant" in the US has always struck me as sarcastic.

Wibblypig

LOL

One thing I discovered quite quickly - when someone asks you when's best for you (appointment etc), never reply 'I'm easy'

SultanOfSwing

In response to the question "how are you".

"I'm OK".

British - All's well, nothing of any interest is going on and please bugger off.

US (in my experience) - OMG what's wrong ....

becks_r

I once tried to explain to an American that the word awesome should not be used for every day things, eg 'awesome, I found a parking space' is so wrong, but 'I have just climbed Everest and the view is awesome' is a correct way to use that word. Needless to say he didn't get it

SultanOfSwing

I've long since given up on that one. My wife gives me the same response on my use of the word 'brilliant'.

However, I use it more in the sarcastic/WGAF/oh great my daughter has shit herself again sense, rather than suggesting something is so good, it verily emits its own light