You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
Jan 7th 2019, 12:11 am
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
[I'll start.]
You're glad to return to the US after a trip "home", because the beer tastes better in the US.
You're glad to return to the US after a trip "home", because the beer tastes better in the US.
Jan 7th 2019, 12:50 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
When you start saying 'gas' and 'trunk'.
Jan 7th 2019, 1:25 am
#3
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
you wish everyone "happy holidays" instead of Happy Christmas
Jan 7th 2019, 1:28 am
#4
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
I refused to conform to the US words, spelling and pronunciation. Although I will admit to saying elevator instead of lift.
Jan 7th 2019, 1:30 am
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: Cayman Islands
Posts: 4,999
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
I don't live in the US, but we're close enough here in our Caribbean island to pick up on many US expressions. Back home (years ago) my brother accused me of "sounding like an American". Of course I wasn't and didn't, but I had picked up the habit of saying "I guess" instead of "I suppose". That was enough, for him. In this UK colony, most of us do say "gas" instead of petrol, and some of us say "trunk". Even after 40 years here, my wife and I still say "boot" and "bonnet".
Jan 7th 2019, 1:59 am
#6
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,679
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
My Iranian husband didn't learn much English, but he did pick up the habit of saying "Wow!" a lot. On his trips back home no one knew what that "noise" meant. LOL
Rene
Rene
Jan 7th 2019, 6:17 am
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
You find yourself using the word(s) 'Y'all' a lot!
Jan 7th 2019, 12:21 pm
#10
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
Someone greets you "How are you doing?" and you respond "Doin' good!" 
Jan 7th 2019, 12:28 pm
#11
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
You try to turn left on red when driving back in the UK.
Jan 7th 2019, 2:26 pm
#14
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Jan 7th 2019, 2:28 pm
#15
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: You know you've been living in the US too long when .....
Maybe someone in the US can clear up something that's puzzled me for ages.
I say aluMINium, with the emphasis on the 'min'
I hear Americans (sorry, don't know which part of the US they're from), say alu(OO)minum. It's not the different emphasis that puzzles me, it's the fact that the word seems to lose an 'i'. Or in the case of the Australian way of saying it, gains an 'i'.
I say aluMINium, with the emphasis on the 'min'
I hear Americans (sorry, don't know which part of the US they're from), say alu(OO)minum. It's not the different emphasis that puzzles me, it's the fact that the word seems to lose an 'i'. Or in the case of the Australian way of saying it, gains an 'i'.