Peculiar American words or sayings
Jun 22nd 2005, 12:46 pm
#31
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Either/Or = Choosing something, Neither/Nor = Choosing nothing. They are not interchangeable!
Jun 22nd 2005, 1:07 pm
#32
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by Nigel
Thanks ... it's good to know we invented everything in the first place. Your post reminded me of "Made in America" by Bill Bryson ... an excellent little book with lots of trivia to ply at parties.
Talking of inventions - it seems to me I learnt/learned that many more inventions came from over in Blighty than the Americans seem to be teaching our kids here. Maybe I'm imagining it? (Could make a good thread).
Talking of inventions - it seems to me I learnt/learned that many more inventions came from over in Blighty than the Americans seem to be teaching our kids here. Maybe I'm imagining it? (Could make a good thread).
Glad you mentioned Bill Bryson, Nigel - I've been meaning to do so for ages.
I'm reading his "Notes from a Big Country" which at times spookily reminds me of some of the threads on this forum. Very entertaining, and so easy to relate to his rants on immigration forms, income tax forms, TV adverts, TV in general, and differences in our 2 cultures. His "Mother Tongue" was interesting too, and I have 2 others still to be read.
Jun 22nd 2005, 1:16 pm
#33
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by Dimsie
Glad you mentioned Bill Bryson, Nigel - I've been meaning to do so for ages.
Jun 22nd 2005, 2:05 pm
#34
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Read Notes From a Big Country, Walk In The Woods and Mother Tongue. All great books.
Jun 22nd 2005, 3:46 pm
#35
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by Duncan Roberts
Read Notes From a Big Country, Walk In The Woods and Mother Tongue. All great books.
Jun 22nd 2005, 3:50 pm
#36
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by Dimsie
Glad you mentioned Bill Bryson, Nigel - I've been meaning to do so for ages.
I'm reading his "Notes from a Big Country" which at times spookily reminds me of some of the threads on this forum. Very entertaining, and so easy to relate to his rants on immigration forms, income tax forms, TV adverts, TV in general, and differences in our 2 cultures. His "Mother Tongue" was interesting too, and I have 2 others still to be read.
I'm reading his "Notes from a Big Country" which at times spookily reminds me of some of the threads on this forum. Very entertaining, and so easy to relate to his rants on immigration forms, income tax forms, TV adverts, TV in general, and differences in our 2 cultures. His "Mother Tongue" was interesting too, and I have 2 others still to be read.
My first and still one of my fav's was From Here To There ... I picked it up at Chicago Airport on the way home and laughed for the whole flight - when we landed several passengers asked me what I was reading because they wanted to read whatever it was.
Jun 22nd 2005, 4:12 pm
#37
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by Nigel
I think I've read all of his other than Mother Tongue ... working my way through A Short History Of Nearly Everything ... very deep!
My first and still one of my fav's was From Here To There ... I picked it up at Chicago Airport on the way home and laughed for the whole flight - when we landed several passengers asked me what I was reading because they wanted to read whatever it was.
My first and still one of my fav's was From Here To There ... I picked it up at Chicago Airport on the way home and laughed for the whole flight - when we landed several passengers asked me what I was reading because they wanted to read whatever it was.
I had picked up Notes From a Small Island some years ago to read on my flight over to the UK. My husband was having some serious abdominal pain during my visit, culminating in us being in not one but two hospital ERs in the wee hours of Easter morning. I knew it was going to be a long wait (Saturday night) so I had grabbed the book which I hadn't started yet. I was sitting back in the exam cubicle with him and started reading. In amongst groans of pain from my husband, I am alternately trying to sooth him and doing some unladylike guffawing thanks to Mr Bryson.
Jun 22nd 2005, 4:48 pm
#38
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by Nigel
I think I've read all of his other than Mother Tongue ... working my way through A Short History Of Nearly Everything ... very deep!
I liked the line in one of the books about the US Green Card actually being pink.
Jun 22nd 2005, 4:51 pm
#39
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Read all of his, has me chuckling in public and getting strange looks
Originally Posted by Dimsie
Glad you mentioned Bill Bryson, Nigel - I've been meaning to do so for ages.
I'm reading his "Notes from a Big Country" which at times spookily reminds me of some of the threads on this forum. Very entertaining, and so easy to relate to his rants on immigration forms, income tax forms, TV adverts, TV in general, and differences in our 2 cultures. His "Mother Tongue" was interesting too, and I have 2 others still to be read.
I'm reading his "Notes from a Big Country" which at times spookily reminds me of some of the threads on this forum. Very entertaining, and so easy to relate to his rants on immigration forms, income tax forms, TV adverts, TV in general, and differences in our 2 cultures. His "Mother Tongue" was interesting too, and I have 2 others still to be read.
Jun 22nd 2005, 4:52 pm
#40
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
yeah that one falls short a bit, although it still has some good one liners
Originally Posted by mandpete
I love Bill Bryson's books and have to admit that I started reading a Short History of Everything but I agree that it is a bit deep. My husband also tried reading it and even he thought it was deep. I do keep picking it up again and reading a few pages in the hope that it gets 'easier' to read.
I liked the line in one of the books about the US Green Card actually being pink.
I liked the line in one of the books about the US Green Card actually being pink.
Jun 22nd 2005, 4:55 pm
#41
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by gruffbrown
Read all of his, has me chuckling in public and getting strange looks
Love the bit about him walking through a neighborhood in Oz and hearing dogs in the distance, so he takes off running, blundering through dreaded spider web and hitting himself in head to brush off web and anything in it.........classic!!
Jun 22nd 2005, 5:14 pm
#42
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
a quote from 'a short history'
On Thomas Midgley the guy who invented lead additives in petrol
"with an instinct for the regrettable that was almost uncanny, he invented chlorofluorocarbons"
On Thomas Midgley the guy who invented lead additives in petrol
"with an instinct for the regrettable that was almost uncanny, he invented chlorofluorocarbons"
Originally Posted by mandpete
I love Bill Bryson's books and have to admit that I started reading a Short History of Everything but I agree that it is a bit deep. My husband also tried reading it and even he thought it was deep. I do keep picking it up again and reading a few pages in the hope that it gets 'easier' to read.
I liked the line in one of the books about the US Green Card actually being pink.
I liked the line in one of the books about the US Green Card actually being pink.
Jun 23rd 2005, 2:58 pm
#43
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Good to see so many Bryson fans ! Your comments have made me determined to buy some more of his works. I brought back 3 (heavily disguised as prezzies for my husband)from my last trip to Manchester , and I gave him Mother Tongue (sounds interesting!! 
) when we lived in England. He's a fan too, so it seems Mr Bryson bridges the US/UK divide brilliantly.
) when we lived in England. He's a fan too, so it seems Mr Bryson bridges the US/UK divide brilliantly.
Jun 23rd 2005, 4:14 pm
#44
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Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by Dimsie
Good to see so many Bryson fans ! Your comments have made me determined to buy some more of his works. I brought back 3 (heavily disguised as prezzies for my husband)from my last trip to Manchester , and I gave him Mother Tongue (sounds interesting!! ) when we lived in England. He's a fan too, so it seems Mr Bryson bridges the US/UK divide brilliantly.
) when we lived in England. He's a fan too, so it seems Mr Bryson bridges the US/UK divide brilliantly.He really does do it well, it's obvious he holds the UK in high regard (that's where he's living again after living in New Hampshire for a few years), but he doesn't mind taking the mickey out of it. In all fairness though, he doesn't hold the US above reproach either. Pretty decent and entertaining balancing act overall.
Jun 23rd 2005, 4:17 pm
#45
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Peculiar American words or sayings
Originally Posted by cindyabs
He really does do it well, it's obvious he holds the UK in high regard (that's where he's living again after living in New Hampshire for a few years), but he doesn't mind taking the mickey out of it. In all fairness though, he doesn't hold the US above reproach either. Pretty decent and entertaining balancing act overall.