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The Forum > General Discussion > THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

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I've thought of a few more words:

Wee - meaning to urinate. Whereas in the UK and
Scotland it means - small.

Shag - in the US means a luxury rug.
Here and in the UK it means sex.

Thong - In the UK it means underwear.
Here it means summer footwear.

I'll come up with more later on.
Posted by Foxy, Sunday, 8 September 2019 10:49:47 PM
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Foxy,
Just listing words like that is usually boring - they need a context to be interesting (as Frontline did with rooting).

Having said that, flogging is quite an interesting example, as the international meaning (hitting or whipping) and the chiefly British meaning (selling) are used in addition to the uniquely Australian one (stealing). And they can be use together - for example:
He was caught flogging iPads to tourists after flogging them from the warehouse. It it were up to me, I'd give him a good flogging!

Then there's the genuine example of the American airport newsagent who was quite bemused when the British tourist asked him "do you flog fags here"?

And I vaguely recall someone made a commercial making fun of the fact that Durex was a brand of sticky tape here and a brand of condoms in Britain.

As for shag, there are at least two more meanings: it's a kind of dance (and before you ask, no it isn't a particularly suggestive one) and a kind of bird.
As far as I can tell, the sexual meaning is an Irish word that didn't travel much until the 1990s. Sean Hughes was the only person I've heard use it before Billy Connolly's World Tour Of Scotland. After that its use was ubiquitous.
Posted by Aidan, Sunday, 8 September 2019 11:25:55 PM
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Frank Sinatra while on stage in a Sydney club was stunned when the audience went very quite
He had introduced his female friend by telling the Audience she had come to R#$t for him
Indy you come in to this thread full of venom? you old mate must know millions of such story's
Posted by Belly, Monday, 9 September 2019 6:36:24 AM
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Indy you come in to this thread full of venom?
Belly,
Wrong again as per usual. It's Antivenom !
Posted by individual, Monday, 9 September 2019 7:28:10 AM
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Dear individual,

You are a sick man. It's a good thing no one would ever want to clone you because it would be a horrible sight to have multiple individuals running around all doing exactly the same thing.
Posted by Mr Opinion, Monday, 9 September 2019 7:45:18 AM
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Mr Opinion,
Ever since your first post you've not once come forward with a proposal for solutions to the topics discussed. All you do is oppose logic & common sense for the sake of diverting attention from the topic.
Do us all a favour just once & reply with a sensible post !
Are you naturally so insipid or were you indoctrinated as most half-baked Uni graduates.
Aren't you embarrassed by being such an embarrassment in your attempt to align yourself with those who actually graduated with knowledge & sense & are now decent Citizens ?
If you don't like insults thrown back at you then don't spray them around in the first place.
Posted by individual, Monday, 9 September 2019 9:13:46 AM
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