From time to time, I do get a bit homesick for England. I've got a lot great memories from the "Dear Old Blighty". In another such moment, I came across one of those numerous "English for Americans" website, which made me laugh. I'm still being regularly caught using English phrases with my American friends. Here's one for you folks to figure out what this gentlemen emailed to his friend :
"Hi, the wife and I went out for some posh nosh last night, followed by a knees up. We were a bit late, so we gave it welly. At the roundabout, just before the restaurant, we met our mate Gary and had a bit of a chin wag. He said he flogged his juggernaut to his mate for six thousand quid. That throws a spanner in the works for us. We wanted to use it to move our trolleys. What a load of cobblers.
The grub at the Indian was the bee's knees. The geezers had some original stout. Had 6 pints of it and got sloshed. Woke up knackered at Her Majesty's pleasure. The misses had to give me a lift. You can imagine how big a wobbly she threw. We had an almighty row.
Anyway, skived from work today. Gave Gary another bell. He told me I can have his other lorry for a couple of days. Hunky-dorey, we don't need to shell out the dosh for a hire car after all.
Come round later for a pint at the pub. Let's suss out when we can shift that gear.
Cheers, mate."
Comment if you think you know what's going on here.
Let's see... (at least there's no rhyming slang)...
posh nosh = haute cui... er, fancy food
knees up = ?
gave it welly = ? (wellies are boots, but that doesn't fit)
chin wag = chat?
flogged his juggernaut = sold his motorcycle?
spanner in the works = wrench in the works
trolleys = ? I know shopping carts, but that doesn't seem to fit either
load of cobblers = a bit annoying?
grub / bees knees / geezers / stout / sloshed all work in American English too
knackered = tired
throw a wobbly = have a fit?
skived = skipped out on?
gave a bell = called on the phone?
lorry = truck
hunky dorey is another phrase that works in American English
shell out the dosh = pay?
hire car = rental car
l8r, m8
Posted by Mark J Musante on August 10, 2007 at 07:02 PM PDT #
"Hi, the wife and I went out for some [good food] last night, followed by [sitting somwhere and having a chat]. We were a bit late, so we [strolled to home]. At the roundabout, just before the restaurant, we met our mate Gary and had a bit of [chit chat]. He said he [sold] his [truck (american)] to his mate for six thousand [pounds]. That [upsets our plans]. We wanted to use it to move our trolleys. What a [mess].
The grub at the Indian was [paltry]. The geezers had some original stout [beer]. Had 6 pints of it and got [drunk]. Woke up [totally drunk] at [the lady's toilet]. The misses had to [bail me out]. You can imagine how big a [fit] she threw. We had a [real good fight].
Anyway, [skipped] work today. Gave Gary another [call]. He told me I can have his other lorry for a couple of days. [That's great], we don't need to shell out the [dough = money] for a hire car after all.
Come round later for a pint at the pub. Let's [figure out] when we can [get that done].
Cheers, mate."
I guess, being an Indian, I can get that much figured out :-P
Posted by Akhilesh on August 11, 2007 at 06:16 PM PDT #