FUN WITH LANGUAGE

Helpful to Know

I’m  fascinated with England’s language. It’s the same language I speak, but across the pond understanding can be confusing as well as humorous at times. Eating can be an interesting adventure and perhaps even a surprise. Let me spin a little tale for you.

In a restaurant you may wonder if you want a jacket potato (baked potato) and faggots (meatballs). How did a steamed suet pudding become spotted dick? The biscuits you ordered turn out to be sweet cookies. But no matter, you’ll have a little  jelly with them which turns out to be jello. So you order jam and settle for the jelly. The waiter has just returned from holiday (vacation) and asks if you want any afters (dessert).

Do you want crisps (potato chips) or chips (fries) with your refreshment. Be careful because if you drink too much you might get sloshed, paralyic, bevvied, popped up, rattled, or even pissed as a newt!  Maybe for breakfast you’ll have some bangers (sausage)

When all is said and done you leave your serviette (napkin) on the table and are glad you aren’t washing up (doing dishes) because you are quite knackered (exhausted) and since you’ve been traveling all night it’s been donkey’s ears (ages) since you’ve slept.

            The next day you choose a coach for your travels where you see many lorries (trucks) on the motorway (freeway). Every so often as you ride along you see petrol ( gas) stations. When the coach reaches the round-a-bout (traffic circle) it goes anti-clockwise (counter clockwise) and gives way (yields) to other traffic. The trunk of a vehicle is the boot and the hood is the bonnet. The off side of a vehicle is the driver side and the near side is the opposite side, which is the side closest to the curb. Remember the English drive on the left side of the road.

            You get off the coach to muck around (browse) in the chemist shop (pharmacy). You may be looking for sticking plaster (adhesive tape) or elastoplast (bandaids). Later you stop at the iron monger’s shop (hardware store) and look for a torch (flashlight). You might even ask where you can find a shooting stick (cane). Wandering over to the stationary area you look for rubbers (erasers), scribbling blocks (scratch pads) and you might even spot a cute souvenir money box (bank) for the grandkids.

In the pharmacy there are children with dummies (pacifiers) in their mouth and you hope their nappies (diapers) are dry. Older children are fussing for iced lollies (popsicles) and candy floss (cotton candy). And every mother of little ones knows eventually she’ll have to spend a penny for a trip to the loo (bathroom).

When I bought my first theater ticket I was asked, “Balcony or stalls?”

I was confused me as I was going to the theater, not the barn. I guess the look on my face said it all and the gal explained, “Stalls are the main part of the theater.”

I could continue on for a long time, but I think this is enough for one day. Hope this produced a smile from you.