British phrases - Page 7

footfootfoot · 11-24-2006, 03:21 PM

In an episode of Thomas the Tank Engine (UK) Daisy claims she is "highly sprung and anything smelly is bad for her swerves." is there some Britishness in this or is it just "stuff and nonsense"?

Clodfobble · 11-24-2006, 09:15 PM

I always thought (stepson is a HUGE Thomas the Tank Engine fan, I know the episode you speak of) that it was a pair of stupid train puns, for the phrase "high-strung and anything smelly is bad for her nerves". Not that that makes a whole lot of sense either, but at least those are two known phrases.

footfootfoot · 11-24-2006, 10:52 PM

That makes a lot of sense, I think you are right. I have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be.

Did you hear the UK version with Ringo Starr narrating? It seems kind of funny.

wolf · 11-25-2006, 12:44 AM

I preferred the Ringo Starr versions, not that I've seen a lot of episodes of Thomas. My friend's kid was into it (his father is a real train engineer) and I had to keep up to be able to talk to him when he was three.

Sundae · 11-25-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

Hmm. you may need to move to a nicer area?

Quite right - although in honesty 1 was on a dvd, 1 was in London and the other was shock value

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Did you hear the UK version with Ringo Starr narrating? It seems kind of funny.

Whaaaaaat? I never even realised there was another version?! Okay I haven't seen Thomas in years, but the Ringo Starr narration was an essential part of it for me. Although this may have been because my Dad used to read the books to my brother in the same accent (well, doing a very very bad Ringo Starr impression). We occasionally try to get him to do it at family get-togethers but he denies all knowledge. Parents.

Clodfobble · 11-25-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Whaaaaaat? I never even realised there was another version?!

The comedian George Carlin does most (all? all the ones I've seen anyway) of the ones in the US.

dar512 · 11-25-2006, 11:55 AM

How about "hang it all"? Is it still used?

footfootfoot · 11-25-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

The comedian George Carlin does most (all? all the ones I've seen anyway) of the ones in the US.

That is awesome, to me. 90% of our Thomas watching is "split screen" i.e. Youtube thomas on one side and a very skinny cellar on the other. So I get a mix of George Carlin and Ringo. I think it is positively subversive that GC is narrating. If Zappa were alive, he'd be another choice.

"a little green tank engine, makes a muffin ???"

monster · 11-26-2006, 08:09 PM

here's two I just remembered:

Did you have a scrap with the lawnmower?

She looks like she's been dragged through a hedge backwards.

Undertoad · 11-26-2006, 08:27 PM

The simple "Ta" as "thank you" -- is it still in use?

Aliantha · 11-26-2006, 08:28 PM

We say Ta over here for thankyou. In fact, that's the word most mothers get their kids to say for thankyou when they're first learning to speak.

orthodoc · 11-26-2006, 10:03 PM

What about 'daft', as in 'Are you daft (meaning crazy)?

Or 'Ta Ta!', meaning 'good bye'?

DanaC · 11-27-2006, 04:22 AM

Ta, daft and ta-ta are all still in use in Brit.

dar512 · 11-27-2006, 04:31 PM

And "hang it all"?

DanaC · 11-27-2006, 04:36 PM

Not much used in my experience. 'Bugger it' is more likely. And 'Bugger that for a game of soldiers'...oh yeah and 'sod it'

11-24-2006, 03:21 PM	#91
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	In an episode of Thomas the Tank Engine (UK) Daisy claims she is "highly sprung and anything smelly is bad for her swerves." is there some Britishness in this or is it just "stuff and nonsense"? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

11-24-2006, 10:52 PM	#93
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	That makes a lot of sense, I think you are right. I have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be. Did you hear the UK version with Ringo Starr narrating? It seems kind of funny. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

11-25-2006, 12:44 AM	#94
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I preferred the Ringo Starr versions, not that I've seen a lot of episodes of Thomas. My friend's kid was into it (his father is a real train engineer) and I had to keep up to be able to talk to him when he was three. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-25-2006, 11:55 AM	#97
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	How about "hang it all"? Is it still used? __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-26-2006, 08:09 PM	#99
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	here's two I just remembered: Did you have a scrap with the lawnmower? She looks like she's been dragged through a hedge backwards. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

11-24-2006, 09:15 PM	#92
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I always thought (stepson is a HUGE Thomas the Tank Engine fan, I know the episode you speak of) that it was a pair of stupid train puns, for the phrase "high-strung and anything smelly is bad for her nerves". Not that that makes a whole lot of sense either, but at least those are two known phrases.

11-26-2006, 08:27 PM	#100
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The simple "Ta" as "thank you" -- is it still in use?

11-26-2006, 08:28 PM	#101
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	We say Ta over here for thankyou. In fact, that's the word most mothers get their kids to say for thankyou when they're first learning to speak. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-26-2006, 10:03 PM	#102
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	What about 'daft', as in 'Are you daft (meaning crazy)? Or 'Ta Ta!', meaning 'good bye'? __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

11-27-2006, 04:22 AM	#103
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Ta, daft and ta-ta are all still in use in Brit.

11-27-2006, 04:31 PM	#104
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	And "hang it all"? __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

11-27-2006, 04:36 PM	#105
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Not much used in my experience. 'Bugger it' is more likely. And 'Bugger that for a game of soldiers'...oh yeah and 'sod it'

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