Anyone here from the UK? Need some help with British English.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

I believe I had some sort of stuffed toy. A leopard, I think.

Oh, you mean for city streets? At least in my reading, the term "blocks" goes back quite a ways in the US. Bilbo is the one who said they made no sense, leaving me wondering how you tell someone how far to go.

We'd just say "go a hundred yards" or "a quarter of a mile" or however far it might be.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

So what do y'all have instead of blocks?

Lego.

[mr ploppy]

It's too posh, unless they're both toffs. If they are toffs they wouldn't say things like "bloke".

[mandahill]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

It's too posh, unless they're both toffs. If they are toffs they wouldn't say things like "bloke".

I'd agree - 'infernal Society blokes' sounds particularly odd. Infernal being very upper class as an adjective and blokes being much more informal. 'damned Society types' would fit an upper class speaker, while '[expletive of choice] Society blokes' would be better for someone less posh.

The only other piece of dialogue that gave me pause was 'with prejudice'. It's not a phrase I've ever heard a British English speaker use (although admittedly I don't move in legal circles!), although I have heard 'without prejudice'.

And there's an awful lot of grinning happening in this short extract. You might want to replace one of them with a smile, instead.

Amanda

[Steven Lake]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Seems mostly okay to me, but I'm not too sure many would use 'infernal' .... more likely 'sodding' .... but it depends on your context of course ....

I actually went with the suggestion to use the expression "bloody" in place of "infernal". Sodding sounded too off base for someone who's supposed to be more classy and upper crust, civil servant or not.

[neilmarr]

***At least in my reading, the term "blocks" goes back quite a ways in the US***

Right, Worldwalker. What you must bear in mind, though, it that American cities are relatively new and were designed and built from scratch on a sensible grid system of straight streets and avenues, divided by 'building blocks' of pretty well equal length.

This didn't happen in, for instance, Europe where most towns and cities go back to pre-Roman times and developed haphazardly, often following ancient tracks and geographical contours.

You could never get (geographically) lost in New York, but in London, for instance, licenced Hackney Carriage drivers (the famous London cabbies) have to go through what's known as 'the knowledge' ... two years of going around town on a pushbike to get to know the city's nooks and crannies intimately. Then they must pass a rigorous test before being awarded their licence.

Europeans tend to direct strangers according to the number of streets and turns and, of course, distance. Landmarks in the UK were once churches, but now they're pubs ...

"Straight down there, mate. You'll pass three streets on your left. Ignore those. Turn right at the Glog and Ferret. You'll find Grub Street second left, just at the traffic lights. About ten minutes' walk."

Cumbersome, but those bloody Druids and Romans left us no choice.

Bestest. Neil

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sounds fine to me, Steve. Oh, by the way, another word we don't use is "downtown" .

Unless your name's Petula .

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by HarryT

We'd just say "go a hundred yards" or "a quarter of a mile" or however far it might be.

Hundred metres, half a klick.

[neilmarr]

Of course, every kid over five now has a satellite positioning system in his watch or mobile phone/iPad. I guess the quaint old British tradition of giving complex directions (even if you don't know them [it's considered crass discourtesy to admit you don't]) will also soon become a thing of the past. Hoots. Neil

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Unless your name's Petula .

We use the phrase "going down town" to mean "going into town" (eg to do some shopping or go drinking). That definition would fit in with that song, but "down town" isn't a noun, and doesn't have the same meaning as it does in America. A direct translation of "downtown" in that context would be "inner city" or "town centre".

[GeoffC]

The usual response to "How far is it" , is

"not far tha knows"....

[neilmarr]

Also, Mr Ploppy, there is 'up town' which -- wherever you are -- means London. You go 'up' to London and are sent 'down' from Oxford. Hoots. Neil

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

The usual response to "How far is it" , is

"not far tha knows"....

Tha dunt knor nowt man. It's not far tha noz thaz on about. Knows is fort toff what has gerbils int bath instead o coil. Reet?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

I guess the quaint old British tradition of giving complex directions (even if you don't know them [it's considered crass discourtesy to admit you don't]) will also soon become a thing of the past. Hoots. Neil

I always add the "well I wouldn't start from here" caveat; and then leg it before they come back to accost me for giving them a bunch of duff info.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Also, Mr Ploppy, there is 'up town' which -- wherever you are -- means London. You go 'up' to London and are sent 'down' from Oxford. Hoots. Neil

We just call it "that there London".