Telling time in U. K. English - Page 26

DMB · 09-23-2011, 07:29 PM

Being British, I find "oh" comes naturally to me, but because I am often speaking French, where "zero" is required, it's pretty random which one comes out if I'm communicating in English.

SeaBookGuy · 09-24-2011, 01:38 PM

I would give the phone number 555-5505 as "five five five five five oh five"; however, for 555-5005 I would more likely say "five five five five zero zero five". When dealing with someone inputting the number on the other end (hotel reservations, etc.), I use "zero" as I'm aware they'll be hitting the zero key, not the letter "O".

Bookworm Girl:

In my current library book, the American author runs across a Brit (in the U. S.) who had never heard of the expression "give the cold shoulder" before - I was rather surprised as I thought it was universal.

Bookworm_Girl · 09-25-2011, 05:23 AM

Weather was positively gorgeous yesterday. 19C and sunny. I had a lovely walk! It looks like another brilliant day again.

I was told that they are annoyed that one of my American colleagues frequently says "my bad", which is not a phrase that they use.

HarryT · 09-25-2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I was told that they are annoyed that one of my American colleagues frequently says "my bad", which is not a phrase that they use.

That's because it makes absolutely no sense. "Bad" is an adjective. My bad what? ""My bad" is not a sentence, and contains neither a subject nor a verb. It is totally meaningless. Where on Earth did it originate from?

Pinecone · 09-25-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's because it makes absolutely no sense. "Bad" is an adjective. My bad what? ""My bad" is not a sentence, and contains neither a subject nor a verb. It is totally meaningless. Where on Earth did it originate from?

Shakespeare.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/my-bad.html

HarryT · 09-25-2011, 06:39 AM

But Shakespeare is using it in a sentence. It's its use as an isolated fragment that is meaningless.

Bookworm_Girl · 09-25-2011, 07:18 AM

I had no idea the phrase was popularized in urban slang by the movie Clueless. I think it's annoying too.

So I ordered a drink in a pub on Friday and was asked again if I am from Canada. I don't get it why I am always asked that question here.

DMB · 09-25-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I had no idea the phrase was popularized in urban slang by the movie Clueless. I think it's annoying too.

So I ordered a drink in a pub on Friday and was asked again if I am from Canada. I don't get it why I am always asked that question here.

Could it be because you are not clad from head to toe in clashing tartans and with multiple camera slung round your neck? That would mean that according to the stereotype you couldn't be American!

HarryT · 09-25-2011, 11:30 AM

Plus of course, almost nobody in the UK (myself included) can distinguish a Canadian from a US accent.

Bookworm_Girl · 09-25-2011, 03:51 PM

I do try to blend in. It's just weird that it's always Canada. Maybe they get more Canadian than American visitors here.

Went shopping at the local mall today. Currys had a huge Kindle display at their entrance. Waterstones ereader display was a bit disappointing. None of the models were working, and they were really dirty. They were sold out of the iRiver Story and an Elonix(?) Color 5 inch reader.

HarryT · 09-25-2011, 04:01 PM

We don't have "malls"; we have "shopping centres"

.

Bookworm_Girl · 09-25-2011, 04:19 PM

Fair enough.

It's still a mall to me and many of the shops are identical to the US. I saved the brochure with the map and list of stores. It actually says "Mall Guide" on the front.

Bookworm_Girl · 09-26-2011, 06:34 PM

I was walking on the esplanade today and there was a sign on a post that said No Cold Calling after here. What does that mean? No solicitations?

HarryT · 09-27-2011, 03:10 AM

Cold callers are people who knock on your door trying to sell you things.

DMB · 09-27-2011, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I was walking on the esplanade today and there was a sign on a post that said No Cold Calling after here. What does that mean? No solicitations?

It's a term used by salespeople. If one makes calls trying to sell a product, one either calls someone or some company that has already expressed some sort of interest or one can try cold calls. Cold-calling is making unsolicited contact in the hope of a sale. In my experience the term is most frequently used in the context of making telephone calls.

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09-23-2011, 07:29 PM	#376
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	Being British, I find "oh" comes naturally to me, but because I am often speaking French, where "zero" is required, it's pretty random which one comes out if I'm communicating in English.

09-24-2011, 01:38 PM	#377
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I would give the phone number 555-5505 as "five five five five five oh five"; however, for 555-5005 I would more likely say "five five five five zero zero five". When dealing with someone inputting the number on the other end (hotel reservations, etc.), I use "zero" as I'm aware they'll be hitting the zero key, not the letter "O". Bookworm Girl: In my current library book, the American author runs across a Brit (in the U. S.) who had never heard of the expression "give the cold shoulder" before - I was rather surprised as I thought it was universal.

09-25-2011, 05:23 AM	#378
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	Weather was positively gorgeous yesterday. 19C and sunny. I had a lovely walk! It looks like another brilliant day again. I was told that they are annoyed that one of my American colleagues frequently says "my bad", which is not a phrase that they use.

09-25-2011, 06:39 AM	#381
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	But Shakespeare is using it in a sentence. It's its use as an isolated fragment that is meaningless.

09-25-2011, 07:18 AM	#382
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	I had no idea the phrase was popularized in urban slang by the movie Clueless. I think it's annoying too. So I ordered a drink in a pub on Friday and was asked again if I am from Canada. I don't get it why I am always asked that question here.

09-25-2011, 11:30 AM	#384
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Plus of course, almost nobody in the UK (myself included) can distinguish a Canadian from a US accent.

09-25-2011, 03:51 PM	#385
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	I do try to blend in. It's just weird that it's always Canada. Maybe they get more Canadian than American visitors here. Went shopping at the local mall today. Currys had a huge Kindle display at their entrance. Waterstones ereader display was a bit disappointing. None of the models were working, and they were really dirty. They were sold out of the iRiver Story and an Elonix(?) Color 5 inch reader.

09-25-2011, 04:01 PM	#386
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	We don't have "malls"; we have "shopping centres" .

09-25-2011, 04:19 PM	#387
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	Fair enough. It's still a mall to me and many of the shops are identical to the US. I saved the brochure with the map and list of stores. It actually says "Mall Guide" on the front.

09-26-2011, 06:34 PM	#388
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	I was walking on the esplanade today and there was a sign on a post that said No Cold Calling after here. What does that mean? No solicitations?

09-27-2011, 03:10 AM	#389
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Cold callers are people who knock on your door trying to sell you things.