Recent Posts

71

English & Linguistics / Re: English-to-English translation

« Last post by rivka on September 20, 2024, 03:18:55 PM »

"You've got tickets on yourself" is pretty great.

Yeah, and that one I was pretty sure of the meaning by context, but looked it up to confirm.

Some of the others I was completely  until I looked them up.

72

English & Linguistics / Re: English-to-English translation

« Last post by Jonathon on September 20, 2024, 07:57:56 AM »

I thought a ute was just a truck based on a passenger car chassis, like an El Camino, but Wikipedia says the term expanded at some point.

"You've got tickets on yourself" is pretty great.

73

English & Linguistics / Re: English-to-English translation

« Last post by rivka on September 20, 2024, 12:14:06 AM »

I've been watching an Australian show (to follow up all the UK ones I was watching before that). Lots of odd (to my ears, at least) slang and word usage, including:

doona = duvet
arvo = afternoon
chook = chicken (I knew this one already, but it's still weird)
off his/her face = very drunk or high
root (noun or verb) = mildly rude word for sex
rooted = broken
ute = truck or SUV
nursing babies = working as a nurse with babies
Combi/Kombi = VW van (or similar) meant for transporting both people and lots of stuff
you've got tickets on yourself = seriously conceited

74

English & Linguistics / Re: Funny English and Linguistics stuff...

« Last post by Tante Shvester on September 19, 2024, 05:11:39 PM »

Walkie-talkie is a ridiculous name for a hand-held two-way radio.  Did they give the job of naming it to toddlers?

75

English & Linguistics / Re: The random etymology of the day

« Last post by Tante Shvester on September 10, 2024, 09:02:01 PM »

The super part is high or raised and the cilious is hair like cilia. Supercilious is a raised eyebrow.

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English & Linguistics / Re: The random etymology of the day

« Last post by pooka on September 10, 2024, 11:26:03 AM »

Supercilious?

77

English & Linguistics / Re: The random etymology of the day

« Last post by Tante Shvester on September 05, 2024, 08:22:30 PM »

The "sub" in substance is the base that supports stuff so that it is sturdy.  Something that is substantial is firm and well-supported.  Now that I realize this, I want flimsy things to be superstantial.

78

English & Linguistics / Re: Strange Proununciations

« Last post by pooka on August 30, 2024, 10:18:37 AM »

What about the sh in fiduciary?  And does it depend in if you're pronouncing the second i? 

79

English & Linguistics / Re: Strange Proununciations

« Last post by pooka on August 30, 2024, 10:16:05 AM »

I do the "prounounce it twice" way.  Which I guess makes sense because I learned it from my father, who learned English in the Western US. 

80

English & Linguistics / Re: Funny English and Linguistics stuff...

« Last post by pooka on August 30, 2024, 10:13:45 AM »

My husband likes the outlander books, but has only experienced them on audio.