How Fun?? My Bad??
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64362)
United Kingdom
September 18, 2016 5:36pm CST
Whenever I see ''How fun'' or ''Very fun'' written on here I know that an American is the author. We Brits would say ''What fun'' or ''Such fun''.
There are so many differences between the way the Americans use the English language, and the way that the Brits do.
For instance, I have sometimes been confused by an American saying that something was ''quite good'', and then going on to praise it lavishly. I've come to realise that they meant it was very good, whereas if a Brit had said it, it would mean it was bordering on the mediocre.
Another thing that seems strange to me is ''My bad''. Though the meaning is apparent, it just seems an odd thing to say, as 'bad' is an adjective. When I first heard it I wondered ''Your bad what?''.
And then there's the American ''could care less'', when what they actually mean is that they couldn't care less.
I'm not having a pop at Americans (honestly
), as they know I love them really, but I'm just noting the differences in the phraseology of the Americans and Brits.
Have you come across any phrases that seemed odd to you?
Image from Pixabay.
), as they know I love them really, but I'm just noting the differences in the phraseology of the Americans and Brits.
Have you come across any phrases that seemed odd to you?
Image from Pixabay.76 people like this
76 responses
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
18 Sep 16
When will you people learn how to speak American?!?!? An elevator is NOT a lift--it also takes people down--and I could give you 5,000 other words that the Brits (LOL) use wrongly!!
17 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 16
@GreatMartin Now Martin, the key word in this discussion is 'phraseology', not individual meanings of words. As you say, there are lots of words that you/we (lol) use incorrectly - in fact I've written other posts on that subject.
What I'm talking about here is the odd juxtaposition of words that you across the pond use 
. As you say, there are lots of words that you/we (lol) use incorrectly - in fact I've written other posts on that subject.
What I'm talking about here is the odd juxtaposition of words that you across the pond use 11 people like this
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
18 Sep 16
@jaboUK They are not odd to us just as 'phraseology' you use is not odd to you so once again I will ask--when will you Brits learn American English???? 
13 people like this
@Juliaacv (48568)
• Canada
18 Sep 16
In Canada we say something uniquely, we are known for our famous "eh" and take a lot of ribbing for it.
I think that I would say such fun, I never ever use the term couldn't care less, it sounds so ignorant to me.
But, like you, I'm just noticing a few differences.
When speaking of pop, we call it that, whereas our neighbours to the south usually call it soda.
I do not know of too many other differences, but you can hear them in their accents depending on what part of the country they hail from, and I suppose that the same is true for us.
10 people like this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
19 Sep 16
'My bad' puzzled me a lot when I noticed it for the first time. I learnt British English at school and have stuck to it. I visited the USA three times but only for two weeks each time. Not enough to adopt any Americanisms. When we were flying home the last time, I talked to an American fellow passenger. After a while he said to me, "You talk English real good." I nearly fell out of my seat. My red correction pen opened automatically. Two grammar errors in one short sentence! I would be hard put to get used to American English.
Brits must feel strange when travelling in the USA. One American told me that he liked British English, it was such a 'cute accent'. British English, the mother of all Englishes (?!) an accent!!
8 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
20 Sep 16
@sherryericha Yes, 'bloody' is a swear word, but though a mild one, not something you'd use in earshot of your mother 
. However, it's not always a swear word - if you have an accident and are bleeding it's perfectly acceptable to say 'I have a bloody nose/ toe' etc.
. However, it's not always a swear word - if you have an accident and are bleeding it's perfectly acceptable to say 'I have a bloody nose/ toe' etc.2 people like this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
20 Sep 16
Okay, should it be "you speak very well"? Not sure because of the "English" reference. American English or British English doesn't seem correct.
Also is the use of "bloody" considered cursing? Always wondered about that
4 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
19 Sep 16
Even American English and Canadian English are different. We use serviettes, they call them napkins.we use a toboggan to sled on. They wear them on their heads...the picture I get here is hilarious.
11 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt I generally find that Canadian English is nearer to the original than the American.
I'm not quite sure what you mean - what do we wear on our heads?
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt We have the same meaning as you - a toque is a sort of hat, a toboggan is a sled or sledge. That's why I didn't understand what you were referring to.
8 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
19 Sep 16
@jaboUK American refer to a toque (beanie hat) as a toboggan. In Canada a toboggan is a sled, used in the winter.....imagine trying to wear a sled on your head?
9 people like this
@AmbiePam (85174)
• United States
19 Sep 16
Oh no. One correction about Americans. Some say couldn't care less. The ones who pay attention in school know it's couldn't care less. That's an uneducated American who just says "could"., not simply an American. My mom was an English professor and that's one thing she heard a lot of. However, I just ended that sentence with a preposition so maybe I shouldn't comment on education. I just wanted to stand up on behalf of well spoken Americans.
7 people like this
@rebelann (111033)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Sep 16
Now that you mention it ...... but I need to ask what the phrase "I could not care less" actually means. (you wrote "I couldn't care less") I think if proper English were actually spoken neither would be acceptable or both would be cornfuzing or..... dang, I'm cornfuzed 
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 16
@rebelann Oh, lol, now you're confusing me too! I wrote 'couldn't' because that is the usual phrase used, but it means that the subject has no interest for you at all. Whereas, if you 'could care less' it means that you do care, even if only slightly.
3 people like this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I love @GreatMartin response.Not going to touch this.Me bad.LOL
8 people like this
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
18 Sep 16
Alfredo, they talk funny over there 'across the pond' like the Atlantic Ocean is a pond!!!
5 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48859)
• United States
18 Sep 16
Recently when I mentioned that my daddy had a green thumb you said that you say green fingers.
7 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 16
@Tampa_girl7 Yes, that's another good illustration of a different phrase with the same meaning.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 16
@sol_cee Oh yes, that's a whole new can of worms!. It's confusing, and on a par with us calling the ground floor of a building the ground floor, and the Americans calling it the 1st floor. So all the way up the building we are out of sync with each other.
3 people like this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
19 Sep 16
Sometimes I come across sentences that sound very strange. Some of them American. "My Bad", is relatively new, so is "How fun" and "very fun" I don't know where they came from. We've always said "I could care less" and "quiet good". I'm sure there are many more that sound strange to the ear.
5 people like this
@marguicha (215030)
• Chile
19 Sep 16
I have learned a lot of English here in mylot. And since I write online (first playing poker online) I have also come across the lol, lmao and the rest.
4 people like this
@marguicha (215030)
• Chile
19 Sep 16
@jaboUK I only played poker with tokens. As for the difference I notice (as a person whose native tongue is not English) is mostly about swear words. I have never heard the "bloody" this or that in American English. They use worse words.
The accent, of course, is completly different.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 16
@marguicha Yes 'bloody' is a swear word here, but not always. For instance, if someone is hurt and has a bloody toe etc. that is perfectly acceptable.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 16
@marguicha Oh yes - I've only learnt those expressions since I've been online these last three years, but they aren't specific to any one country. It's 'computer speak' or 'text-speak'.
I like to play poker online too, but only virtual - I don't risk losing any real money.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
19 Sep 16
greeting people with 'Hey' seems odd - we would say Eh? if not hearing people properly and requesting a repeat of something said. We would say hi, or hello, rather than hey
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 16
@arthurchappell The use of 'eh?' is common I agree, but it always seems impolite to me. And yes, our greetings are usually hi or hello. 'Hello' is odd in itself as it is equally valid when spelt 'hallo' or 'hullo'.
3 people like this
@DianneN (246336)
• United States
19 Sep 16
There are many differences in idioms and slang among countries all over the world. Some just show ignorance. We call water with gas sparking or carbonated water here. Boots are something we wear on our feet to protect them from rain, mud, and snow for example. The only things that truly make me want to rip my hair out are run-on sentences!
Now if you really want to get into some fun language, let's discuss some Irish words. My son's future brother-in-law is from Ireland. What we consider curse words here are terms of endearment to the Irish.
5 people like this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
20 Sep 16
I plead guilty to run on sentences. I write a draft, then go over the text. What was I thinking, I ask myself? Sometimes I can make 3 sentences out of one in the draft.
I like Irish slang. What is it they call a young woman, a "Colleen"?
4 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Sep 16
I got nothing, but when I was in England, we hung out with a couple of girls we'd met, all of us picking up and using each other's phrases and words. Too bad I can't remember them.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 16
@teamfreak16 I didn't know you'd been to England Scott, perhaps some phrases will come back to you later.
4 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Sep 16
@jaboUK - I was there in 1989 for a concert festival. I quite enjoyed the entire experience (see what I did there?)
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 16
@responsiveme it's the Americans' way of saying ''My mistake'' and accepting responsibility for it.
3 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
19 Sep 16
@jaboUK I learnt something new just now.:)
4 people like this
