MisterPeabody - thread for you!

[Si]

Thought I could try answer these for you outside the trainwreck that is the tube8 thread.

If you missed it, we had a pretty long thread before with DynaMo asking questions about the UK but I don't think your's came up so here we go. Let's try and get them answered.

Originally Posted by MisterPeabody

Yes but WHY is "wanker" that offensive?
Fuck is a swear word, universally considered a swear word. Can't say it, got it (although you DO hear it on British telly once in a while)

Cunt is a female vagina (as opposed to a male vagina). Okay, body part, got it.

Wanker?????????

A "wanker" is someone who masturbates. If someone said to me: You MASTURBATER!!!! You MASTURBATE? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You MASTURBATER!" i would laugh and go, "Don't you? Thrice a day?"

So seriously, WHY is 'wanker' SOOOO offensive? Is it cultural? Not being snarky here, seriously curious.

(I've got tons of other questions, too, like why call an apartment a 'flat'? What, no duplexes in London? And why is a truck a "lorry"? Why is a bathroom a 'loo'? Why is a line of people a 'Q'? What, do they make Brits curl around into Q's while waiting on line? I understand why an elevater is called a 'lift' (they lift things/people) but why are FRENCH fries called 'chips'? Why is an argument a 'row' (pronouced rOW)? Oh, so confusing....)

Wanker is like calling someone a fucking idiot aswell as the term of someone who likes to play with his tackle.

It could be used as if to say "you are a fucking idiot and you have to masturbate because nobody likes you and girls think you are a cunt" But put into 1 little word: Wanker

If you say it to a mate it could be like calling him an idiot.

"I dropped my phone and smashed the screen"

"You fucking wanker! haha"

But say it to someone you don't know and it probably wouldn't be in a funny context.

A flat is called a flat because it is one floor, i.e. it is "flat" a 2 storey place would be a house.
It also depends on when the building was built, these days they are calling them appartments more and more.

A duplex/triplex/whatever would probably be called maisonette. (small house or house split into smaller houses)

Why a truck is called a lorry?

The word truck might have come from a back-formation of truckle with the meaning small wheel, pulley, from Middle English trokell, in turn from Latin trochlea. Another explanation is that it comes from Latin trochus with the meaning of iron hoop. In turn, both go back to Greek trokhos with the meaning wheel, from trekhein that meant "to run". The first known usage of "truck" was in 1611 when it referred to the small, strong wheels on ships' cannon carriages. In its extended usage it came to refer to carts for carrying heavy loads, a meaning known since 1771. With the meaning of motor-powered load carrier, it has been in usage since 1930, shortened from motor truck who dates back to 1916.[1][2] Lorry has a more uncertain origin, but probably has its roots in the railroad industry, where the word is known to have been used in 1838 to refer to a type of truck (a freight car as in British usage, not a bogie as in the American), specifically a large, flat wagon. It probably derives from the verb lurry (to pull, tug) of uncertain origin. With the meaning of self-propelled vehicle for carrying goods it has been in usage since 1911.[3][4]

A cue, not Q is like being in line cued up, do you schedule anything?
Like when you are a DJ you cue the next track? It is next in line, hence cue is like being lined up.

Chips are big and chunky, fries are thin. and crisps are your chips.
I think crisps make far more sense, because they are crispy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries

I don't know where row comes from. But it is basically a verbal fight. I will have to look that up.

Hope this helps

[Juicy D. Links]

which is better being a wanker or a bloke?

[adultzone]

I go for wanker!

[Si]

Originally Posted by Juicy D. Links

which is better being a wanker or a bloke?

A Bloke for sure.

[Cherry7]

The biggest compliment is being called "Spunky"

[barcodes]

Not trying to troll, think the correct spelling is queue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue

The word is used in programming as well, which is why i noticed it. again not trying to troll ya, just pointing it out. Sorry If i am wrong and there is a cue for lines as well, I was curious and googled cue and only got a signal or like a pool cue. The term queue is used in the U.S. a lot, as well as in other places.

[Si]

Originally Posted by barcodes

Not trying to troll, think the correct spelling is queue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue

The word is used in programming as well, which is why i noticed it. again not trying to troll ya, just pointing it out. Sorry If i am wrong and there is a cue for lines as well, I was curious and googled cue and only got a signal or like a pool cue. The term queue is used in the U.S. a lot, as well as in other places.

Yep that's right

Forgot about that spelling, not really a word you would write a lot. More like saying: "Fucking pissed off waiting in this Queue"

[Si]

Originally Posted by Cherry7

The biggest compliment is being called "Spunky"

You think so?

If a bloke calls you spunky I would be worried

[L-Pink]

You randy wanker get me a fag. ....... How's that for the Queens english"

[ottopottomouse]

Originally Posted by Si

I don't know where row comes from. But it is basically a verbal fight. I will have to look that up.

From a row also being a lot of noise.

[barcodes]

Originally Posted by Si

You think so?

If a bloke calls you spunky I would be worried

lol look at the different definitions for it
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spunky

hah now i know not to throw that around if I ever go to the UK

[Si]

Originally Posted by ottopottomouse

From a row also being a lot of noise.

I tried looking up origins but couldn't find any. So don't know where it actually comes from. Just one of them words I guess.

Why is a foot called a foot and not an elephant? kinda thing

[Si]

Originally Posted by barcodes

lol look her at the different definitions for it
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spunky

hah now i know not to throw that around if I ever go to the UK

Excactly!

I wouldn't mind being called spunky by an aussie girl though.

[ottopottomouse]

Originally Posted by Si

Why is a foot called a foot and not an elephant?

Cause you'd look a right Joey with a pair of elephants on the ends of your pins.

Etymology for foot as a measurement is just based on the length of a mans foot.

[CaptainHowdy]

[Si]

Originally Posted by ottopottomouse

Cause you'd look a right Joey with a pair of elephants on the ends of your pins.

Etymology for foot as a measurement is just based on the length of a mans foot.

It's true though, "row" as a word doesn't make sense. It is just there and it is used.

[georgeyw]

'A line of people a Q'

Peabody, I hope you were taking the piss with that comment, if you weren't then just fucking WOW!

[Deej]

fuck actually originated from an ancient monk society.
.. its a religious word

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by Deej

fuck actually originated from an ancient monk society.
.. its a religious word

I could understand a load of monks thinking of pussy or saying blowjob or something, but why would they have thought of fuck.. dirty ancient monk societies

[dyna mo]

slightly off-topic, what's the dif between a pound and a quid?

[ottopottomouse]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

slightly off-topic, what's the dif between a pound and a quid?

Nuffink.

[RazorSharpe]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

slightly off-topic, what's the dif between a pound and a quid?

A pound and a quid are the same. Quid is merely a slang term used for a pound. There are LOADS of "suggested" origins for the word quid and while I won't bore you with the few that I do know, here is one:

If you look at the website fromoldbooks.org and then navigate to "Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue" (Francis Groce, 1811) (a link will make this easier: http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/ ) it states the definition of quid as follows: "quid - The quantity of tobacco put into the mouth at one time. To quid tobacco; to chew tobacco. Quid est hoc? hoc est quid; a guinea. Half a quid; half a guinea.

So that is one "suggested" origin ... and since I have an extra spare minute I'll briefly touch on another "suggested" origin. There use to be (now closed) a paper mill called Quidhampton paper mill. It apparently made the special paper used for bank notes.

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by ottopottomouse

Nuffink.

zilch, zero, nada, nothing, nutting, nuffing... pound, quid & some uk folk even say dollar, for the same, a pound!??? like answer that one

[dyna mo]

cool thx, i kinda thought they might mean the same, just wasn't sure, the way those terms are bandied about on top gear got me thinking.

[ArsewithClass]

ahhh yes, like Jeremy giving it the... "and you can buy this car for just 1.5million quid" lol.. nice one

[CaptainHowdy]

Originally Posted by ottopottomouse

Nuffink.

[Si]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

cool thx, i kinda thought they might mean the same, just wasn't sure, the way those terms are bandied about on top gear got me thinking.

EDIT: No they don't never mind.

I love the Canadian saying, "buy one pair of shoes! and get another pair for a loonie!"

[Si]

Originally Posted by ArsewithClass

zilch, zero, nada, nothing, nutting, nuffing... pound, quid & some uk folk even say dollar, for the same, a pound!??? like answer that one

The only people in the UK calling it dollar are white chav idiots trying to be black 100% of the time.

Unless the term is now being used to compare how shit both currencies are doing

[Juicy D. Links]

Originally Posted by adultzone

I go for wanker!

Wanker

Originally Posted by Si

A Bloke for sure.

Bloke

Originally Posted by Cherry7

The biggest compliment is being called "Spunky"

Wanker

Originally Posted by barcodes

Not trying to troll, think the correct spelling is queue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue

The word is used in programming as well, which is why i noticed it. again not trying to troll ya, just pointing it out. Sorry If i am wrong and there is a cue for lines as well, I was curious and googled cue and only got a signal or like a pool cue. The term queue is used in the U.S. a lot, as well as in other places.

Wanker

Originally Posted by Si

Yep that's right
Wanker
Forgot about that spelling, not really a word you would write a lot. More like saying: "Fucking pissed off waiting in this Queue"

Originally Posted by Si

You think so?

If a bloke calls you spunky I would be worried

Bloke

Originally Posted by L-Pink

You randy wanker get me a fag. ....... How's that for the Queens english"

Bloke

Originally Posted by ottopottomouse

From a row also being a lot of noise.

Bloke

Originally Posted by dyna mo

slightly off-topic, what's the dif between a pound and a quid?

Bloke

Originally Posted by Si

The only people in the UK calling it dollar are white chav idiots trying to be black 100% of the time.

Unless the term is now being used to compare how shit both currencies are doing

Wanker

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by Si

The only people in the UK calling it dollar are white chav idiots trying to be black 100% of the time.

Unless the term is now being used to compare how shit both currencies are doing

Id say the second option fits much better

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by ArsewithClass

ahhh yes, like Jeremy giving it the... "and you can buy this car for just 1.5million quid" lol.. nice one

right, then the short one would fire back with a "mine's only a million quid!"

[georgeyw]

Originally Posted by Juicy D. Links

Wanker


Bloke


Wanker



Wanker



Bloke

Bloke

Bloke

Bloke

Wanker

Jerk Off........

[The Porn Nerd]

Originally Posted by Si

Thought I could try answer these for you outside the trainwreck that is the tube8 thread.

If you missed it, we had a pretty long thread before with DynaMo asking questions about the UK but I don't think your's came up so here we go. Let's try and get them answered.



Wanker is like calling someone a fucking idiot aswell as the term of someone who likes to play with his tackle.

It could be used as if to say "you are a fucking idiot and you have to masturbate because nobody likes you and girls think you are a cunt" But put into 1 little word: Wanker

If you say it to a mate it could be like calling him an idiot.

"I dropped my phone and smashed the screen"

"You fucking wanker! haha"

But say it to someone you don't know and it probably wouldn't be in a funny context.

A flat is called a flat because it is one floor, i.e. it is "flat" a 2 storey place would be a house.
It also depends on when the building was built, these days they are calling them appartments more and more.

A duplex/triplex/whatever would probably be called maisonette. (small house or house split into smaller houses)

Why a truck is called a lorry?



A cue, not Q is like being in line cued up, do you schedule anything?
Like when you are a DJ you cue the next track? It is next in line, hence cue is like being lined up.

Chips are big and chunky, fries are thin. and crisps are your chips.
I think crisps make far more sense, because they are crispy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries

I don't know where row comes from. But it is basically a verbal fight. I will have to look that up.

Hope this helps

This is what I get for working all damn day - I totally missed this thread! LOL But Thank You for the definitions, although in my defense when it comes to 'lorry' there's a lot of "uncertain origins" going on there. LOL And I'm still waiting for why a bathroom is a "Loo". Maybe because you go "Hel-loo?" to find out if someone's in there?

Originally Posted by georgeyw

'A line of people a Q'

Peabody, I hope you were taking the piss with that comment, if you weren't then just fucking WOW!

Well, one must always check the time of one of my postings to make sure: pre-Midnight I'm probably serious, post-Midnight, anything goes. Heh. But I was being "funny" there - I thought it might be because of 'queue' but A. that's French (Latin?) and B. the explanation from Si (a Brit) was 'cue', so no Q's there. The mystery continues (although I'm willing to accept 'queue').

[barcodes]

Originally Posted by Juicy D. Links

Wanker


Bloke


Wanker



Wanker



Bloke

Bloke

Bloke

Bloke

Wanker

[Si]

Originally Posted by MisterPeabody

This is what I get for working all damn day - I totally missed this thread! LOL But Thank You for the definitions, although in my defense when it comes to 'lorry' there's a lot of "uncertain origins" going on there. LOL And I'm still waiting for why a bathroom is a "Loo". Maybe because you go "Hel-loo?" to find out if someone's in there?

Well, one must always check the time of one of my postings to make sure: pre-Midnight I'm probably serious, post-Midnight, anything goes. Heh. But I was being "funny" there - I thought it might be because of 'queue' but A. that's French (Latin?) and B. the explanation from Si (a Brit) was 'cue', so no Q's there. The mystery continues (although I'm willing to accept 'queue').

Sorry I forgot about loo! And I got q/cue/queue wrong myself it should be Queue like above. My first thought was what I posted. I have never had to read or write that word so I got it wrong. But I have waited in plenty of them

With Loo, we wouldn't say bathroom for a start, unless there was an actual bath in the room. It would be a lavatory / lav / toilette / pisser / etc

This is the only decent link I could find on loo http://kottke.org/05/02/loo-etymology

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

right, then the short one would fire back with a "mine's only a million quid!"

Dont you just love Hammond!

He nearly died trying to beat the world land speed record

Alls good though, alive & kicking & most definatly not slowed down

[Juicy D. Links]

Originally Posted by georgeyw

Jerk Off........

bloke!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Porn Nerd]

Originally Posted by Si

Sorry I forgot about loo! And I got q/cue/queue wrong myself it should be Queue like above. My first thought was what I posted. I have never had to read or write that word so I got it wrong. But I have waited in plenty of them

With Loo, we wouldn't say bathroom for a start, unless there was an actual bath in the room. It would be a lavatory / lav / toilette / pisser / etc

This is the only decent link I could find on loo http://kottke.org/05/02/loo-etymology

Thanks for the link! It seems to have been James Joyce's fault, calling it 'loo' (the wanker).

So given lorry and loo, and the uncertain etmyological history of both, I'd say we Americans (okay, THIS American) is somewhat justified when it comes to being confused by British word useage. LOL

Of course, this is coming from a "culture" where we park on a driveway and drive on a parkway so what the fuck do we know? :D

[georgeyw]

Originally Posted by MisterPeabody

Well, one must always check the time of one of my postings to make sure: pre-Midnight I'm probably serious, post-Midnight, anything goes. Heh. But I was being "funny" there - I thought it might be because of 'queue' but A. that's French (Latin?) and B. the explanation from Si (a Brit) was 'cue', so no Q's there. The mystery continues (although I'm willing to accept 'queue').

Didn't think it was
He made a mistake there - cue != 'Q' aka queue

Originally Posted by Juicy D. Links

bloke!!!!!!!!!!!!

haha - Bloke is more of 'hey mate' type of expression. Not derogatory at all.

[The Porn Nerd]

Do we know the origins of 'Git' and 'Prat'? Those are quite useful.

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by MisterPeabody

Do we know the origins of 'Git' and 'Prat'? Those are quite useful.

I use prat, but more for my children when they do something foolish... Rodney trotter gets called git by Del Boy quite a bit in "only fools and horses"