Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

US Phrases That Annoy Brits

"Happy Holidays", and "Have a nice day," irksome Americanisms

By Victoria Floethe,  Newser User

Posted Dec 27, 2008 6:50 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – Toby Harnden must live among Yanks in his job as a correspondent for the UK's Telegraph, and sometimes American phrases drive him nuts. Here are his worst offenders:

  • Happy holidays (just say Christmas, please)
  • Have a nice day (make it stop)
  • You're welcome (this one's just "Pavlovian" to him)

  • Do the math (equivalent of "work it out yourself, stupid," he explains to fellow Brits)
  • How are you today? (as if anybody truly cares)
  • Good luck with that (he translates it as "you have no chance")
  • Oh my gosh (fear of blasphemy, he guesses)
  • Not so much (he takes it to mean "you're completely wrong")

George Bernard Shaw said that the US and the UK are two nations divided by a common language.
George Bernard Shaw said that the US and the UK are "two nations divided by a common language."
Victoria Pendleton holds up the British flag after celebrating her victory in the Women's Sprint cycle race in March. Have a nice day, Victoria.
Victoria Pendleton holds up the British flag after celebrating her victory in the Women's Sprint cycle race in March. Have a nice day, Victoria.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
Guest
Dec 31, 2008 12:18 AM CST
I may be all wet, but the first time I heard the phrase "Not so much" was in the Borat movie, when he's telling the guy at the table that the other two women are hot, but his wife? Ehh, not so much. If that's actually where the phrase originated from, it's pretty ironic, since Sacha Baron Cohen is British!
Sleepy1
Dec 30, 2008 6:52 AM CST
Oh, my days! Those daft American wankers -- this is spot on! What silly blokes with their funny speech. Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm quite knackered and due for tea with me mum over yonder. Cheerio, guvnah!
Guest
Dec 29, 2008 5:50 AM CST
Bloody brilliant! Not.

An American in Britain reports on their quirks
Associated Press

 
United Kingdom • British • holiday • USA • American • George Bernard Shaw

More Newser Stories

Mumbai-Linked Terror Crew Hunts Western Recruits

Stranded Brits Expected Home on Schedule

Record Brain Drain Rocks Britain as Emigration Soars
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne