The Wide, Wide World Of Slang

[dwanollah]

Colette said:

I think 'Merkins is just a play on how Southerners turn Americans into a two syllable word.

Or, specifically, a play on how Dubya pronounces it. I mean, even Clinton could enunciate the danged word!

[batmom]

We put Jam on bread or toast, not jelly.

See, we can put both on our toast; jam is made of the mashed fruit and pectin, whereas jelly is is the juice and pectin.

I do remember one of my Australian friends asking me
if we really ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and being horrified when I said yes. It took a while before I realized that what she considered jelly, we called jello. She was much relieved to discover that we did not smear jello with our peanut butter.

[brinksteria]

Someone ugly = Minger.
Someone really ugly = Total Minger.

Thank you, littleblacksheep. Ali G throws that word around a lot. I'm kinda relieved to read what it means; I imagined it was something much worse.

[Deleted]

Calling All Kiwis: is showing off still called "skiting."

[snacktastic]

Also: Freeway=Motorway over here...

There are freeways all over the United States, except i have never seen one in New England and never been sure the difference between a freeway and a highway, which is what we do have here.

[spider]

Freeways don't have tolls.

Except for that stupid bridge between Oakland and Sac that I always forget about and then have to take my car apart looking for change or beg coins from better prepared drivers.

[mostlyharmless]

Except for that stupid bridge between Oakland and Sac that I always forget about and then have to take my car apart looking for change or beg coins from better prepared drivers.

I got caught by that one! I flew into SF last year, picked up a hire car and drove to Sac to visit a friend. I had no US money on me at all and had to pull into the car park, go to the office and agree to post them a cheque (check).

[Deleted]

Duke said:

I always thought "muffin" referred to the female genitalia (eg. female masturbation = "sending muffin morse code.)

I've heard it shortened to 'muff' as in 'muff diving'

[ang]

Duke said:

Calling All Kiwis: is showing off still called "skiting."

Too right.
And we have motorways instead of highways.

And as a constant visitor to Aussie, I have to pay homage to the patron saint of Aussie slang, Home and Aways Alf Roberts.

I love things like'stone the flaming crows', and 'ya flamin' mongrel'.

[snacktastic]

spider said:

Freeways don't have tolls.

Except for that stupid bridge between Oakland and Sac that I always forget about and then have to take my car apart looking for change or beg coins from better prepared drivers.

But a highway with a toll is called a turnpike. A highway without a toll is called a highway. I don't know if this is a regionalism or not, or if we are just linguistically challenged up here in Massachusetts when it comes to roads.