When I got to England for grad school in the summer of 1977, I was invited to a posh black tie dinner. During the glittering candle-lit evening, I used the American word fanny, an innocent term for ones bottom and it seemed I’d created an international incident. In that country, fanny is akin to the C word here - very naughty indeed. As the table went stony silent, the elderly barrister sitting to my right leaned in and whispered, “Well, you know, that means a bit of crumpet, doesn’t it?” I did not find this enlightening. The English practice an odd form of our Mother Tongue, despite knowing the correct American expressions which they do to be spiteful. Here are a few of the known and unknown terms and if you go to Olde Blighty or have dinner with a Limey, call me first.
© 2024 John Oliver
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