Word: PC
Definition: Police Constable. Not a Personal Computer or Politically correct. It is the acronym used for cops or “pigs” as they are referred to in the rap albums that were listened to where I grew up. It is where I developed all my stealth mad ninja skillz.
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. However, the office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.
Originally, in some European countries during the Middle Ages, a constable was a person in charge of keeping the horses of his lord. The title comes from the Latin comes stabuli (attendant of the stables).
Example:When the cheeky robber came to my flat to steal my PC, I called a PC to bust that hooligan. I could call him worse names but I wish to remain PC in my blogs.
Word: Surgery
Definition: A physician’s or dentist’s office.
Usage: I went to a dental surgery a bit ago, where my dentist proceeded to remove a pint of blood from my gums. Cheers.
Word: Theatre
Definition: Operating room in a hospital
Usage: After watching Les Mis at the theatre, I came down with appendicitis and had to go to the theatre for Mr Wellington to operate on my sick arse.
When you need to go get your liver examined for the years of abuse, you go to hospital, not to the hospital, you yankee. Also, general practitioners are referred to as “doctor” but surgeons, obstetricians, and gynaecologists are referred to as “Mr“, “Mrs“, or “Miss“. That should show those lazy bums that decided to specialize in brain surgery. Brits also refer to homeless people as “sir” and members of Parliament(also referred to as MPs) as “biatch“.
Word: Chemist
Definition: drugstore or pharmacy, like Rite Aid or Longs Drugs…except in London it is Boots and Superdrug (now that’s a real name). None of the drugstores here sell that Chocolate Malted Crunch like Thrifty used to for 29 cents, though.
Usage:Would you mind picking up a kit for a home-based personal hygiene kit for me, my dear lad?
Word: Punter
Definition:
In British English, a customer of a business, the usage being primarily found in London and Essex.
In both British and Australian English, a gambler, particularly an amateur betting on horse racing.
Not, I repeat, Not the guy who kicks the football when it’s fourth down.
Usage: The area around the pub gets quite busy after all of the punters get out.
Usage #2: Those bloody punters are betting on the wrong horse.
To be perfectly honest, I’ve seen and heard this term used a few times and am still not comfortable using it in public in fear of having sausage and mash thrown at me. Cheers.
If you go food shopping in London bring this list with you.
Rocket = Arugula
Courgette = Zucchini
Coriander = Cilantro
Pulses = Legumes
Spring Onions = Green Onions
And if you want toothpicks….Cocktail Sticks.
Oh, and while you’re at it, go ahead and make me a sandwich with Blood pudding and some crisps. And please put extra Rocket in there.
Word: Busking
Definition: the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. Those engaging in this practice are called buskers. Busking is a British term used in many areas of the English-speaking world. In the United States they are more often called street performers or street musicians.
Usage: Busking is not allowed on this street corner as it might disturb the zen of the ninjas.
No Busking, please
We just call them “street performers” in the US, but here they’re called buskers.
Word: Mobile
Definition: commonly a “mobile phone” or “cell phone”. It is a long-range, portable electronic device used for mobile communication.
Usage: Hey baby, can I ring you on your mobile so we can get some fish and chips?
Not much to say here other than to refer to your cell phone as your mobile when you are in the UK. And, while I’m at it, don’t call it Frisco, it’s San Francisco, the city, S.F., or even San Fran. You’ll won’t get flowers in your hair any other way.
Word: Fantasy Football
Definition: A fantasy sports game in which participants (called “owners”), arranged into a league, each draft or acquire via auction a team of real-life American football players and then score points based on those players’ statistical performance on the field.
Usage: I kick all my friends arses in Fantasy Football every year during the football Season. And, the San Diego Chargers suck.
Oops…I guess that’s two sentences. Go ahead and disregard that last sentence since it is more of a bitterness than the sentiment that the Chargers were poorly coached and managed team that had potential to win the SuperBowl but failed to do so due to mismanagement.
So I am a big fan of Football (not the Beckhams) in the US. And as any true fan of the sport, I am also an avid Fantasy Football player. I know my stats and I know all of the 2nd string Tight Ends in the NFL. So when I came to London, I was quite pleased to know that Fantasy Football is actually quite popular here.
Wait a sec….in reviewing the rules, I realized there were no Tight Ends involved at all…no Quarterbacks, no CornerBacks, hell here they are:
Bloody hell. That aint football! That’s soccer!!!! Fantasy Soccer?!?! WTF?
