Formal words that the UK use but we don't

Hangdogroad · 14-04-2020 10:15pm

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and gingers were redheads. Never heard the word foxy, ever...it actually sounds like something the English would use. It’s certainly not a common irish term.

The way it would be used was "the foxy fella" or foxy headed to describe a red haired person.

HBC08 · 14-04-2020 10:16pm

kravmaga wrote: »

lol Was in a post office in London to buy a stamp to post something back to Dublin , circa 2002, is that for Southern Ireland love, I replied, Republic of Ireland, Southern Ireland is a region not a country.

She had not a clue

You sure put that post office worker in a foreign country back in her box.
I'd say she remember the day as well as yourself 18 years later.

14-04-2020 11:02pm

an before h
most annoying
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/is-it-a-or-an

Electric Sheep · 14-04-2020 11:07pm

trashcan wrote: »

We tend to say it because it's grammatically correct. Same with "I was just stood there". No, you were just standings there.

Yes, just as in the UK they use "shalll" when it's grammatically correct.

Sir Guy who smiles · 14-04-2020 11:13pm

veryangryman wrote: »

Secondment another one. I have been seconded to work in the UK in summers past. Never hear the word used in Ireland.

Secondment is used a lot here. Depends where you work I suppose.

stoneill · 15-04-2020 7:41am

blueser wrote: »

Born and brought up in Manchester, to Irish parents, and I'm with you here. Never, ever heard "press" used to describe a cupboard. And the area where your hot water tank is located is, and always will be, the airing cupboard. Same with "trainers", and "chippy".

Airing cupboard - pfffft.
That will always be the corporation press.

theteal · 15-04-2020 8:07am

mikemac2 wrote: »

Brennans Bread have posters on bus shelters in Ireland about the perfect sambo

Apparently the Brits think sambo is racist :eek: bizarre

The poor Brits, I pity them for their lack of sambos washed down by a rock shandy

Very true, I nearly got into a bit of trouble in the office with that one when I first moved over.

theteal · 15-04-2020 8:11am

65535 wrote: »

an before h
most annoying
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/is-it-a-or-an

Boils my pi$$. All because they cant pronounce their own language correctly.

"I've not taken many trips in an helicopter"

HugoRune · 15-04-2020 8:12am

Airing cupboard is full on "la-di-da". Hot press for me. Presses are also places to keep things like teatowels, the iron and an uneven number of part-used batteries.

Note: I'm not from the city. Which is where I first heard the term sambo - to which I said "what?"

Jakey Rolling · 15-04-2020 8:44am

Took me ages to get my head around to the Irish use of the conditional in non-conditional phrases. I'd always be left hanging waiting for the "if".

e.g. "I would be a fan of Gary Glitter" — should be followed by a qualifying "if he didn't fiddle with little boys" clause.

I used to wind my wife up about this turn of phrase, until we came to Ireland and realised it was ubiquitous here. My English teacher would be apoplectic if he ever came to visit!

Fr Tod Umptious · 15-04-2020 8:57am

Banana Republic. wrote: »

The word Banter but we use Craic, I can’t stand people from Ireland using Banter, we’re having the craic not the banter or I was only having a bitta craic not a bitta banter.

Craic is just a "gaelcisation" of the English work crack.

The term originated in the north of England, it's not originally Irish.

Fr Tod Umptious · 15-04-2020 8:59am

Banana Republic. wrote: »

Lawn Tennis, in Ireland it’s just Tennis

Rarely do I hear the English distinguish between tennis and lawn tennis.

But they certainly refer to what we call "rugby" as 'rugby union", obviously to distinguish it from "rugby league"

the beer revolu · 15-04-2020 9:51am

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Yes you do, your catholic too. Ask your parents.

Difficult, considering my dad is dead.

I chose my religion or lack of it, no one else.

You're, not your.

Badly Drunk Boy · 15-04-2020 10:04am

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

I was stood at the door,

I was sat on the floor.

And the floor means anywhere inside or outside aswell.

I amn't a fan of that usage either. :pac:

All that fandango · 15-04-2020 10:25am

Always notice the Brits always say "I've not had my tea yet". Whereas nearly everyone in Ireland would say "I haven't had my tea yet". Be interesting to know what thats about if someone could explain?

All that fandango · 15-04-2020 10:33am

Also, Afternoon Tea. I know its catching on in Ireland a lot the last couple of years but never heard of Afterrnoon Tea until I went to work in a hotel in London nearly 10 years ago, its a huge thing over there for people. The idea of going to a fancy hotel or restaurant just to have tiny cakes and scones and tea served on a fancy serving thing and paying good money for it was bizzare to me.

blinding · 15-04-2020 10:41am

All that fandango wrote: »

Also, Afternoon Tea. I know its catching on in Ireland a lot the last couple of years but never heard of Afterrnoon Tea until I went to work in a hotel in London nearly 10 years ago, its a huge thing over there for people. The idea of going to a fancy hotel or restaurant just to have tiny cakes and scones and tea served on a fancy serving thing and paying good money for it was bizzare to me.

Do they not go for a shag afterwards ? I always that was a bit of a Euphemism for a bit of the other ! !

cbreeze · 15-04-2020 10:42am

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

British people tend to say ill or poorly, rather than sick.

When we say 'poorly' it means you are at death's door, the undertaker is on speed dial and the grave is dug

All that fandango · 15-04-2020 10:43am

blinding wrote:

Do they not go for a shag afterwards ? I always that was a bit of a Euphemism for a bit of the other ! !

Haha it would be a good way to explain such an odd thing!

the beer revolu · 15-04-2020 10:43am

All that fandango wrote: »

Always notice the Brits always say "I've not had my tea yet". Whereas nearly everyone in Ireland would say "I haven't had my tea yet". Be interesting to know what thats about if someone could explain?

"I've not had" is a contraction of "I have not had".

"I haven't had" is a contraction of "I have not had".

Both are correct.

the beer revolu · 15-04-2020 10:46am

cbreeze wrote: »

When we say 'poorly' it means you are at death's door, the undertaker is on speed dial and the grave is dug

Who's "we"?

Poorly wouldn't mean that to me, at all.
It means, a bit sick, to me.

the beer revolu · 15-04-2020 10:50am

All that fandango wrote: »

Also, Afternoon Tea. I know its catching on in Ireland a lot the last couple of years but never heard of Afterrnoon Tea until I went to work in a hotel in London nearly 10 years ago, its a huge thing over there for people. The idea of going to a fancy hotel or restaurant just to have tiny cakes and scones and tea served on a fancy serving thing and paying good money for it was bizzare to me.

Perhaps afternoon tea is more popular in the UK but as long as Ireland has had hotels, there's been afternoon tea.

El_Duderino 09 · 15-04-2020 10:51am

theteal wrote: »

Very true, I nearly got into a bit of trouble in the office with that one when I first moved over.

Well, to be fair, it is a full on racist term in the UK. It's what they called Native Americans and then natives in Africa. Now the term is mostly just a slur for black people similar to the dreaded n-word, but not used as often. I'd say the Windrush generation knew all about that word after they arrived in the UK.

Not suggesting it's a racist word in the Irish context. It's just a word for a sandwich in Ireland. But I wouldn't use it in the UK.

the beer revolu · 15-04-2020 10:53am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Well, to be fair, it is a full on racist term in the UK. It's what they called Native Americans and then natives in Africa. Now the term is mostly just a slur for black people similar to the dreaded n-word, but not used as often. I'd say the Windrush generation knew all about that word after they arrived in the UK.

Not suggesting it's a racist word in the Irish context. It's just a word for a sandwich in Ireland. But I wouldn't use it in the UK.

I was completely unaware of the racist angle.
Good to know.

GreeBo · 15-04-2020 10:53am

the beer revolu wrote: »

Born and bred in Ireland to Irish parents and I'd always use the word cupboard and never use the word press.
Hot press is a magazine to me.
I have an airing cupboard.

So, you fcuks off.

Why are you putting cups in with your hot water cylinder?

Hangdogroad · 15-04-2020 10:54am

blinding wrote: »

Do they not go for a shag afterwards ? I always that was a bit of a Euphemism for a bit of the other ! !

Ohh err Missus.

El_Duderino 09 · 15-04-2020 10:58am

the beer revolu wrote: »

I was completely unaware of the racist angle.
Good to know.

I got some strange looks the first time I used it in the UK. It was with a group of people who knew it was probably not meant as a racist term and explained the context to me
- Mates, "what are you doing for lunch?
Me "oh I'll probably grab a sambo and meet you back in the canteen".

Took effort for me not to say it again though

Vita nova · 15-04-2020 11:00am

the beer revolu wrote: »

Perhaps afternoon tea is more popular in the UK but as long as Ireland has had hotels, there's been afternoon tea.

Not just hotels, the Irish biscuit company Jacob's have had a biscuit selection box called Afternoon Tea for decades.
Here's a photo of an old box:

MDRiZWViMDA4NTNkZGY4Y2FkOWRmMWFkMTU2Zjk4YjNe2XfTB7ewz5zBRVT2deITaHR0cDovL21lZGlhLmFkc2ltZy5jb20vMzExZjhhODdmNDZkMGI0NWE0YWY2ZDRkM2M5Mjg2ZTQwZjNjYzZkN2JhNGNjMWFkNDEwMWMwZWEyYTE0NmQwZC5qcGd8fHx8fHwzOTZ4MjkyfGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWR2ZXJ0cy5pZS9zdGF0aWMvaS93YXRlcm1hcmsucG5nfHx8.jpg

MDRiZWViMDA4NTNkZGY4Y2FkOWRmMWFkMTU2Zjk4YjNe2XfTB7ewz5zBRVT2deITaHR0cDovL21lZGlhLmFkc2ltZy5jb20vMzExZjhhODdmNDZkMGI0NWE0YWY2ZDRkM2M5Mjg2ZTQwZjNjYzZkN2JhNGNjMWFkNDEwMWMwZWEyYTE0NmQwZC5qcGd8fHx8fHwzOTZ4MjkyfGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWR2ZXJ0cy5pZS9zdGF0aWMvaS93YXRlcm1hcmsucG5nfHx8.jpg

https://www.adverts.ie/other-antiques-collectables/vintage-jacobs-afternoon-tea-tin/18860291

JustAThought · 15-04-2020 11:01am

few words that shriek British when used for me;

Galoshes instead of Wellies

Luncheon either as a noun or verb

Using ‘shall’ instead of will

Partake

An invitation for a spot of (luncheon/golf etc)

El_Duderino 09 · 15-04-2020 11:12am

Then you could get into regional language like the Geordies have loads of terms passed down through the Danish invasion. Danelaw was a Viking country in England and it was eventually defeated and replaced by other cultures in most parts but it retreated towards Newcastle and Northunberland.

To this day the Geordies say things like "gan yem" instead of "going home" which is almost a direct translation from the Danish of the time.

But regional dialects are not really considered "formal" language in the UK. But I still think it's interesting

Gregor Samsa · 15-04-2020 11:13am

Hangdogroad wrote: »

Likewise ginger to describe a red haired person. It was always foxy over here when I was growing up. They even used the expression ginger in Bridget And Eamon even though no one ever used it here in the 80s.

My mother had red hair, and was nicknamed Ginger when she was growing up in the 40s & 50s in Dublin.

KevRossi · 15-04-2020 11:23am

Allinall wrote: »

Ta-ra

Yes, but we have "The Ra".

Zaph wrote: »

I can't remember what red heads were referred to when I was growing up, bit it definitely wasn't foxy. The only person I've ever heard using that term is my sister-in-law. Might be a regional thing though, I'm from Dublin and she's from Cork.

I'm a redhead and I grew up in the north west, it was 'ginger' in Sligo, as well as parts of Cork. 'Foxy' was used to mean a seductive, sexy woman, hair colour was immaterial.

Garden Leave - (e.g) an employee has handed in their notice and the firm does not want the employee to work their notice on the premises' so the employer may grant the employee "Garden Leave".
.

When I worked on a project in the UK, there was myself and 2 other young women in the office, they needed to be there most of the time. One of them booked 'garden leave' with me a week before whe went on holidays. It was for one afternoon. Turns out she was getting a Brazilian.

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

UK Ex Pats abroad are not immigrants ever. Gets me every time.

Yeah, that annoys the crap out of me. I spent 16 years abroad. One sign of a tosser of a UK (inevitably English) person is if they use the 'ex-pat' moniker. It usually meant they made no attempt to learn the local language/culture/customs/politics and were immersed in their own world of other 'ex-pats'. Drank in the same bars, ate in the same restaurants. The ones who lived in former UK colonies were hands down the worst. Each country (France, Germany....) had it's own subset of 'ex-pats'. Wankewrs to a core. The ordinary UK crowd were fine.

the beer revolu · 15-04-2020 11:29am

JustAThought wrote: »

few words that shriek British when used for me;

Galoshes instead of Wellies

Luncheon either as a noun or verb

Using ‘shall’ instead of will

Partake

An invitation for a spot of (luncheon/golf etc)

Galoshes are a different thing to wellingtons - galoshes go over your shoes.

Luncheon. I've never heard an English person use the full formal form of lunch, ever.
Luncheon meat - do they have that in the UK, too?

Shall? Perhaps.

Partake? Wha? It's just a word that isn't used much in either place.

Spot (of lunch)? That's just very old fashioned and posh. Not common.

blinding · 15-04-2020 11:31am

A Spot Of Crumpet sounds Tally Ho-ish to me ! !

15-04-2020 12:43pm

KevRossi wrote: »

Yeah, that annoys the crap out of me. I spent 16 years abroad. One sign of a tosser of a UK (inevitably English) person is if they use the 'ex-pat' moniker. It usually meant they made no attempt to learn the local language/culture/customs/politics and were immersed in their own world of other 'ex-pats'. Drank in the same bars, ate in the same restaurants. The ones who lived in former UK colonies were hands down the worst. Each country (France, Germany....) had it's own subset of 'ex-pats'. Wankewrs to a core. The ordinary UK crowd were fine.

Seems to be fairly well used elsewhere as well

https://www.google.com/search?q=irish+ex+pats&rlz=1CDGOYI_enIE757IE757&oq=irish+ex+pats+&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.4376j0j4&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CDGOYI_enIE757IE757&hl=en-GB&sxsrf=ALeKk020Oe39-GAIG4WRluHtgOvLwl3O0A%3A1586950850476&ei=wvKWXsrWHPWh1fAP0KKP2Ag&q=american+ex+pats&oq=american+ex+pats&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAo6BAgAEEc6BwgjELACECc6BAgAEA06CAgAEAcQChAeOgoIABAIEAcQChAeOgYIABAKEENQvasFWKjKBWDJ0wVoAHACeACAAaMBiAGgDJIBAzguN5gBAKABAQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

the beer revolu · 15-04-2020 12:44pm

Aegir wrote: »

Seems to be fairly well used elsewhere as well

https://www.google.com/search?q=irish+ex+pats&rlz=1CDGOYI_enIE757IE757&oq=irish+ex+pats+&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.4376j0j4&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CDGOYI_enIE757IE757&hl=en-GB&sxsrf=ALeKk020Oe39-GAIG4WRluHtgOvLwl3O0A%3A1586950850476&ei=wvKWXsrWHPWh1fAP0KKP2Ag&q=american+ex+pats&oq=american+ex+pats&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAoyBAgAEAo6BAgAEEc6BwgjELACECc6BAgAEA06CAgAEAcQChAeOgoIABAIEAcQChAeOgYIABAKEENQvasFWKjKBWDJ0wVoAHACeACAAaMBiAGgDJIBAzguN5gBAKABAQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

Also, I've never heard an Irish person abroad refer to themselves as immigrants.

The Mulk · 15-04-2020 12:56pm

I heard the word Grotty used by an English women to describe a dried up marsh in Spain before(we were all walking along a footpath beside it)
I'd never heard it used before (outside of UK children's books or TV)

Poorly also.

PhoenixParker · 15-04-2020 1:33pm

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Rarely do I hear the English distinguish between tennis and lawn tennis.

But they certainly refer to what we call "rugby" as 'rugby union", obviously to distinguish it from "rugby league"

Similarly they tend to say football whereas we’re more likely to say soccer to distinguish from GAA.

AlphabetCards · 15-04-2020 1:36pm

the beer revolu wrote: »

Also, I've never heard an Irish person abroad refer to themselves as immigrants.

Ugh, lucky you. I did it for a while, but I realised it is completely misrepresenting what it is to be someone from a first world country moving to somewhere out of choice.

There are tons of irish academics, writers and that sort who are Irish but are living in the UK, and describe themselves as 'immigrants'. Utter ****.

Xertz · 15-04-2020 1:39pm

“To lodge a cheque”

I said I was lodging a cheque into my bank account and my English colleague had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

“To make a lodgement” seemingly meets nothing to them.

He refers to it as “putting money in the bank” and assumes the term used was to “make a deposit”

Naturally enough, I was told we are wrong and the term is “hilariously funny” and do on.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 15-04-2020 1:43pm

All that fandango wrote: »

Always notice the Brits always say "I've not had my tea yet". Whereas nearly everyone in Ireland would say "I haven't had my tea yet". Be interesting to know what thats about if someone could explain?

Haven't had is the more common form. I've not had would be rare anywhere outside the UK.

JustAThought wrote: »

Luncheon either as a noun or verb

Well Seymour, I made it, despite your directions.

15-04-2020 2:28pm

Xertz wrote: »

“To lodge a cheque”

I said I was lodging a cheque into my bank account and my English colleague had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

“To make a lodgement” seemingly meets nothing to them.

He refers to it as “putting money in the bank” and assumes the term used was to “make a deposit”

Naturally enough, I was told we are wrong and the term is “hilariously funny” and do on.

I wrote about making a lodgement before in a communications mock exam - marked by tutors in the UK. Giant question marks were sent back about the term lodgement. I always wondered what the issue was. I never would have thought it wasn't universal

Electric Sheep · 15-04-2020 3:57pm

AlphabetCards wrote: »

Ugh, lucky you. I did it for a while, but I realised it is completely misrepresenting what it is to be someone from a first world country moving to somewhere out of choice.

There are tons of irish academics, writers and that sort who are Irish but are living in the UK, and describe themselves as 'immigrants'. Utter ****.

**** for describing themselves accurately? Perhaps you are the wanker.

whisky_galore · 15-04-2020 4:24pm

the beer revolu wrote: »

Also, I've never heard an Irish person abroad refer to themselves as immigrants.

"Undocumented Irish" cracks me up.

Electric Sheep · 15-04-2020 4:40pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

"Undocumented Irish" cracks me up.

Undocumented immigrants to Ireland are illegal, other countries should be grateful for the contribution of the "undocumented Irish". We are very special in our own minds.

Xertz · 15-04-2020 4:53pm

bluewolf wrote: »

I wrote about making a lodgement before in a communications mock exam - marked by tutors in the UK. Giant question marks were sent back about the term lodgement. I always wondered what the issue was. I never would have thought it wasn't universal

Nope. It’s not understood at all outside Ireland. In the US and Canada it’s “to deposit”. In much of England it’s more likely: “that cheque needs putting in bank”

Xertz · 15-04-2020 5:00pm

The Irish terms that seem to cause most confusion:

Pan for a loaf of bread. (Very French inspired).
I know someone who asked for a sliced pan and was directed to a hardware shop in Yorkshire.

Press is actually an old English word. It’s dropped out of use in northern England but it’s still very much the main word for cupboard in Ireland.

I remember a rather amusing story where a company had a bit of a crisis going on. There was a confidence briefing document sent to someone in Ireland which was and had to be handed to the Irish CEO only.

US office rang the office in Dublin or Cork or whatever it was and asked “did you get the couriered document?”

“ah yes! It arrived! Don’t worry! I’ve put in the press.”

Guy nearly has heart attack thinking she distributed it to the press, having never heard the term before.

There are a few Irish specific terms like “I did my Leaving in 1985” ... everyone thinking you’ve had some dramatic exit party.

the purple tin · 15-04-2020 5:05pm

Concourse.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 15-04-2020 5:33pm

Xertz wrote: »

The Irish terms that seem to cause most confusion:

Pan for a loaf of bread. (Very French inspired).
I know someone who asked for a sliced pan and was directed to a hardware shop in Yorkshire.

It comes from French, but has ended up exactly the same as the Spanish word for bread.

GreeBo · 15-04-2020 5:39pm

JustAThought wrote: »

few words that shriek British when used for me;

Galoshes instead of Wellies

But galoshes are different to wellies.

Wellies go over your feet directly, galoshes go over your shoes.

Formal words that the UK use but we don't

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