Scots speak differently than the English and have a whole slurry of words that are different. Here a few that I’ve picked up recently. Wee = little Before I got here I really thought the Scots wouldn’t possibly use wee for little much. I was wrong. They pretty much always say wee vs little. Matter…
5 Things Americans Take For Granted The Average Brit Doesn’t Have
Ice Water at Meals In the US when you sit down at a restaurant almost the first thing that will happen is the waiter will bring everyone a class of ice water. In Britain, not so much. Firstly they will only bring you water if you ask for it. Then they will ask if you…
“Naughts and Crosses” vs “Tic-Tac-Toe”
Went to a comedy improv show in Leith the other night. They gave everyone a sheet of paper and said you could doodle on it and I played myself a game tic-tac-toe in the corner. It was a draw of course, just like thermonuclear war. Then they had us name a play. I tore off…
“Hold Ups” vs “Stockings”
Was reading a model’s profile and she said, “I love hold ups and heels.” Mmmmmmm…… I actually I was thinking it was going to be the same at “push up” as in bra. But a quick search showed me that it was stockings. Nor is it the same as garter belt.
The Same And Different: Toastmasters Clubs Edinburgh
Like all Toastmasters both the clubs we visited were welcoming and friendly. The Mrs and I love Toastmasters and are already missing our home club. One of the goals we had for our trip was to visit Toastmasters clubs. We accomplished that twice while in Edinburgh. There are 3 public Toastmasters groups that meet in…
“Fish Fingers” vs “Fish Sticks”
If you are a Dr Who fan you already know this one, but they refer to thin rectangular pieces of breaded fish as “Fish Fingers”. I guess it is no more unusual than our calling thin fried pieces of chicken as Chicken Fingers, though I haven’t seen chicken fingers on a UK menu yet. I…
After Two Weeks In Scotland
It’s an Adventure. That’s the way I describe our trip to the UK all the time to those who ask why we’re here and to myself. My goal for the trip was to learn what it’s like to live in the UK. It isn’t really a vacation in the sense of seeing the sites, though…
“Pegs” vs “Clothes Pins”
In the UK what we call clothes pins, the things you attach washing to a clothes line with, they call Pegs. Wooden ones are called Wooden Pegs, though plastic ones are just referred to as Pegs. As an interesting addendum, in the film industry they call clothes pins C47s.