cultural expressions not really heard elsewhere...

okay i started thinking about times i've spoken to americans and seen a glazed
over look on their collective faces--or more laughter than was necessary as if i just made
up something glorious.

it is usually chalked up to regional ways of expressing oneself...can't think of two many
off the cuff but here's several that aren't really heard on this side of the pond:

UK submission:
1. she's all fur coat and no knickers [ which i've used as 'she's full-o-shite']

2. stop 'floating bisquits' [farting]...i've said this to someone who then gave me a look
of complete bewilderment

S.A submission:
my mom has used this one in afrikaans, and i've taken it to be metaphorical--it translates to
'your balls are hanging out mate' in the awkward and not manly sense.
'yo trilla hung ait' [sp?] just writing it like it sounds...not going to try and get afrikaans.
mom was not beyond mouthy if the right person came along

Got blank looks followed by riotous laughter after using these 2 in the US -
"You're just a big girl's blouse"
"He's all mouth and no trousers"
Obviously, "What a complete wanker" and "What a complete load of bollocks" also raise a giggle.
Most complete incomprehension came from once asking "Where's the loo, my teeth are floating"! Not a useful phrase over here.

"shes all fir coat and no knickers" means that she's a slag.

man there is loads of those sayings here in the uk. espec the mighty north!

LOL, some of those expressions are new to me. Floating biscuits

you guys are all going to have me pissing myself in a minute--it's worse when i'm
supposed to be quiet and others are sleeping [ahh the pull of the opposites--i was
hopeless in libraries amidst 'shoooosh's']


here's one///

"that's as rare as rocking horse shit"

and another

"he's built like a brick shithouse"

which can be augmented if you're a punchline slut like 'i are'.

"he's built like a brick shithouse...and nearly half as smart"
"he's built like a brick shithouse...but doesn't smell quite as sweet" and all the rest of it

maija,
"Where's the loo, my teeth are floating"
WTF?

when my dad ruled the earth,
he could be described as
"tight as a gnat's chuff"

okay, i'll bite the bullet since Maija brought it up first [it's his fault ]

toilet humor brings somethings to mind:

needing a sh%t has been offered up as...

"pressing cloth"

as in,

"common mate, stop the fookin' car at the next filling..i'm pressing cloth"

or "i've got one in the departure lounge"

there...i've said it...are you happy Maija?

my grandmum, 'ma' was from capetown. on my mum's side of the family
i have family from zim/botswana/s.africa. they, for some reason, have
the wickedest expressions--usually more visual than one wants--if 'wants'
is the right word to use

someone said once to 'ma', "you yawned so wide, i just saw what you ate
for breakfast"

an expression all by itself...her response is not one the world thinks of when
referring to grandmothers,

"why don't you look up my bum and see what i had for dinner last night?"



i've been scarred ever since.