American/English Slang: Contrasting Meanings

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the contrasting meanings of American and English slang terms. Participants explore how certain slang words can have opposite or varied interpretations in different cultural contexts, touching on the implications of these differences in casual and formal communication.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that terms like "dope," "sick," "dog," and "tight" have different meanings in American and English slang, with some meanings being oppositional.
  • Others argue that certain slang terms can have multiple meanings in both cultures, suggesting that context matters significantly.
  • A participant mentions that "dickhead" is considered a mild insult in English, questioning its severity in American usage.
  • There is a discussion about the use of slang in emotional contexts, with some stating that slang is typically not used when expressing anger in the US.
  • One participant highlights that younger generations are creating new slang that may not be widely adopted, particularly outside of specific regions like California.
  • Another participant shares an anecdote about the term "sick" being used positively among youth, indicating that its meaning may not be universally recognized.
  • Concerns are raised about the appropriateness of certain slang terms in public settings, with examples illustrating misunderstandings that can arise from cultural differences.
  • Participants share personal experiences with slang, including humorous misunderstandings and the evolution of language over time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the meanings of slang terms, with multiple competing views and interpretations remaining throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some slang terms discussed may not be in general use across all age groups or regions, and the meanings can vary significantly based on context and audience. Limitations in understanding may arise from cultural differences and personal experiences with language.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in linguistics, cultural studies, or those navigating communication between American and English speakers may find this discussion relevant.

wolram
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From this page.

http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jasanders/slang/top20.html

I find that some american slang words mean the opposit in english.

17, dope = nice cool, in english it is a stupid person.

7, sick= great excellent, in english it is used to describe a pervert.

3, dog= friend, in english it is used to describe a (rough) woman

2, tight= great cool, in english it means either, drunk or a person not easily
parted with his/her money.
 
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dope can mean both here too
sick can mean both here too
dog, " "
tight - that one yes for money, no for drunk.
 
I had,( Di-k head) edited out of one of my posts, in english it has become a
very mild cuss, just above say, (you twit), is it a harsher cuss in the US ?
may be we should not use slang at all, but not many britts speak the queens english.
 
wolram said:
I had,( Di-k head) edited out of one of my posts, in english it has become a very mild cuss,

:smile: :smile: :smile: it just seemed that we were already pushing limits, Mr Weiner Head. :biggrin:
 
Ivan Seeking said:
:smile: :smile: :smile: it just seemed that we were already pushing limits, Mr Weiner Head. :biggrin:

:blushing: Yes i must remember to lock that door :smile:
 
wolram said:
I had,( Di-k head) edited out of one of my posts, in english it has become a
very mild cuss, just above say, (you twit), is it a harsher cuss in the US ?
may be we should not use slang at all, but not many britts speak the queens english.

In america, slang is not used when your angry. When someone is angry in the US, you get cursed out, F-word, etc. Slang is used in casual talk, not aggressive talk.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
In america, slang is not used when your angry. When someone is angry in the US, you get cursed out, F-word, etc. Slang is used in casual talk, not aggressive talk.

Oh my golly gum drops, we have a mountain of words to use before getting
to that one.
 
As cyrus pointed out most of those slang terms are the same here as there. It's younger people who have started making their own slang lexicon which changes constantly that have made those other slang meanings popular. Most people here don't use them though. Well actually probably quite a few people here in california do but not in the US over all I don't think. None of my friends use those definitions though unless we are mocking someone who does.
 
wolram said:
17, dope = nice cool, in english it is a stupid person.
Or marijuana.
7, sick= great excellent, in english it is used to describe a pervert.
Sick is usually denoting "mentally sick," (probably shorten from "that is one sick [in the head] man") in slang, unless you are a teen skateboarder living in California. Then sick would be good.

3, dog= friend, in english it is used to describe a (rough) woman
Interesting. African-American vernacular has proven dawg to mean a friend.
2, tight= great cool, in english it means either, drunk or a person not easily parted with his/her money.
Drunk? Interesting too.
 
  • #10
By MK

Interesting. African-American vernacular has proven dawg to mean a friend.

I think that DOG has all ways been a term for an unworthy person in english,
i may be wrong i am no expert, i think the word came to describe a rough
woman in the 60s
 
  • #11
Don't worry too much wooly. Here at PF we can still get buggered up the twat by a wanker, three of my favourite English curses!
 
  • #12
wolram said:
From this page.

http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jasanders/slang/top20.html

I find that some american slang words mean the opposit in english.

17, dope = nice cool, in english it is a stupid person.

7, sick= great excellent, in english it is used to describe a pervert.

3, dog= friend, in english it is used to describe a (rough) woman

2, tight= great cool, in english it means either, drunk or a person not easily
parted with his/her money.
Remember the source - a college in California. Those slang terms are not in general use (with those meanings, at least) throughout the whole country, and certainly not outside the age group of the sample. Interestingly, some people seem to question the use of the word "tight" as a synomym for "drunk", but that is a very common usage in New England. "Getting tight" means the same as "tying one on" - drinking with the intention of getting drunk.

If you want to envision the group that might use that slang regularly, think of the young single guys who pile into a cheesy little car fitted out with a $2000 sound system, and cruise around town playing hip-hop music so loud that you can hear the sub-woofers thudding when they are still several blocks away. In a few years, their conversations will be dominated by "huh, what'd you say?"
 
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  • #13
brewnog said:
Don't worry too much wooly. Here at PF we can still get buggered up the twat by a wanker, three of my favourite English curses!

I must say that Tango Whiskey Alpha Tango is one of my favourite words.

~H
 
  • #14
I only recently ran into use of the word "sick" to mean something good. I was talking to a group of kids who all wore all black clothing, somewhat raggedy, that was decorated all over with those sheet-metal, stamped silver colored studs you can buy and apply yourself, plus different patches with what I took to be band names on them. I specifically asked if when they said "sick" they meant "good". He affirmed that they did and said it has been used that way "for ages", and wasn't something new. That all surprised me because I hadn't noticed it being used that way before.
 
  • #15
brewnog said:
Don't worry too much wooly. Here at PF we can still get buggered up the twat by a wanker, three of my favourite English curses!

um.. actually 'buggered' implies sodomy or anal sex, and 'twat' is slang for female genitalia..

that doesn't stop them being quite an effective expletive when deployed together though!
 
  • #16
By Turbo.

If you want to envision the group that might use that slang regularly, think of the young single guys who pile into a cheesy little car fitted out with a $2000 sound system, and cruise around town playing hip-hop music so loud that you can hear the sub-woofers thudding when they are still several blocks away. In a few years, their conversations will be dominated by "huh, what'd you say?"

:smile: we have some like that here, they fill the boot/trunk of their car with
amps etc that cost thousands, then have go faster stripes stuck on the side
of the car, i would call them (plonkers) :smile:
 
  • #17
rhj23 said:
um.. actually 'buggered' implies sodomy or anal sex, and 'twat' is slang for female genitalia..

that doesn't stop them being quite an effective expletive when deployed together though!

I know, the point I was making was that PF didn't asterisk them out!
 
  • #18
a personal favourite of mine is 'bollocks'. just enough harsh sounds in there to make you feel better if you stub your toe :)
 
  • #19
When one of my mates moved to the US, he had to stop bumming fags so often in pubs.
 
  • #20
An English guy I know came to Canada to do a PhD, married a Canadian girl, and stayed. On one visit back to England, his wife and small children were in a department store, when one of the kids went on a sitdown strike. In a loud voice, his Canadian wife commanded "Get off your fanny!", not realizing that other customers in the store would hear something different than what she thought she was saying.

Regards,
George
 
  • #21
George Jones said:
An English guy I know came to Canada to do a PhD, married a Canadian girl, and stayed. On one visit back to England, his wife and small children were in a department store, when one of the kids went on a sitdown strike. In a loud voice, his Canadian wife commanded "Get off your fanny!", not realizing that other customers in the store would hear something different than what she thought she was saying.

Regards,
George

That is one that had me confused years ago, when i read in a book (he smacked her *****) i thought at the time that there are some strange people about. :smile:
 
  • #22
well if you're across the pond on the island, and you have a friend miss a meeting, make sure you don't ask him why he blew you off, especially in public:smile:
 
  • #23
George Jones said:
An English guy I know came to Canada to do a PhD, married a Canadian girl, and stayed. On one visit back to England, his wife and small children were in a department store, when one of the kids went on a sitdown strike. In a loud voice, his Canadian wife commanded "Get off your fanny!", not realizing that other customers in the store would hear something different than what she thought she was saying.

Regards,
George
You really got the main point of long stays.
 
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  • #24
Zantra said:
well if you're across the pond on the island, and you have a friend miss a meeting, make sure you don't ask him why he blew you off, especially in public:smile:
I also heard that one should not proclaim "I'm stuffed!" after a meal.

Any truth to this?
 
  • #25
I've found most curse words have lost there edge down here. Except perhaps c**t, which is still a filthy word in my mind. Dunno if you guys have seen the tourism ad for australia that says "where the bloody hell are you?". It was banned in the UK.
 
  • #26
Chi Meson said:
I also heard that one should not proclaim "I'm stuffed!" after a meal.

Any truth to this?

I usually say (one is rather full now), eerm not, I can not see what is wrong with, " I'm stuffed", :confused:
 
  • #27
Kazza_765 said:
I've found most curse words have lost there edge down here. Except perhaps c**t, which is still a filthy word in my mind. Dunno if you guys have seen the tourism ad for australia that says "where the bloody hell are you?". It was banned in the UK.

I could'nt let my mom go down there then, she would be tut tutting all day.
 
  • #28
Kazza_765 said:
I've found most curse words have lost there edge down here. Except perhaps c**t, which is still a filthy word in my mind. Dunno if you guys have seen the tourism ad for australia that says "where the bloody hell are you?". It was banned in the UK.

it wasn't banned in the UK - there were a few complaints but they weren't upheld and the ad is all over the broadcast/print media
 
  • #29
rhj23 said:
it wasn't banned in the UK - there were a few complaints but they weren't upheld and the ad is all over the broadcast/print media

Oh sugar, now mom can really go to town , by the by have any of you, " down underers" stuffed a roo yet. :smile:
 
  • #30
wolram said:
I usually say (one is rather full now), eerm not, I can not see what is wrong with, " I'm stuffed", :confused:
We say the same thing!
"are you done eating, dear?"
"Yes, m'luv. One is rather full now."
"That's nice, dear. Get stuffed!"
 

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