British English and things that are commonly misunderstood

[Carlos R]

There is some confusion:

"quite good" = "meh"

"quite good, really" = wow, that was really good...

(British art of understatement, that'll confuse them... )

[Rangatiranui]

Something that repeatedly confuses me is "cheers".

Like at the end of an email.

I "know" is is supposed to mean thank you sometimes.

But "cheers mate" from where i come from, is kind of an insult..

[k_and_e]

So when do the British start implementing EU-English as their official language?

[grynch]

This is an oldie but I still rather enjoy.. yes quite actually...
.
The British are feeling the pinch in relation to recent bombings and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved'.
Soon though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross".
Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out.
Terrorists have been re-categorised from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

[mirfield]

	Quote:	Carlos R
	There is some confusion: "quite good" = "meh" "quite good, really" = wow, that was really good...

Oh. Now we're getting advanced.

"It's really quite good" = I thought it would be terrible. You've surprised me.

[grumpygit]

I would have thought it equally topical to consider the misunderstanding between French english and septic english, for example;

french hotel guest :- ehon ehon you ave ze beautifool teets, ceum ere and letus talk about ze amour
septic room maid :- get your greasy slimebag paws off me, you fossil
french hotel guest :- you ave misunderstood moi, ah weel lock ze door and explain
septic room maid :- right thats it im calling the cops you perv .........

[mirfield]

	Quote:	k_and_e
	So when do the British start implementing EU-English as their official language?

It's on the to-do list. Just after joining the Euro.

	Quote:	Carlos R
	There is some confusion: "quite good" = "meh" "quite good, really" = wow, that was really good... (British art of understatement, that'll confuse them... )

Or even
"Really quite good" = I thought it'd be crap but it was "OK".

	Quote:	Rangatiranui
	Something that repeatedly confuses me is "cheers". Like at the end of an email. I "know" is is supposed to mean thank you sometimes. But "cheers mate" from where i come from, is kind of an insult..

Not me, I sign off an email with it because its sort of "friendly".

[mirfield]

	Quote:	economisto
	Or even "Really quite good" = I thought it'd be crap but it was "OK".

Quite.

	Quote:	mirfield
	Quite.

Oh. Sorry. I had you on ignore.

[Carlos R]

	Quote:	mirfield
	Oh. Now we're getting advanced. "It's really quite good" = I thought it would be terrible. You've surprised me.

That's a bit harsh... I'd respectfully () suggest:

"It's really quite good" = It is better than I expected and am even somewhat impressed.

[mirfield]

	Quote:	mirfield
	Oh. Now we're getting advanced. "It's really quite good" = I thought it would be terrible. You've surprised me.

	Quote:	economisto
	Or even "Really quite good" = I thought it'd be crap but it was "OK".

	Quote:	Carlos R
	That's a bit harsh... I'd respectfully () suggest: "It's really quite good" = It is better than I expected and am even somewhat impressed.

Well there's two of us. Bring it on!

[Carlos R]

	Quote:	mirfield
	Well there's two of us. Bring it on!

...two wrongs don't make a right...

[Deep Purple]

	Quote:	Rangatiranui
	Something that repeatedly confuses me is "cheers". Like at the end of an email. I "know" is is supposed to mean thank you sometimes. But "cheers mate" from where i come from, is kind of an insult..

"Cheers mate" in an upbeat voice with a smile would be acceptable to me.

If delivered in a downbeat, sarcastic voice, it is more like "Thanks for nothing. You've really dropped me in it there"

[PaddyG]

I was once reliably informed by a Scottish mate that to call someone "a good c**t" was in fact a term of endearment in Scotland.



("c**t" does NOT mean "celt" in this context, in case you hadn't noticed)

[grumpygit]

	Quote:	PaddyG
	I was once reliably informed by a Scottish mate that to call someone "a good c**t" was in fact a term of endearment in Scotland. ("c**t" does NOT mean "celt" in this context, in case you hadn't noticed)

must be clot then

Great - did one a bit similar some years ago with my 6th Formers but lost it. This is also touched upon in the book on International/Business misunderstanding re Switzerland 'Beyond chocolate'.

I love the 'hmm it's interesting' - which to a Brit usually means what a load of cobblers- but which a German or Swiss would take at face value.

Or the 'how long will it take to complete?'
6 months from a Brit = if you are very very lucky and all goes according to plan we might finish in 6 months
but to a Swiss or German will mean '6 months' (or does it?)

PS how do it print it please?

	Quote:	PaddyG
	I was once reliably informed by a Scottish mate that to call someone "a good c**t" was in fact a term of endearment in Scotland. ("c**t" does NOT mean "celt" in this context, in case you hadn't noticed)

Barcelona youth use this (in Spanish) as a term of endearment. They also tend to stab people though...

[mirfield]

	Quote:
	6 months from a Brit = if you are very very lucky and all goes according to plan we might finish in 6 months but to a Swiss or German will mean '6 months' (or does it?)

Hmm.. I've tended to find.

"6 Months" (Brit) = If you are very very lucky and all goes according to plan we will finish in 6 months, even if we have to work through the night in the last week.

"6 Months" (CH/DE) = It'll probably take 2-3 weeks, but we'll have lots of unproductive meetings to talk about it and winge about how hard we're working. We can be absolutely sure it won't take any longer than 6 months though. We wouldn't want to disappoint you.