I bought all my children books for Xmas and one of them was 'My Sister My Friend', which I bought for one of my daughters on a recommendation posted on B&N. However, it caused great hilarity because of the OTT compliments readers were advised to give their sisters. My daughters took turns to read sentences out to the family and before long we were doubled up with laughter. Are Americans really as effusive as this and if so when did you get to be that way because it does not show up in earlier literature? One sentence that really tickled my elder daughter was: 'I am proud of the woman you have become, Munchkin' !!! Her younger sister has recently embarked on a teaching degree course, at the age of 45 and whilst bringing up two young children so she really is proud of her (we all are) but she could not say this sentence without bursting into laughter and they both ended up in hysterics! Brits wouldn't say such things to their boy friends/hubbies, let alone their sisters. BTW, this isn't a criticism, just an observation. I have commented on B&N before about the compliments you all pay one another as a matter of course. Even 'Have a Nice Day' from a shop assistant causes hilarity over here. We really are two nations separated by a common language (as my previous post about sucking eggs also shows)
The only place you'll find such sentences in my part of America is in silly books and magazines, and perhaps on television, though I wouldn't know about that.
Choisya wrote:
I bought all my children books for Xmas and one of them was 'My Sister My Friend', which I bought for one of my daughters on a recommendation posted on B&N. However, it caused great hilarity because of the OTT compliments readers were advised to give their sisters. My daughters took turns to read sentences out to the family and before long we were doubled up with laughter. Are Americans really as effusive as this and if so when did you get to be that way because it does not show up in earlier literature? One sentence that really tickled my elder daughter was: 'I am proud of the woman you have become, Munchkin' !!! Her younger sister has recently embarked on a teaching degree course, at the age of 45 and whilst bringing up two young children so she really is proud of her (we all are) but she could not say this sentence without bursting into laughter and they both ended up in hysterics! Brits wouldn't say such things to their boy friends/hubbies, let alone their sisters. BTW, this isn't a criticism, just an observation. I have commented on B&N before about the compliments you all pay one another as a matter of course. Even 'Have a Nice Day' from a shop assistant causes hilarity over here. We really are two nations separated by a common language (as my previous post about sucking eggs also shows)
Thanks a lot for your explanation and good wishes KathyS which of course are fully reciprocated. I hope you enjoyed your cup of tea here and that you will drop in again.
The phrase I used has no ulterior or sexual meaning over here so once again we are separated by our common language On the question of being kind to one another, we are taught to be kind but do not use effusive phrases. They are thought to be insincere if we use them for every 'time dick or harry' so we reserve them for those we really love. Again it is a cultural difference between our two nations. The French and Italians are more effusive than the English and Germans. Perhaps there is a lot of Latin blood in Americans?
The phrase I used has no ulterior or sexual meaning over here so once again we are separated by our common language
On the question of being kind to one another, we are taught to be kind but do not use effusive phrases. They are thought to be insincere if we use them for every 'time dick or harry' so we reserve them for those we really love. Again it is a cultural difference between our two nations. The French and Italians are more effusive than the English and Germans. Perhaps there is a lot of Latin blood in Americans?
KathyS wrote:
Choisya wrote:
Do folks here know the phrase 'suck it and see'? I have just had a post containing this common (English) idiom removed from a board and was surprised to find that someone found the expression offensive. It only means trying something to see if you like it and is thought to originate from a large old-fashioned sweet called a gobstopper which changes colour as you sucked on it.
Hi,Choisya! I was just out and about, randomly thumbing through books and posts, and thought I'd drop into your Com.Rm. for a spot of tea! :-) Your questions to Americans are interesting! This particular phrase, or idiom, 'suck it and see' is not one that I'm familiar with. We do use similar phrasing, but it's not used with kindness, or by the 'genteel' population lol.....(possibly because of it's sexual reference) Kids, and adults alike, use slang, or say derogatory remarks for put downs....to one another....So, that also may be why it was removed.
To be kind to one another, when we speak or in our actions - whether to strangers, or to our own family members, is just how we're taught to be. I can't imagine not saying, 'have a nice day', or 'be well', or 'be happy', or 'take care', or any number of good feeling phrases. I'm not saying everyone does this, but once you start saying these "well wishing phrases", it really does cause good feelings between people, don't you think?
Now, Choisya, I send you nothing but love from across the vast Atlantic ocean, and the US, from 'sunny' Southern California! And I hope this holiday season is the beginning for you and yours, of every 'kind' phrase we can say to one another!
Merry Christmas!Message Edited by KathyS on 12-22-200607:29 AM
Poor little quails - give them a chance to grow up!
ziki wrote:
The book is huge, bigger than my EOD and nothing to travel with. I dropped the package three times on my way home from the post office(glad to report the book survived unharmed).
Many recipes are inspiring and I will use them, others are too special for me (mostly game-quail, wild board and such animals that I never met).
The book has pics in color, I like the layout. It is easy to navigate (different colors are used) and well worth the money, methinks.
The first thing I will try= the brussel sprouts with almonds.
happy eating, happy reading
ziki
Thanks ziki - that's a lot of lines Yes those sweets (candies?) are still sold, usually under the slightly more polite name of humbugs. They are large, striped and mint-flavoured although I seem to remember that one of their delights was that as you sucked, the flavours and colours also changed - hence the name.
http://www.mrsbrowns.co.uk/acatalog/MINT_HUMBUGS.h
Yes those sweets (candies?) are still sold, usually under the slightly more polite name of humbugs. They are large, striped and mint-flavoured although I seem to remember that one of their delights was that as you sucked, the flavours and colours also changed - hence the name.http://www.mrsbrowns.co.uk/acatalog/MINT_HUMBUGS.h
ziki wrote:
Choisya wrote:
Do folks here know the phrase 'suck it and see'? I have just had a post containing this common (English) idiom removed from a board and was surprised to find that someone found the expression offensive. It only means trying something to see if you like it and is thought to originate from a large old-fashioned sweet called a gobstopper which changes colour as you sucked on it.
Help!I don't believe it! It is in my dictionary of idioms.
Maybe BNC initiates a course on idioms for moderators, heheh!
Can you still find those sweets nowadays?
Choisya, it's great you post this and help BNC to draw the line correctly.You're not out of line but you put your neck on the line. I hope you stay in the front line and I do enjoy you being on line so frequently.
ziki :-)
Choisya wrote:
I bought all my children books for Xmas and one of them was 'My Sister My Friend', which I bought for one of my daughters on a recommendation posted on B&N. However, it caused great hilarity because of the OTT compliments readers were advised to give their sisters. My daughters took turns to read sentences out to the family and before long we were doubled up with laughter. Are Americans really as effusive as this and if so when did you get to be that way because it does not show up in earlier literature? One sentence that really tickled my elder daughter was: 'I am proud of the woman you have become, Munchkin' !!! Her younger sister has recently embarked on a teaching degree course, at the age of 45 and whilst bringing up two young children so she really is proud of her (we all are) but she could not say this sentence without bursting into laughter and they both ended up in hysterics! Brits wouldn't say such things to their boy friends/hubbies, let alone their sisters. BTW, this isn't a criticism, just an observation. I have commented on B&N before about the compliments you all pay one another as a matter of course. Even 'Have a Nice Day' from a shop assistant causes hilarity over here. We really are two nations separated by a common language (as my previous post about sucking eggs also shows)
Dear Munchkin,
any more of these hillarious phrases to share with us?
z.
My daughter still has the book Ziki, my little lambkin, but I am seeing both my daughters on Xmas Day and will try to cull some more choice phrases from them - I am sure they will again read the book with glee!
ziki wrote:
Choisya wrote:
I bought all my children books for Xmas and one of them was 'My Sister My Friend', which I bought for one of my daughters on a recommendation posted on B&N. However, it caused great hilarity because of the OTT compliments readers were advised to give their sisters. My daughters took turns to read sentences out to the family and before long we were doubled up with laughter. Are Americans really as effusive as this and if so when did you get to be that way because it does not show up in earlier literature? One sentence that really tickled my elder daughter was: 'I am proud of the woman you have become, Munchkin' !!! Her younger sister has recently embarked on a teaching degree course, at the age of 45 and whilst bringing up two young children so she really is proud of her (we all are) but she could not say this sentence without bursting into laughter and they both ended up in hysterics! Brits wouldn't say such things to their boy friends/hubbies, let alone their sisters. BTW, this isn't a criticism, just an observation. I have commented on B&N before about the compliments you all pay one another as a matter of course. Even 'Have a Nice Day' from a shop assistant causes hilarity over here. We really are two nations separated by a common language (as my previous post about sucking eggs also shows)
Dear Munchkin,
any more of these hillarious phrases to share with us?
z.
