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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Oneeightnine@feddit.uk to c/askuk@feddit.uk

For example, switching out the word 'boot' for 'trunk', or ditching the word 'rubbish' for 'garbage'.

This is something I've noticed my 6 year old does pretty regularly. We went through a stage where 'sweets' became 'candy', 'holiday' became 'vacation' and 'courgette' became 'zucchini'.

That last one didn't happen but if you're still reading you've got my respect, or as the Americans might say '...mad props'.

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[-] livus@kbin.social 27 points 1 year ago

Yes, but British English has superior insults like cockwomble.

[-] PatMustard@feddit.uk 23 points 1 year ago

"cockwomble" just sounds like you're trying too hard, like a yank LARPing as a brit they read about on the internet

[-] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 10 points 1 year ago

That’s when you pull out the British understatement and switch to ordinary nouns in a context that implies an insult (“you utter teakettle”)

[-] PatMustard@feddit.uk 4 points 1 year ago

Teakettle? Isn't that just a kettle?

[-] yeah@feddit.uk 4 points 1 year ago

It's a way to call someone extra or superfluous.

[-] livus@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Really? Is it regional maybe? Irl I've only ever heard it from English people who want to say something stronger than "bell end".

[-] PatMustard@feddit.uk 6 points 1 year ago

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say it IRL. It's a pretty minor thing really, use whatever insults you fancy, but if you want something very British you've got classics like muppet, nonce, pillock, bawbag.

[-] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm partial to 'wankspanner'. Which is pretty un-American since even if they knew what to wank meant, they'd probably to with 'wankwrench' which just isn't the same. Sorry, I'm moving into rambling territory now.

[-] livus@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

I myself use the insults of my own culture (NZ), but I just like hearing the British people in my life using theirs.

I know an elderly British woman whose worst insult seems to be to call someone a "rotter".

[-] Holyginz@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Honestly, bellend is a wonderful insult in my opinion. I used to watch a lot of sovietwomble and similar youtubers in the past so that and using cunt like a more colorful version of calling someone a dick were something i heard a lot and have a lot more behind them when said. That being said, I live in the US and would have to explain Bellend which would cause it to lose the impact. And cunt is far more negatively received here so you will likely be regarded as a mysoginist and/or get clocked here.

[-] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

As an American in awe of your insults, I can’t get enough of the English pronunciation of twat. It cracks like a whip. Truly spectacular stuff.

[-] Holyginz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Lol, I'm American as well. But I agree with you 100%. It really feels like most of our insults here are lacking compared to the rest of the world.

this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2024
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