British Turns of Phrase or Expressions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any Brits or english scholars on here who could clear this up: my mother although German, spent the first 16+ years of her life in the UK, she says things like this: "France are..." or "Germany are leading in the match..." in reference to a team event and I've heard this in Britain--it seems to be British english. Whereas in the US we'd say France is... or Germany is leading...etc,.

Is this grammatically correct even in the UK? Anyone else find other turns of phrase or grammar different in Britain vs US?

Yes, collective nouns are often treated as plural: e.g., "the government are..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taking the biscuit is more equivalent to the American “take the cake”

No, it’s the same as taking the piss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking the biscuit is more equivalent to the American “take the cake”

No, it’s the same as taking the piss.

(As long as it is followed by “out of you”). Otherwise it means that something is just the worst ever.)

[Anonymous]

The two apps who answered OP's query were right. Collective nouns are singular in American English. Think about "United States," which for Americans is always followed by a singular verb despite technically being plural.

[Anonymous]

My favorite is saying someone has a face like a smacked arse. (It means they look very unhappy.)

[Anonymous]

My favorite is "tired and emotional" = drunk

[Anonymous]

Not particularly funny, but I enjoy the use of "sorted" to mean "figured out". I like its efficiency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't know but I'm sure DCUM will get it sorted.

Well done you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my Brit friends called the other "a jammy sod" on FB this week. I laughed so loud - it's the most British expression ever.

I'm going to use that phrase!!!!! If only I knew what it meant.....

For context - he was playfully bragging about his first class upgrade he scored on a long work flight.

Others I like:

Being pissed = very drunk (not angry as in American English)
Being fit = super sexy/hot
Smart = put together well/nicely dressed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the word "baubles!" Means ornaments (Christmas ornaments)

They love the word brick a brack too. Brikabrak?

It’s “bric a brac” (and it’s French in origin).

[Anonymous]

Cheeky -- sassy
Bricabrac -- bricabrac is stuff you would find at a thrift store or a yard sale. Miscellaneous old stuff people's houses.
A tosser is a masturbater. But not really vulgar. There is more swearing generally than in the US.
Like chalk and cheese -- very very different from each other. "Oh, Jimmy and Bob don't get along at all, they're like chalk and cheese."

[Anonymous]

My favorite is "popped her clogs" for dying.

[Anonymous]

"Bugger off" always works for me. Sounds ruder than bug off but not as bad as f*** off. A nice in between.

[Anonymous]

https://www.paperrater.com/page/british-slang-words

Found out that "jammy" means lucky -- jammy sod! Just love that phrase, pp!

[Anonymous]

Have a root means sexual intercourse