Is "red coat" a derogatory term to identify a British person?
In 1972, as a member of HM Band of Scots Guards — those who do the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, in other words, Redcoats — I took part in a three-month tour of the US (20 states in 90 days), starting in New York and ending in Boston. While we were in Boston I was lucky enough to meet up with some American relatives who took me to see a re-enactment of a War of Independence battle, where, upon hearing my accent, I was approached in an initially very friendly manner by a local. The conversation went something like this:American: Are you British?Me: Yes.American: What are you doing over here?Me: I’m working.American: What do you do?Me: I’m a redcoat.American: There’s no need to be sarcastic!When my relatives explained that I really was one, and that the band was performing that night in the Boston Garden, they offered him a spare ticket they had for the concert. He was glad to accept and told me later he had really enjoyed the show.So, Redcoats are not always unwelcome or disliked in the US!By the way, that trip (I was 21 at the time) was the beginning of a fascination with and love for the United States, of which I have now visited all fifty.
Is it derogatory to call a British person a Brit?
Not derogatory at all.I know that Americans are sometimes called “Yanks” or “Yankees” but seeing as there’s a song called “The Yanks are Coming” (or whatever it’s titled) and one of your major sports teams are called the “Yankees” I guess they’re not derogatory.Here’s a funny little story, and I was absolutely amazed when this happened as was everyone else who witnessed it.I was a kitchen porter at the Turnberry Hotel in Scotland (the one Trump owns) for a few weeks between jobs sometime in 2005 or so, and I worked with a great bunch of waiters and other kitchen staff from all over the world. One young waitress was from Seattle.One day I was in the break room grabbing a bite to eat and chatting with chefs and waiters when the topic got onto something like this. I asked the waitress what she thought. I’ll call her Kate.Me - Do you think Yank or Yankee is offensive Kate?Kate - What now?Me - Is the word Yank or Yankee offensive to Americans?Kate - Why are you asking me?Me - Sorry I thought you were American. From Seattle you told me.Kate - Yes that’s right.Me - And you know the word Yank or Yankee?Kate - No.I think everyone stopped what they were doing at this point. It was a very small break room with about 10 of us crammed in and only 4 chairs.Me - New York Yankees? You heard of them?Kate - No.Me - Baseball team. The biggest name is baseball. You never heard of them?Kate - No I haven’t and stop asking stupid questions!Out she stormed. Jeez!Then again I know a guy here in the UK, and I’m serious here, who doesn’t know what order the months of the year run in. A lady who thought Uruguay was a made up country, and someone else who didn’t know what a volcano is.
Why do British people use the word "bloody" a lot?
Like "fucking/fuck" in the US (which rarely literally means actual sexual congress), "bloody" in modern use is a profane intensifier, used to express strength of emotion and usually frustration or anger at whatever is being modified (though there's also things like "bloody awesome" or "bloody chuffed" where it's intensifying how good the good word attached to it should be interpreted as being).A lot of British swears come back to Christian religion once you trace the etymology:Zounds (now archaic) == God's WoundsBloody == reference to the blood shed on the Cross (some say it's a contraction of "by Our Lady," i.e. the Virgin Mary)Most of the ones not obviously scatological or sexual were probably religious originally. That said, nowadays it's a general-purpose exclamation.
What are some British swear words/insults/slang?
Some of my favourites:arseholeddrunkarse over tita way of falling down, almost like a somersault, with a sense of looking ridiculous and undignified“I just tripped over a stone and fell arse over tit”bladdereddrunkbollockstesticles“He just kicked me in the bollocks”worthless rubbish“This film is a load of bollocks”written or spoken nonsense“You are talking utter bollocks”bonksexual intercourseBoris Johnsonshort for B.J.“How about a quick Boris Johnson?”cock-upterrible mistake, human error“Brexit … What a cock-up!”(cocked up = made a mistake, failed)crackin’excellent“Crackin’ cheese, Grommit”dodgyless than completely safe, trustworthy or reliable“I reckon last night’s curry was a bit dodgy”dogginga public sexual activity in which a couple announce on the internet that they will be going to a quiet local spot to have sex in their car, and everyone is invited to come along and masturbate while watching them though the windows. (There are dogging hotspots all over the country.)dog’s bollocks, theanything that is outstanding, excellent, unmissable, deserving of utmost respect“I love my new car. It’s the dog’s bollocks.”aka the mutt’s nutsfannying about/aroundprocrastinating, wasting time“Stop fannying about you tossers”full monty, thethe whole lot, the fullest amount, the complete set, the ‘whole hog’gagging for itapparently very keen to have a shag — usually applied to a female, but almost always inaccurately“See that barmaid? I reckon she’s gagging for it.” “That’s my sister, you tosser”gobsmackedamazed, stunned, astounded, lost for words“Read this – you’ll be gobsmacked”jail breakwhen you shamble out of the bathroom like an escaped convict with your knickers round your ankles after realising you’ve run out of toilet paper, in a desperate search for a new roll.jammyunbelievably lucky“You jammy bastard”Jeremy Huntrhyming slang to describe someone who behaves absolutely appallingly, such as quietly dismantling or privatising the NHS, or accusing NHS doctors of being overpaidknackeredvery tired, absolutely worn outpantsanything that is poor, shoddy, crap“That film was total pants”rat-arseddrunkshagsexual intercoursesmeg-headlike a dickhead, but more unpalatablesquiffyslightly drunktosserliterally, a wanker; hence, an utterly contemptible person“Go away, you tosser”trollieddrunk — literally, so drunk as to be taken home in a supermarket trolleywankereddrunk
If "fanny" is rude British slang, why are British women and girls still being named Fanny?
They aren't.Check this page: Baby Names in England & WalesIt records the number of babies given any name in any year. Note that if fewer than three babies are given a name, it is counted as zero. In no year since 1996 have there been more than two babies named Fanny.Compare with:Stephanie: http://names.darkgreener.com/#st...Stefanie: http://names.darkgreener.com/#st...Stefany: http://names.darkgreener.com/#st...Stephannie (very rare): http://names.darkgreener.com/#st...Steffannie (also very rare): http://names.darkgreener.com/#st...
So...Brits, this use of the word "naughty"?
hmm, @s - I think American's are actually quite sexually conservative compared to lots of Europe. This is one word that happens to have a different "street" or slang connotation than it's actual definition. :D I would definitely sound perverted if I said a child was naughty. Or, people would think I was plain weird if I said it to my own child, lol. It would raise eyebrows, though. But, words mean different things depending on the country. ;) It's just funny watching the news and seeing a commentator (or, god-forbid, Pierce Morgan, lol) saying that another (female) reporter is being naughty. The looks on the women's faces at first is kind of funny. :D And, heck, I'm thinking the same thing the women are!
Is the word "git" considered a swear word?
No, it isn't Look at the synonyms. There are all "soft". gitnoun, British Definition of GIT a person who lacks good sense or judgment
Why is the word "Paki" considered offensive when the word "Brit" isn't ?
Thats outrageous Im from Britain and being called a Brit is rascist. I will only forgive you if you give me 10 pounts - fascist!