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Divided by a common language.....or do Americans know how to give someone the hairy eyeball?

Tags: Regional Dialects, English, Humor, Language, Humour
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Post: # 3,386,648
View Profile dlowan
 
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 07:35 am
Just a silly thread to look at funny differences in how we speak.

For instance, DO Americans know how to give someone the hairy eyeball?

(I used this expression at work today, so I am thinking about it.)

We all know (or most of us do) how fanny is used differently in the US from gow it is used in the UK and oz....but I was surprised that things didn't go pear-shaped in America...but not surprised that you guys generally don't know when you are coming the raw prawn.

Any weird expressions in your neck of the woods?
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Type: Discussion • Score: 17 • Views: 1,674 • Replies: 192

 
Post: # 3,386,687
View Profile DrewDad
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:10 am
Larry David is the king of the hairy eyeball.
Post: # 3,386,689
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:11 am
You DO have hairy eyeballs!


But who is this Larry David of whom you speak?
Post: # 3,386,690
View Profile DrewDad
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:11 am
dlowan wrote:
coming the raw prawn.

This always sounds like some weird Japanese porn fetish to me.
Post: # 3,386,693
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:13 am
I am able to put your fears at rest.

It is nothing of the kind.

You may breathe out now.

Hey! I didn't know they had special Japanese prawns!
Post: # 3,386,697
View Profile DrewDad
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:15 am
dlowan wrote:
But who is this Larry David of whom you speak?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUTQBBEXMBI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp4pJ-mEmE4
Post: # 3,386,702
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:17 am
I gather he is two little urls, then?
Post: # 3,386,704
View Profile DrewDad
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:18 am
I know what it means. I'm just sayin' it's a little weird.
Post: # 3,386,706
View Profile DrewDad
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:18 am
He's spawned many little urls.
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Post: # 3,386,708
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:19 am
I knew you knew.
Post: # 3,386,712
View Profile sozobe
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:22 am
I knew you knew he knew.

Next!

Yeah, we do hairy eyeballs. Moms are very good at them.
Post: # 3,386,715
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:23 am
I knew YOU'D be good at them!


Wink

Even if you didn't know what their proper name was.
Post: # 3,386,717
View Profile sozobe
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:25 am
I'm the queen of the hairy eyeball.

Just ask my family. They'd agree readily.
Post: # 3,386,720
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:25 am
Or they'd read greedily?


Damned odd name for something, though, isn't it?
Post: # 3,386,722
View Profile sozobe
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:26 am
They do that already. I approve.

Hairy eyeballs:

http://www.newcenturytheatre.org/paintbox/images/TheHairyEyeball.jpg
Post: # 3,386,723
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:29 am
Lol!!! Cute.

I have a meaner looking hairy eyeball than that.

They look positively sweet.


Pep...peppy...that's something Australians don't "do".

And sand. In the Forsyte Saga the American characters use "full of sand", or "sandy" as praise.

Do you guys still use that expression, and what does it mean?

Post: # 3,386,731
View Profile DrewDad
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:32 am
dlowan wrote:

And sand. In the Forsyte Saga the American characters use "full of sand", or "sandy" as praise.

I call Bowdlerization.
Post: # 3,386,734
View Profile dlowan
 
  2  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:33 am
So...what is the "real" word?

It seemed to mean gutsy.
Post: # 3,386,737
View Profile DrewDad
 
  1  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:36 am
Ballsy? Spunky?

Edit: Grit.
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Post: # 3,386,744
View Profile DrewDad
 
  3  
Reply Wed 3 Sep, 2008 08:39 am
Looking it up, it appears that it has fallen out of general usage (I've never encountered anyone using it, anyway):

http://www.answers.com/topic/sand

4. Slang. Courage; stamina; perseverance: “She had more sand in her than any girl I ever see; in my opinion she was just full of sand†(Mark Twain).
 

 
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