Questions tagged [british-english]
This tag is for questions related to English as spoken in Great Britain, and sometimes Ireland.
1,895 questions
0
votes
2answers
31 views
A word means “move one's hand across hair till it is flat and even”
I basically just forgot the word, I've got really vague recollection of it, I think it's SMOOTH, like I smooth my hair back
But I only remember one of the example sentences in my app, I don't really ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Please translate to American English from the British the following: OH **UK!
The cover of the most recent Economist (March 16 - 22nd 2019) has in large type
OH **UK! Whatever next?
From the context, this is clearly a comment on the current Brexit mess.
Is ** UK related ...
1
vote
4answers
41 views
How to express that a piece of information is the knowledge from a certain date?
I would like to express that a piece of information corresponds to my knowledge at a given date without implying anything on the past or future validity of the information.
Example:
The house down ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
Usage of “to double down” in British and American English
The idiom "to double to on sth" in the sense of "continuing to do something in an even more determined way than before" is mentioned in the Cambridge Dictionary. However, personally, I've heard this ...
-3
votes
2answers
56 views
What kind of TV show is an “asshole match” in British English? [closed]
You can see in this clip the "Right Honorable Gentleman" and speaker Bercow makes mention that there is an "Asshole Match on television very soon." I've never heard an Asshole Match, and the closest ...
0
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0answers
39 views
/ʌɪ/ and /aɪ/ Canadian Raise in BrE?
Is the difference in sounds /ʌɪ/ and /aɪ/ enough to be charted in British English?
I understand that in AmE and CaE (known as Canadian Raising) the /ʌɪ/ sound is a quicker, higher version of the /aɪ/ ...
-1
votes
1answer
24 views
Use ''of'' and ''for''
What is the correct sentence?
I am attaching invoice for this order.
or
I am attaching invoice of this order.
1
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0answers
41 views
Whose or who? Help please in understanding the difference between them. What's the use of it? [migrated]
Can you please help me understand the difference between using whose and who
And why in this sentence whose is useful?
whose umbrella is this? Is it your mother's?
The choices were
Who
...
0
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0answers
9 views
“worth” with possessive(s) in coordinated nominals
According to Garner Modern English Grammar
The idiomatic possessive should be used with periods of time and
statements of worth — 30 days’ notice (i.e., notice of 30 days), three
days’ time, ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
“Do you want those washed?”
I was watching a film and I've just got this phrase, I think the context was just the girl's saying: do you wanna apologise?
I wonder if speaking like that is common in you country?
btw I quite like ...
0
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0answers
8 views
English Grammar: When+past simple [migrated]
Can you please explain me how can 'shone' be after 'when' ?
Or another example. When added to a liquid,antifreeze lowers the freezing temperature of that liquid'
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Pronoun Usage (on or on it)
Which of the following is more accurate?
1) You have one day to solve the exam on.
2) You have one day to solve the exam on it.
0
votes
1answer
39 views
word similar to obfuscation, used for comedy
there is a word, or perhaps a type of comedy, where simple things are described using terms that are correct but needlessly complicated or absurd for various effects. I am reminded by comics from ...
-1
votes
1answer
54 views
Is this phrase correct? “Got it, thanks!” [closed]
I received this regularly from my colleagues but not sure if this is grammatically correct
0
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1answer
24 views
What does EO's mean?
in it victor is telling something and professor turned to eli who said " EO's "1from vicious novel
0
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0answers
27 views
'On' Versus 'in' when talking about websites or newspaper?
Why does we use the phase "this article was publish on this website" but use the phrase "this article was published in this newspaper?"
Does it have something to do with the fact we say a website is ...
2
votes
4answers
435 views
'A' vs 'an' in newspaper article
In this Guardian article
There is this sentence
No one was onboard the Dragon capsule that launched on Saturday on its
first test flight, only an dummy .
My question is why it is written "only ...
2
votes
2answers
41 views
On the hoof expression
A friend has asked me if they can say: I said those words on the hoof.
It doesn’t sound right to me as I’m used to hearing it with eating: I had to grab lunch on the hoof.
Is it correct, and if so, ...
1
vote
0answers
58 views
Connected speech resources
I am very interested in British pronunciation, so I am looking for resources about connected speech and IPA in general.
The ideal would be a book with the transcription of dialogues or just ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Meter and rhythm in Poetry [closed]
Why is poetry called a 'literature in metrical form' or 'a composition forming rhythmic lines'?
-2
votes
2answers
41 views
scoffing his granola
In this Passage what is the meaning of "scoffing his granola" sentence:
He’s a terrible time keeper. We go on and on at
the kids about time keeping but the Head’s late for everything. The assembly
...
-1
votes
0answers
33 views
“Up to the Capital”? [duplicate]
During my five years at university studying English and German. I was taught from the outset that one travelled ' up to ' the Capital, regardless of which direction you may be travelling from, south, ...
1
vote
3answers
62 views
English idiom for only being able to act in the way you were raised
I'm looking for an English (UK) idiom which I think might be similar to "I can only follow my roots" and means that I can only act in the way I was raised.
0
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0answers
26 views
After the new semester begins/have began?
I'm sending an email to my tutor but I'm not sure the sentence I wanna send is correct or not
"can I talk to you after the new semester have began/began/begins? Or I even thought about beginning lol, ...
1
vote
0answers
61 views
Words to call a gun?
How would someone who goes hunting/shooting a lot describe a gun? (in UK, not USA) Any casual terms that non-hunters would not know, e.g. would they refer to the make - as in I've just bought a new "...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
should do vs must do
The other day, to me great surprise I've learnt from an English native speaker that one must avoid using must in sentences and use should instead which did strike me as odd indeed because I do ...
0
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0answers
30 views
what is the meaning of “..with a short increase of curve coming at the end of the edge…”
Here is the whole sentence to give you more context.
Here is a look at three different salchow take off marks left on the ice. The first is a very clean takeoff with a short increase of curve coming ...
-3
votes
1answer
51 views
What are the feminine equivalents of “Running mate”?
From Wikipedia:
In the United States, "running mate" refers not only to a candidate
for vice president (federal), but also to a candidate for lieutenant
governors of those states where the ...
-1
votes
2answers
45 views
Are there any references that the English language is written and read from left to right and from top to bottom? [duplicate]
What is the basis this?
I have practically done hours of research and I couldn't find any source or reference about this.
I AM NOT ASKING WHY. I AM ASKING FOR A REFERENCE.
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Is Mr. X and us working on Monday?
I want to ask my friend if he and I along with Mr. X are working on Monday?
Can you guys tell me how can I ask this?
Do you think the below question are correct?
Is Mr. X and us working on Monday?
...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
The pronunciation of “divisor”
unfortunately, it seems as though my English level remains to be that of a foreigner, as was exemplified by me misapprehending the pronunciation of the word "divisor". Somehow, my instincts (which ...
-1
votes
0answers
28 views
Use of same pronoun in two consecutive sentences
Which one is correct from below two sentences
I have planned my leave and I have booked the flight tickets as well.
or
I have planned my leave and have booked the flight tickets as well.
i want to ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
hyphenation of ‘editorial’ in BrE
According to an online hyphenator, the hyphenation of ‘editorial’ is
ed-it-or-ial
in British English and
ed-i-to-rial
in American English. I'm interested in the hyphenation of the noun ‘...
-2
votes
1answer
66 views
What is “warm and flat water”?
I heard the expression 'warm and flat water' in the British film when someone gives another water saying
There you go, warm and flat.
I was told that I can use 'flat drink' to the drinks in ...
10
votes
2answers
106 views
What's the etymology of the military slang word “jippo” meaning gravy?
My late grandfather who served in WWII always used to refer to gravy as jippo and it has passed down into common usage by the family, while there are sources which confirm this meaning, I cannot find ...
-1
votes
0answers
23 views
“Today, we have announced” vs “We have announced today”
I know that it sounds more natural to say "Today, we're announcing" or what have you, but I'm struggling to explain why it is. Does anybody know a reason for this? Is "We have announced today" ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
it's a kind of impossible… Argument with teacher
So i'm arguing with my teacher about this one phrase on my writing exam.
I've written:
"It's kind of impossible not to like her."
And she corrected it to:
"it's a kind of impossible not to like her."
...
6
votes
4answers
197 views
You need your eyes testing
My question is about the regional acceptability of sentences such as the following:
You need your eyes testing.
I need my hair cutting.
I want my car washing.
The second example is given in the ...
0
votes
2answers
72 views
The meaning of Robinson Crusoe’s “and without with turf”
Towards night, I fixed upon a proper place, under a rock, and marked out a semicircle for my encampment ; which I resolved to strengthen with a work, wall, or fortification, made of double piles, ...
3
votes
1answer
102 views
Status of sometime vs some time in AmE and BrE
There are a few uses of "sometime" and "some time". There are two in particular I'm interested in.
One is to refer to a period of time. Examples:
I will spend some time tomorrow doing the washing.
...
0
votes
2answers
41 views
What does “straggle on his chin” means?
What does "straggle on his chin" mean?
As I shook his hand, a kid cruising by—no more than a sophomore, judging by the fresh crop of pimples and the serio-comic straggle on his chin that aspired to ...
1
vote
1answer
135 views
How often are words used for outerwear in British English considered underwear in American English? [closed]
There are some differences between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE) and in the subject area of clothing, these can lead to some amusing mistakes. I have two examples of this where the ...
-2
votes
1answer
19 views
What should I use here, fit or suit? [closed]
I have a sentence and two options which can be used here, what it the right one and why? Thank you!
«Heidi used to be in the girlband Atomic Kitten but she left because she never quite ________ in»
...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
No Gender Nouns [duplicate]
Why do adjectives and some nouns in English not have gender?
Is there a history beyond that?
Don't this cause some ambiguity in the language itself?
5
votes
1answer
40 views
What is the difference between “shopping online” and “online shopping”?
For example:
1. I like shopping online
2. I like online shopping
Do both have the same meaning?
Which one is commonly use?
3
votes
1answer
50 views
electrical equipment vs electric car
Both of these things run on electricity. I can't figure out why electrical equipment can't be electric equipment?
Even after some research, I can't give the proper answer.
3
votes
2answers
111 views
What is the male equivalent of the 1960's slang “bird”, meaning a woman
Back many years ago, perhaps 1950's, 60's or 70's, the word "bird" was used to describe a woman, and more typically a girlfriend, as in the phrase "She's a top bird"
Was there a male equivalent to ...
-1
votes
1answer
61 views
The difference between in and within [duplicate]
What are the differences between doing something in a period and doing something within a period?
Are there any other differences between in and Within in other contexts?
0
votes
1answer
28 views
At and By what are the differences.Is there a third alternative to this?
What are the differences between doing something at the end of a period and doing something by the end of a period?
For example:
I will meet her at the end of the week.
I will meet her by the end of ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
English possessive case, when 2 s are near [duplicate]
James's car is white, or Dickens's books are popular. can we put 2 s together and if so how do you pronounce it naturally and nicely?
