Questions for our British friends

[old alal]

TM I get called Dad, Pops and Old Man, depending on which of my children is calling me, but I only have 2 !

[ultimatewarlord]

Originally Posted by trailmaster

In America children will call their fathers by many names depending on where they live. People who live in the northern states often call their fathers as: father, dad, papa, pop, pa. In the southern states children say pa(pronounced paw).


How do British children refer to their fathers?

Daddy when you're young and then Dad.

There was a line from Only Fools and Horses IIRC. When speaking about Trigger, Del Boy said. 'On his birth certificate, under Father, his mum put, ''Some Soldiers.''

[seany65]

Posted by xyzde69:

"Poor little Napoléon who terribly was ill during the day of the Waterloo's battle.

And it rained cats and dogs the night before. He could show all his incredible strategical talent.

He didn't really lose by his own fault the battle, it was the Maréchal Ney who destroyed the cavalry.

Wellington was really really lucky.

But since that day... French soccer team often has triumphed over the vassals of the British Royal Majesty.



My question is: how funny would be your life without your friendly French ennemies? "

A little less funny.


But we'd still have the germans, italians, spanish, yanks, the irish, the welsh, the scots, the cockneys, the 'southern softies', the Brummies, the geordies, the yorkshire men, the scousers and the next door neighbours to laugh at/hate. __________________
<-- That's Emma Murphy and I want to be stuck in her front bottom.

[bowlinggreen]

I have a question for our British friends. Why are custom tailored suits, shoes etc. referred to as "bespoke"? Why not just say "custom-made suit"?

I see this every once in a while, and it drives me nuts. "Bespoke" seems like a verb you should see in the writings of Chaucer or somebody else of equally ancient lineage.

[old alal]

Bespoke is also used in furniture kitchens etc.

I find it perfectly acceptable, and most people In my circles would use it rather than custom made .....It covers a multitude of subjects. I have shirts made bespoke. They are not Taylor made as he is a Shirt Maker not a Taylor so "my shirts are shirtmaker made" or "my kitchen is carpenter made" are covered by "both my shirts and kitchen are bespoke"

I could say "both my shirts and kitchen are custom made, but it just doesn't sound right.

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by bowlinggreen

I see this every once in a while, and it drives me nuts. "Bespoke" seems like a verb you should see in the writings of Chaucer or somebody else of equally ancient lineage.

It is a fairly venerable term - a bit later than Chaucer though - maybe Shakespeare's era.

You are right in that it derives from a verb and means "as was spoken about" so it suggests the end plan and design have been reached by discussion and consent before ordering the item. I think it is a pleasant term and is probably used more in England simply because makers of various types have been around for a very long time. For instance Lock & Co, a London hat makers, was established in 1676 - Ede & Ravenscroft (tailors) 1689.

"Custom made" just does not sound right at all for me - that's for American hot-rods, not top hats.

[MaxJoker]

Originally Posted by trailmaster

How do British children refer to their fathers?

Twat face , Arsehole breath , Bastard liar , Scumbag thief. Were four of the titles I gave mine when a MiniJoker
Then after I got to know him better those names became less benevolent

Oh blast , you meant British children in general didn't you

Well Irish children mostly mainly always call their male biological donors Paddypops ,
Welsh = Leakypops ,
Scotch = Alcopops,
Then the English = Greenman
Although if you`re black English that`s changed to A.W.O.L

[Grouchy]

Originally Posted by bowlinggreen

I have a question for our British friends. Why are custom tailored suits, shoes etc. referred to as "bespoke"? Why not just say "custom-made suit"?

Why use three words when one will do?

[philll_77]

Originally Posted by Grouchy

Why use three words when one will do?

"Brevity is the soul of wit" - Lord Polonius, Hamlet.

[bowlinggreen]

Originally Posted by Grouchy

Why use three words when one will do?

Well, you could just say "Custom". Saves you a silent vowel too.

"Bespoke" is just a particular Englishism, then, I guess, like when you say "fish and chips", but you don't mean potato chips at all, like we do.

And potato chips are "crisps" over there.

That's another weird thing, "crisp" does not connote the idea of a potato chip to me at all. That would be something sweeter, like a kid's cereal. I recall at least one cereal I ate as a kid that had the word "crisp" in the cereal name.