Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Can you translate these American phrases in advertising and email?


Problem
It sounds like English, it looks like English, but it isn't English, at least not the Queen's English.

Answer:
Americanism - Britishism

a few bucks - a few pounds / next to nothing
ditch out - give up on
I sure messed up - I really made a mess of it
it's a biggie - it's the main reason, the important fact, a major factor
show up - turn up / appear
ya'all - every one of you / everybody
yup - yes

Finally
spamfest - overrun with spam, marketing gone mad, sheer propaganda, feel like you're being got at.

If you know any others, please let me know.

At least two people speak the Queen's English. I do. So does H M The Queen.

Photo of and by Angela Lansbury at a shop at Heathrow Airport.

Perhaps, now that Meghan from America has married Harry from England, the two languages will also get together.


Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

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