Terms we use in America that don't make sense

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: alrocky
Going to the bathroom

Rush Hour

you = fail.

He's right about the first one. If there's no bath, it's not a bathroom, but rather, a washroom.

I believe he's right about the second one too. It lasts longer than an hour and you don't get to rush because it goes so slowly.

people are rushing to get home at that hour, but it causes a jam

 

[BeauJangles]

"Stuck between a rock and a hard place"
"shuffle off to Buffalo"
"You can't have your cake and eat it too"
etc...

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: gamefreakgcb
the nose runs but the feet smell

:thumbsup:

haha was I the only one that found this hilarious?

 

[Oxaqata]

Edit

 

[austin316]

cargo for ships and shipment for cars.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Things that don't make sense in North American English:

1) saying "Gesundheit" when someone sneezes... Why use a German word?... in England, they say/used to say "Bless you", which at least was English.
2) There's no English equivalent for the expression "Bon appetit" when you start a meal.

#1 will get you aethiest slapped...

Why say anything when someone sneezes? Why not also say something when anything enters/leaves the body? Each breath, each bite, each burp, each fart, anything. Why's a sneeze so special that it needs narration?

I don't say anything simply because it makes no sense. Sneezing is just a normal bodily function like everything else. I cringe when someone says God bless you, because it assumes that person is of faith. Meh, it's just the little things..

I'm by no means religious (at best, I'm buddhist), but still say bless you. Why? probably because it was ingrained into me as a kid and I've never been able not too. That, and as a kid, I had no idea of it's religious roots.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Oxaqata
In America you call it gas. I'm under the impression that it's a liquid.

im pretty sure its just a shortened nickname for gasoline, which isnt in gaseous form


edit:

Originally posted by: austin316
cargo for ships and shipment for cars.

cargo is what youre carrying. the shipment is the delivery itself. that stuff youre carrying in your car is still cargo, thats why cargo vans are called... cargo vans.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
I'll start.

Emergency Room = Usually not just one room, but multiple multiple rooms, yet its called an Emergency Room .... COULD be called "Emergency Rooms" or "Emergency Center", but we don't say that - we say we're going to the Emergency Room.

Others?

Most of the hospitals that I know of call it the ED, Emergency Dept. Or they specify Trauma Center when applicable. I never heard anyone in the field call it ER. That could be a local thing though.
Like how some call pancakes flapjacks.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: torpid
2: I've started saying the japanese word lately... mostly because I'm taking japanese but also because it's a fun word: itadakimasu!

I'm a fan of kampai... cause then we get to drink! 😀 Kampai being used for toasts and who toasts a non-alocholic beverage? 😛

 

[sao123]

why do the french call their perfume... toilet water?

 

[Blunc]

gas is short for gasoline. whatever you call it, it won't burn in liquid form. it will only burn when it has been vaporized (in a gaseous state).

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: sao123
why do the french call their perfume... toilet water?

isn't it obvious?

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: sao123
why do the french call their perfume... toilet water?

Eau de toilette...it's a clever way of saying bathroom water...something you put on in the bathroom...

 

[Geocentricity]

Originally posted by: Oxaqata
In America you call it gas. I'm under the impression that it's a liquid.

Short for gasoline.

 

[homercles337]

I hate when people say, "I was wondering....?" Well, why the fuck are you asking if you *were* wondering but you are no longer wondering. Past tense means it was in the past. :|

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
2) There's no English equivalent for the expression "Bon appetit" when you start a meal.

"Enjoy" usually suffices.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Things that don't make sense in North American English:

1) saying "Gesundheit" when someone sneezes... Why use a German word?... in England, they say/used to say "Bless you", which at least was English.
2) There's no English equivalent for the expression "Bon appetit" when you start a meal.

1) There is no god so "god" bless you makes no sense. I may as well say, giant pink unicorn bless you. 😕 At least Gesundheit means "good health" in that sneezing may mean one is coming down with an illness.

 

[jamesave]

What is a broker?

Is that a job function to make someone broke?

 

[funkymatt]

sneezing is your soul trying to excape and saying "bless you" crams it back up there.

 

[Kirby]

television remote.

wtf is a mote and why are you doing it again? 😛

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Things that don't make sense in North American English:

1) saying "Gesundheit" when someone sneezes... Why use a German word?... in England, they say/used to say "Bless you", which at least was English.
2) There's no English equivalent for the expression "Bon appetit" when you start a meal.

1) There is no god so "god" bless you makes no sense. I may as well say, giant pink unicorn bless you. 😕 At least Gesundheit means "good health" in that sneezing may mean one is coming down with an illness.

Let's not start this.

 

[khas]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: mjuszczak
I'll start.

Emergency Room = Usually not just one room, but multiple multiple rooms, yet its called an Emergency Room .... COULD be called "Emergency Rooms" or "Emergency Center", but we don't say that - we say we're going to the Emergency Room.

Others?

Most of the hospitals that I know of call it the ED, Emergency Dept. Or they specify Trauma Center when applicable. I never heard anyone in the field call it ER. That could be a local thing though.
Like how some call pancakes flapjacks.

All of the Hospitals I've seen call it the ER. You've never heard the term ER used by anyone in the field? *shrug* I have.

I don't think it's all that local of a term either considering there's a well known show named after it...

nbc.com/ER

 

[CravenTacos]

I'm going to school. I'm going to work.
'the' is left out because both school and work are considered verbs in these usages.
If you're merely going to the school building with no intent of doing any schooling, then you would say
I'm going to the school, or, I'm going up to the school

 

[Fern]

Restroom

(Unless you take a nap on the toilet)

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: alrocky
Going to the bathroom

Rush Hour

you = fail.

He's right about the first one. If there's no bath, it's not a bathroom, but rather, a washroom.

I believe he's right about the second one too. It lasts longer than an hour and you don't get to rush because it goes so slowly.

it's because everyone is rushing home, and it's typically the hour before typical busines hours (9-5). obviously there is more than 1 hour of traffic w/schedules being so different now a days, but it makes complete sense.

and when I have to pee, I typically go walk into a bathroom to do so. therefore, i have no idea what is weird about me "going to the bathroom" to pee.