I
Integritas0
Guest
Is each and every nation unique in some way, I wonder? Can folks state what country they are from or grew up in, and then say if there are any sayings or little expressions that are unique to your country/nation.
I will go first (gulp!):
Country: Ireland.
Expressions: A very common expression in (Southern) Ireland is "your man" (male) or "your one" (female). Irishman25 will immediately know what I am talking about! So when I have visited other countries and say "your man" etc. noone really notices, but I was recently in Scotland and folks there looked at me like I had two heads when ever I said "who is your one" or "that's your man!" You see in Ireland it is simply a way of referring to ANY person, but it's gender specific. So, "your one" is simply a way of referring to any woman or girl. "Your man" is obviously a reference to any man or boy. But in Scotland people thought I was speaking literally... so if I say "who is your man?" then think I mean "who is your male partner?" But, all Irish people mean when they say this is "who is such and such a guy?" Coyld be any guy, even a total
stranger. So this is the best way I can express it.
One other thing, I asked for a packet of "tayto" in a Scottish shop, and the shopkeeper gave me that quizzical look. He had absolutely no idea what I wanted. "tayto" is from potato, meaning crisps, or chips.
Of course neither could I understand a word given the heavy Scottish accent, and god only knows how many of these little expressions or ways of saying things they have that I missed. Scotland has nice trains though, compared to Ireland.
So what do you say, and do you say it, in your country/State?
I'll throw in a random youtube vid for the entertainment value, as some will find the topic of sayings and colloquialisms boring versus fascinating:
Everyone likes Sigourney Weaver.
I will go first (gulp!):
Country: Ireland.
Expressions: A very common expression in (Southern) Ireland is "your man" (male) or "your one" (female). Irishman25 will immediately know what I am talking about! So when I have visited other countries and say "your man" etc. noone really notices, but I was recently in Scotland and folks there looked at me like I had two heads when ever I said "who is your one" or "that's your man!" You see in Ireland it is simply a way of referring to ANY person, but it's gender specific. So, "your one" is simply a way of referring to any woman or girl. "Your man" is obviously a reference to any man or boy. But in Scotland people thought I was speaking literally... so if I say "who is your man?" then think I mean "who is your male partner?" But, all Irish people mean when they say this is "who is such and such a guy?" Coyld be any guy, even a total
stranger. So this is the best way I can express it.
One other thing, I asked for a packet of "tayto" in a Scottish shop, and the shopkeeper gave me that quizzical look. He had absolutely no idea what I wanted. "tayto" is from potato, meaning crisps, or chips.
Of course neither could I understand a word given the heavy Scottish accent, and god only knows how many of these little expressions or ways of saying things they have that I missed. Scotland has nice trains though, compared to Ireland.
So what do you say, and do you say it, in your country/State?
I'll throw in a random youtube vid for the entertainment value, as some will find the topic of sayings and colloquialisms boring versus fascinating:
Everyone likes Sigourney Weaver.
