Lovable Quirky English Sayings, Phrases, Expressions

[Aemma]

I just love how some English people start a sentence with "Right....." It denotes a change in the subject matter usually, as far as I can determine.

I found out a new one too: kinell! Love that one and think I'll be using it quite a bit!

Are there any that you like and would like to share?

PS: The thread is intended to be appreciative of the English way btw and not a slam-party. up

[Osweo]

Speaking of means of initiating a conversation, a favourite of mine is;

"Oh aye, you, 'n all..."

It immediately knocks terror into the person addressed, as it is used exclusively to introduce a scolding. THe person addressed is immediately thrown onto the defensive, as they wonder just what it is that you have discovered of their recent misdemeanours, real or imaginary.

For example; "Oh aye, you, 'n all; What've yer dun wi my bluddy socks?!"
I like it so much, that sometimes I use it for no reason, just to get people's blood pumping.


As well as 'Kin ell, we have the closely related 'Dy ell, formed from a similar contraction of 'bloody hell'.

[Graham]

bloody nora! or bloody hell

Thought that kinnell was some new word a hadnae heard of. Just the way youse pronounce fucking hell.

[Osweo]

bloody nora!

'Shitting Ada' is a nice alternative that I've heard from East Midlanders.

A friend also tried to popularise 'Pissing Rita', but regrettably it never took off.

[Peasant]

At the end of the day...

In fact that one does me head in.

[YOUTUBE]48HUdzoKiPA[/YOUTUBE]

[Aemma]

'Shitting Ada' is a nice alternative that I've heard from East Midlanders.

A friend also tried to popularise 'Pissing Rita', but regrettably it never took off.

What do these mean exactly?

[Vasconcelos]

Oi!...

[SwordoftheVistula]

At the end of the day...

That's not exclusively British, it's commonly used in the US as well

[Brynhild]

bloody nora! or bloody hell

Thought that kinnell was some new word a hadnae heard of. Just the way youse pronounce fucking hell.

I haven't heard bloody Nora in yonks! We have Aussie variants which are very similar, including bloody hell or bleedin' hell but I remember a Scottish friend who used to say damity ell - or damn it to hell.

[Magister Eckhart]

My favourite is the Northern usage of "pish" for "bullshit" or to express general disdain or disgust, where we Americans would use a more vulgar word.