The Empire Strikes Back
 

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19670686[/url]

[QUOTE=xilman;312904][url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19670686[/url][/QUOTE]

Gingers are the brunt of many jokes -- I'm not sure I'd call it prejudice, but I definitely don't think of gingerbread (or anything warm/comforting) when I hear the word.

I sincerely hope that the Imperial measurement system doesn't become the world standard. It is already crazy enough to put up with seconds, minutes, hours and months without having to add in inches, feet, yards, chains, miles, furlongs, gallons, pounds, ounces etc. But I like the dollars, I will always accept more of those.

[QUOTE=retina;312906]I sincerely hope that the Imperial measurement system doesn't become the world standard. It is already crazy enough to put up with seconds, minutes, hours and months without having to add in inches, feet, yards, chains, miles, furlongs, gallons, pounds, ounces etc. But I like the dollars, I will always accept more of those.[/QUOTE]
How about Rods, Pole or Perches?

Make mine a pint:smile:

pottles, ells, nails, squares, gills, giggers....

[QUOTE=retina;312906]I sincerely hope that the Imperial measurement system doesn't become the world standard. It is already crazy enough to put up with seconds, minutes, hours and months without having to add in inches, feet, yards, chains, miles, furlongs, gallons, pounds, ounces etc. But I like the dollars, I will always accept more of those.[/QUOTE]

Makes cents to me.

And now the NYT picks up the theme.

[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/fashion/americans-are-barmy-over-britishisms.html[/url]

[QUOTE=garo;314412]And now the NYT picks up the theme.

[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/fashion/americans-are-barmy-over-britishisms.html[/url][/QUOTE]I didn't know "twee."

I disagree with the article about any US usage of "chat up" that varies from the British meaning of "flirting" except perhaps by conveying less serious intent. I suppose that someone might try using it for a meaning of butter up, but it would be odd. I never have heard it used for a meaning of simply "talk to."

[QUOTE=only_human;314413]
I disagree with the article about any US usage of "chat up" that varies from the British meaning of "flirting" except perhaps by conveying less serious intent.[/QUOTE]

I would say that "chatting up" implies some intention of "pulling" whereas "flirting" is just being friendly.

You'll have to ask the late Sir Jimmy Saville about it.

David

[QUOTE=xilman;312904][url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19670686[/url][/QUOTE]Some more: [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19929249[/url]

Most of them fed back to the Beeb by Americans living in the US.

[QUOTE=xilman;314965]Some more: [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19929249[/url]

Most of them fed back to the Beeb by Americans living in the US.[/QUOTE]
"pop over" I wouldn't really call a Britishism, though it is less popular than (e.g.) "swing by".