> This thread reminded me of some advice I gave to a friend who > was going to Europe for the first time: > > It is important to realize that in a foreign country, people > may not understand your meaning, even if they do speak > English. There are certain American expressions that can not > understandably be translated into any European language, > including the varieties of English spoken in the UK and > Ireland. Some examples: >
Isn't the point of going abroad to experience the differences? The English are terrible for this, going to a foreign country and demanding that it be exactly the same as Scunthorpe. > > Crispy bacon strips. Pancetta. You can buy crispy bacon strips in Marks & Spencer. > Eggs over easy (or sunny side up) We can probably cook it - we just can't ever remember what it means. > Rare steak (or a rare hamburger) These are the ways steak can be cooked in France: Bleu - the beast's heart is still beating Saignant - bleeding A point - pink in the middle Bien cuit - well done. You may be deported if you ask for this Americain - any restaurant that's prepared to do this to a steak does not deserve your custom > Facial quality toilet tissue Ours is faecal quality > Frosty mug of beer It's only cold to disguise the hideous taste. If you can't drink a beer warm it's not worth drinking > Diet Coke You're welcome to it! > Bottomless cup of coffee True > "We're in a hurry; can you bring the check right away?" Hmm. The problem is usually at the other end: We're in a hurry - can you bring the f*ing food we ordered 2 hours ago when we weren't in a hurry? They're not usually slow to bring the bill. > Deep dish pizza > A travesty. Most pizzas are dismally bad outside Italy - a tragedy really because a good one is incomparably wonderful. > etc, etc > > Dan M Completely untranslatable! :o) -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
