Sayings

Yes.

Dag

I probably meant: Or.

Dag

On his tombstone one of our most loved comedians has written...................I told you I was ill

Seems like it comes from shooternz's part of the world: Bum steer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Can anyone explain to me why something bad is described as 'sub-par', or 'not up to par' when in golf (the only game I know of that uses 'par) being below par is good?

--OB

Hmmm. First of all, Par does not mean average in golf. Bogey started as the average golf score, whereas Par really means perfect play, allowing for two strokes on the green. And truly, who among us would not be happy with Bogey golf? If you are shooting close to Par, my hat is off to you.

Par did not originate with golf. In fact, the word didn't become an official Golf word until the 1900's.

In most other uses, Par is average, so below par would be less than average. Seeing as how Golf is one of few endeavors where less is better, I can see why you might ask the question.

Seems like it comes from shooternz's part of the world: Bum steer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

...and I have experienced a few of them too...

Steven L. Gotz wrote:

 

Hmmm. First of all, Par does not mean average in golf. Bogey started as the average golf score, whereas Par really means perfect play, allowing for two strokes on the green. And truly, who among us would not be happy with Bogey golf? If you are shooting close to Par, my hat is off to you.

 

Par did not originate with golf. In fact, the word didn't become an official Golf word until the 1900's.

 

In most other uses, Par is average, so below par would be less than average. Seeing as how Golf is one of few endeavors where less is better, I can see why you might ask the question.

All true. And yet, these days, par has come to mean average in golf. They never announce that Arnold Palmer shot a six under bogey round. It is six under par (at least in the US). And while par does indeed mean 'average' outside of golf, I for one, cannot remember the last time I heard it used in any other context than golf; ergo my question.

Put another way; of course the saying makes sense, and I do understand the reasoning. The question was meant more in the vein of asking 'Why do we drive on parkways, and park in driveways?'.

--OB

There again

Why do you  guys in the States have a hood when it is a bonnet a d a trunk when it is actually called a boot.

A stick shift is a manual.

Gas is petrol

Color is colour

Your pronunciation of bouy is to us pronounced as boy

Why do you  guys in the States .......

When we kicked the British out, we took the opportunity to rid ourselves of some of the useless extra letters you like to use and besides, a bonnet is a ladies hat.

Ouch

Or as a work colleague used to say

Well i'll be bug*ered with a bent spoon

There are words and phrases the British use that I like. The often used word Brilliant when meaning excellent. We don't use it that way, but I think I could get used to it.

As George Bernard Shaw said, "England and America are two countries separated by a common language."

Very true

In the UK we used to have what we would term very thick regional dialects with many local sayings.

One from my Lancastrian childhood.........by ecky thump.

It is an expression of surprise, and in the sixties a TV show called the Goodies had a sketch based on the expression, one viewer reportedly laughed himself to death whilst watching it.

Now I must search Youtube too see of if is there

I used to watch Benny Hill back in the late 1970's with a Brit who would explain all of the jokes as fast as he could and still not miss any of them. There was a running gag about a parking lot that would never have made sense without the background info that he provided.

You mean a car park?

That would be the one. Yes.

We used to watch Coronation Street: remember Ena Sharples and Elsie Tanner?

I participate in a UK forum which is sponsored by a computer magazine.  Almost every day I have to Google an expression used by one of the members, especially in their Off Topic Forum..

I have to do that with some American expressions.

Some sayings are close between languages, but have a different way of "looking" at things.

The US saying (maybe GB also?): Speaking of the devil... (if wrongly said, you know which I mean)

Has its "cousin" in Norwegian (translated to english): Speaking of the sun.

The meaning is the same, does it tell something about mentality

Dag

Sayings: "Hey Dag, Do you have a 4th of July where you live?"

Sayings: "Hey Mitchell, do you have a 17th of May where you live?"

Or, yes we do have 4th of July here also, at least last time I checked the calendar.

To be a bit serious, in one way, yes I do have a tiny bit of 4th of July here as my wife is from the US even though she basically never celebrated 4th of July when she lived in the US. After she came here, Norwegians are good at reminding her every year...

The 17th of May is the equivalent here, and it's all about children (children parades, ice cream and hot dogs, to put it short).

Dag

PS! Good to see you around here now and then Mitchell.