http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3aLeicesterLad&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:LeicesterLad'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsraelisSpeakingEnglish/drdrv/post.htm#251780Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:34:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:251780leicesterladBy plain "r" sound, I meant "r" when it appears at the beginning of a word - such as "rush" or "ring" or when combined with another consonant(s) in the middle of a word, like "scrape" or"anthrax". To my non-professional ear, American English and southern British English use an identical sound here, even if the vowel sounds are somewhat different. I wasn't referring to RP, which - as many have pointed out (Nona especially!) - is an increasingly rare form of English, but rather, the English as spoken in the south east of the country. I take it one of the ways of pronouncing "r" in RP to which you refer is with a "trill" (ie, vibrating the tip of the tongue behind the upper teeth). Amongst southern English speakers, this is a sound I have...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsraelisSpeakingEnglish/drdrv/post.htmWed, 02 Aug 2006 02:27:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:251434leicesterladThis may be slightly off topic, but something that's intrigued me for some time is how Israeli (Hebrew) speakers pronounce the letter "r" when they speak English. It's not like the plain r sound of American or southern British English, or the trilling scottish r, or the other ways of pronouncing r found throughout Europe. It seems to involve the back of the tongue and the soft pallette. Is this a sound unique to Hebrew?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HereBritishPronunciation/2/cxgmx/Post.htm#243959Sun, 09 Jul 2006 13:47:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:243959leicesterladTo summarise everyone's comments Dominik - and also agree with you original statement - it's safe to say that, when learning British English, the "r" should not normally be pronounced EXCEPT when the following word starts with a vowel, where it always should. The letter "y" very rarely acts as a vowel at the start of words in English so normally the "r" would not normally be sounded. For example in "That is their yatch" you wouldn't sound the "r". Most British speakers combine words in phrases like "there is" into a single continuous sound and the r is sounded for convenience. This is less common in German, where words starting with vowels are still seperated...http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionAboutGlottalStops/cplcg/post.htmSun, 09 Jul 2006 13:15:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:243956leicesterladI am a native English speaker from central England and about a year ago moved to the north east of England. I'm curious to know if any other languages use the distinctive combined glottal stop and consonant sound that is common here, and what the international phonetic symbol is (I've looked, but can't find it). You hear it in words like "butter" and "paper", where the "er" part of the word starts with a glottal stop, but is sounded simultaneously with the the consonant at the end of the previous syllable. (That's not a very good explanation I know, but I hope you understand what I mean!). Its not like the glottal stop used in Cockney, south midlands and estuary English, where - in a word like "butter" - the "t" sound dosen't appear...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PronunciationOfToday/cmlpn/post.htm#235083Mon, 12 Jun 2006 01:28:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:235083leicesterladYou get the "to die" (for today) pronunciation to some extent in the London accent, especially the south London accent. The actual phrase "to die" would be somewhere between "to die" and "to doy",http://www.englishforums.com/English/TappedTInPotatoes/cndhp/post.htm#235075Mon, 12 Jun 2006 01:15:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:235075leicesterladIt depends what sort of English you mean. Strictly speaking, what Califjim says applies only to north American English. In British English, the same sound would be applied to each T: Poh-TAY-Toes Toh-MAH-Toeshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ActorVActress/2/cgghp/Post.htm#200861Sat, 25 Feb 2006 20:21:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:200861leicesterladA recent invention (I think) in the UK is "ladette" as the female version of "lad". For hundreds of years "lad" was simply a colloquial English term for a boy. Recently though, lad has been more specifically implied to young males who often go around in groups and who's behaviour is a bit rowdy and uncouth. "Ladette" has become popular in the last few years as a term for females who behave in a similar way. Some think of it as derogatory, but some girls would consider it a badge of honour! Is ladette used in other English speaking countries?http://www.englishforums.com/English/OtherMeaningsOfMelbourne/cgwjr/post.htm#199159Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:55:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:199159leicesterladHepburngeng wrote: I know Melbourne is city's name both in Australia and USA. What is its initial meaning? Thanks, Hep Your sentence would make more sense with a "a" added Hepburngeng, in other words: "I know Melbourne is a city's name both in Australia and USA" ..and as Nona implies, we had Melbournes in England long before Australia or the USA! The best known one is probably in the middle of England near a city called Derby.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsTripShortTripShortCouldLast/cgjbn/post.htm#199156Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:48:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:199156leicesterlad"Wee" is a Scottish word for "Small" or "little". It has nothing to do with peeing! If a Scotsman saw a small boy he might say "Och, there's a wee lad". A "wee trip" is therefore a short journey that you expect to return from soon (but longer than the seconds you were implying!) I don't think it's normally used in Australia, but I'm sure many Australians have heard of it and may use it in jest. Or if they were originally Scottish of course!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Accelerator/cgrcp/post.htm#196597Tue, 14 Feb 2006 07:16:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:196597leicesterladGas pedal is a North American term, not normally used in the UK. This is partly because the American word for petroleum motor fuel: "gasoline" (shortened to "gas"), is not used here, "petrol" being the usual term, although confusingly we do use phrases like "step on the gas". Another alternative word for the accelerator is "throttle" (from the fact that the valve controlling the fuel "throttles" - or constricts - the flow of fuel.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/BrokebackMountain/czbhc/post.htm#192768Sun, 05 Feb 2006 08:35:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:192768leicesterladYou'll sometimes find that places and geographical features that have "descriptive" names - especially in North America, where many were named more recently (18th-19th centuries) than in Europe for example - may be gramatically odd, or spelled incorrectly. This is because they were often named by pioneer settlers who may not have been well educated or used the grammar and spellings of the time. In Europe, where most places were named much earlier, language and spelling have changed so much over the centuries that the connection between the original meaning and its modern spelling is virtually lost for many places, and so differences with modern language are less obvious. We have hundreds of examples in the UK. For example, there is a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoOrWhomYetAgainSorry/2/cvwkz/Post.htm#190628Mon, 30 Jan 2006 01:47:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:190628leicesterladApologies if I've created controversy here! My remarks were more focussed on spoken English than written, and perhaps it's not surprising that official documents and teaching literature follow the rule more strictly, since there are always people ready to find error with officialdom! In my opinion though, written English should follow the conventions of spoken English, rather than the other way round. It was after all primarily through speech that the language has evolved to its present state. Of course, changes like this are happening all the time. A similar example is the word "gotten", the past participle of "get" (as opposed to "got"). You never hear the word in the UK, but you did 300 years ago, and still do in many parts of the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntoniaConsolidation/cvmng/post.htm#190608Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:35:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:190608leicesterladYes, its relevance in your sentence is that when businesses "consolidate" - ie combine production/distribution into fewer, or even one place, less employees are required overall, meaning people will lose their jobs, thus depressing the local economy.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewcastleAccent/cvmpl/post.htm#190604Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:08:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:190604leicesterladHi Bluealbatross, I live near Newcastle, and answered your similar question in the thread entitled: "Received pronunciation and mid Atlantic English" ...but I've pasted it here in case anyone wants to continue on this thread: I don't think I'd recommend learning the Newcastle accent if you want to learn a British regional accent. Its often reckoned to be one of the most difficult of accents to understand - not only for non British, but for many British themselves! There are both vowel and consonant sounds that are unique to the area, one of the most distinctive being how they say the "t" sound in a word like "butter". Try simultaneously combining a glottal stop (creating a "vowel" by closing the throat) with saying the letter...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ReceivedPronunciationAtlantic-English/2/cvrlc/Post.htm#190602Sun, 29 Jan 2006 23:59:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:190602leicesterladI don't think I'd recommend learning the Newcastle accent if you want to learn a British regional accent. Its often reckoned to be one of the most difficult of accents to understand - not only for non British, but for many British themselves! There are both vowel and consonant sounds that are unique to the area, one of the most distinctive being how they say the "t" sound in a word like "butter". Try simultaneously combining a glottal stop (creating a "vowel" by closing the throat) with saying the letter "d". That's the best way I can describe it! The only other language group I know that use anything like this sound are the south east Asian languages of Malaysia and Indonesia - though a language expert may know others. I think the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoOrWhomYetAgainSorry/2/cvwkz/Post.htm#190238Sun, 29 Jan 2006 04:44:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:190238leicesterladAt the risk of outraging the purists, I think this is an example of where modern usage has supplanted a previous "rule". Very few modern English speakers use the word "whom" in normal conversation. Indeed, most would be far more surprised to hear it spoken in a sentence, than by its its "non" appearance in a sentence where the "rule" says it "should" be. So I would advise both native and non native speakers not to worry, and use "who" in all circumstances. I await the thunderbolt.....http://www.englishforums.com/English/FiguresGoFigure/cvldd/post.htm#190225Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:15:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:190225leicesterladI'd point out that number 2 is a North American structure that you wouldn't hear in the UK. We would probably say "figure it out". To paraphrase Clive: Figure it out! Maybe she just likes ugly, stupid guys.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntoniaSmallAnimals/cvlhq/post.htm#190120Sat, 28 Jan 2006 19:54:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:190120leicesterladFrom what I remember from TV programmes, this is a term used by vets (vetinary surgeons) and others who look after animals, to clarify whether they deal with animals usually kept as pets (eg dogs, cats, hamsters etc), ie "small animals", as opposed to those who look after "large" animals, usually kept on farms or in zoos, eg horses, cattle, Elephants, etc. Would this make sense in the context?http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntoniaDocked/cvkvc/post.htm#189797Sat, 28 Jan 2006 03:16:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189797leicesterladI may be wide of the mark here Mr P, but I thought there was a slight difference in meanings either side of the Atlantic: In BrE, a "gang-bang" means group sex (not always rape) In AmE it is usually used in reference to gang violence I'm sure both meanings would be understood in both countries however. This is my understanding, but please correct me if I am wrong!http://www.englishforums.com/English/GoodAtPiano/cvhhk/post.htm#189793Sat, 28 Jan 2006 03:09:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189793leicesterladHmm, I wouldn't say that. Unless you specifically imply something different, 2 and 3 would be understood in the UK to mean simply that you are a skilled pianist. Phrase 1, as said, sounds a bit odd in isolation, but could be heard in certain contexts, for example, 2 friends talking: "You're very good at painting" "Really? Thankyou. You are very good at piano"http://www.englishforums.com/English/TongueTwisters/cdmkj/post.htm#189786Sat, 28 Jan 2006 02:45:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189786leicesterladBluealbatross wrote: Hey can someone help me with some tongue twisters! I think it's the best way to master some sounds! Can you help me with this one I think is difficult: "Both my father and mother have their birthday the same month" I have a little problem with the "th" sounds, help me please! Its interesting you call that a tongue-twister Bluealbatross! We have many tongue-twisters in English - eg "Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry" and "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers"..etc.., but the one you quote would not be thought a tongue-twister by a native speaker. I guess that's because we have been brought up with the "th" sound! I'm sure we struggle much more with sounds that we are unfamiliar with. Your...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ReceivedPronunciationAtlantic-English/cvrlc/post.htm#189603Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:54:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189603leicesterladInteresting - the auto editor has blanked out Dick's surname, but not his first name!http://www.englishforums.com/English/ReceivedPronunciationAtlantic-English/cvrlc/post.htm#189600Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:48:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189600leicesterladThis is an interesting one LanguageLover. The success of American actors trying a British accent ranges from the impressive to the truly awful! I could name several in the latter category - Including Dick Van ***'s legendary attempt at Cockney in "Meery Porpins" (Mary Poppins) and Mel Gibson was a bit dodgy with his Scottish accent in Braveheart. When Mel does an English accent he is more succesful - I think this is partly because of his Australian upbrining (Mel is pretty much "bilingual" in US/Australian English), and Australians seem to find an English accent easier to master because its not so different from their own. The worst "Americans doing British" usually appear in American sitcoms, where a US actor is used to play a Brit....http://www.englishforums.com/English/ReceivedPronunciationAtlantic-English/cvrlc/post.htm#189240Fri, 27 Jan 2006 04:24:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189240leicesterladHmm, LanguageLover, I think the Wiki article suggests that the actors you listed actually promoted American dialect rather than speaking mid-Atlantic English - to a Brit like me they all sound especially American! I agree with the article that Christopher Plummer has a mid-Atlantic accent. As a native Brit, its quite hard for me to tell which side of the Atlantic he comes from! A more recent actor I'd include in this category is Sam Neill. He was born in Northern Ireland, but brought up in New Zealand and has homes in the US, Australia and NZ. He has played New Zealanders, Australians, Brits, Americans - in fact characters from most of the English speaking world! His accent is intriguingly hard to place. Listen to him in a film like...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntoniaNavigate/cvwhj/post.htm#189227Fri, 27 Jan 2006 02:34:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189227leicesterladAs Clive touches on, "pushing ones buttons" can be positive as well as negative, although when used in a positive way it often extended to "pushing the right buttons" (at least in BrE). For example a girl might say of her boyfriend: "I'm going to cook John a lovely dinner tonight and wear my sexiest dress to get him in the mood! I know how to push all the right buttons!" Of course John could just as well cook for her!http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelLikeVomiting/cvgvv/post.htm#189221Fri, 27 Jan 2006 02:14:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:189221leicesterladI've noticed this. In the UK, if you said you felt sick it would usually mean specifically you are about to vomit, whereas in the US it seems a more generic term for feeling ill. In the UK, we use the word "sickness" in a more generic way, but to "feel sick" has the more precise meaning. Is this generally true?http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoesPantyTwistMean/cvzqd/post.htm#188701Wed, 25 Jan 2006 19:11:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:188701leicesterladIs this a variation on the "get your knickers in a twist" phrase? This is a phrase used in BrE (and in AmE? I'm not sure) and it means to get overly upset and worked up about some issue you feel sensitive about. For example, if you were waiting with a friend in a queue, and someone pushed in, and your friend got angry and started arguing with them, you might say: "Calm down, don't get your knickers in a twist" to let them know you think they're taking it to seriously.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AntoniaPullBackThrottle/cvvbq/post.htm#188183Tue, 24 Jan 2006 19:04:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:188183leicesterlad1) is definitely to reduce speed 2) A girlie knot would imply a knot that is pretty to look at, but not very practical and might come apart easily. Please don't read any sexism into the above phrase, I'm just describing it!http://www.englishforums.com/English/LastNamePronunciation/xhvd/post.htm#186620Sat, 21 Jan 2006 06:07:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186620leicesterladLike the tennis player John McEnroe (Macken-roe). I've always gone with the principle that you should respect how someone pronounces their own name, even if it grates with you! For example, the way many Americans with perfectly pronouncable continental European names (eg Wagner or Schwarzenegger...) "Americanize" the pronunciation. Sorry! that's just one of my pet hates!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dutch/2/cbprw/Post.htm#186398Fri, 20 Jan 2006 18:37:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:186398leicesterladSorry, you are right! I got my "highs" and "lows" mixed up! Apologies for any confusion.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BloodyCheek/2/cdvvh/Post.htm#184449Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:19:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:184449leicesterladAn example for you Martin: "She tried to charge me DOUBLE what they were worth. Bloody Cheek." Like people have said, it sounds a bit quaint in the UK now, something you expect to hear in films from the 60s or 70s.http://www.englishforums.com/English/GetThrough/cdrbg/post.htm#181866Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:05:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:181866leicesterladHi meantolearn, I think Danyoo's "no"s were in response to your use of "it's been long waiting". It could be argued that this form is gramatically acceptable, but it is not a normal phrase and sounds odd to a native speaker.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WriteSchoolNewsScholarsDoes-ScholarsMean/cckpp/post.htm#180086Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:40:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:180086leicesterladCould it be that "the scholars" is a pub/cafe and they are going to discuss and write with drinks and nibbles? or the school canteen perhaps? Places to eat and drink near/in colleges/universities often have names like thathttp://www.englishforums.com/English/StayOutOfOnesHair/ccwmp/post.htm#179553Fri, 06 Jan 2006 02:49:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:179553leicesterladYes. As in: "I need to finish writing this report, so stay out of my hair!"http://www.englishforums.com/English/RedHead/ccwwl/post.htm#179552Fri, 06 Jan 2006 02:46:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:179552leicesterladIn Italy of course, a "redhead" is a car; a Testarossa, the Ferrari named after the red colour of the cylinder head. Sorry I'm just confusing things here!http://www.englishforums.com/English/IAmLookingForAWord/ccggw/post.htm#178742Wed, 04 Jan 2006 05:49:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:178742leicesterladI'll let those more qualified give an answer, but for my tuppence worth, if you mean the whole middle section, including the pips in the middle and the stalk/leaves at the opposite end - ie shaped a bit like: )( - its the "core" of the apple. If you just mean the leaves or stalk, then they are normally called just that; the leaves and stalk. Unless anyone knows a more official name...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Sweetcorn/ccvrl/post.htm#178651Tue, 03 Jan 2006 22:50:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:178651leicesterladRegarding sweetcorn, I'd say in BrE we'd call it "maize" if it was a crop in the field, "sweetcorn" if it's in a tin or freezer bag, and "corn-on-the-cob" if it's...well...on the cob. Just the word "corn" would imply a general grain as suggested above, but I think we too would use "grain" when writing formally. Would you agree?http://www.englishforums.com/English/MeaningBeLostOn/ccdln/post.htm#178071Mon, 02 Jan 2006 14:51:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:178071leicesterladIt means that whatever is being talked about, eg "The irony of the event", or "the message" was understood and appreciated by those effected by it, in this case, the crowd, or the Kenyan population etc.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheBloodSesemDearBarabra/ccbgh/post.htm#177654Sun, 01 Jan 2006 18:34:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:177654leicesterladLike Danyoo, I have not seen the movie and am a bit confused. Could the first phrase be "blood and semen"? These are used during forensic investigation of crime to identify the criminal(s), especially in rape cases. Would this make sense in the context? Could the second be "dear Barbara". The start of a letter to someone called Barbara perhaps?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dutch/cbprw/post.htm#177597Sun, 01 Jan 2006 17:00:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:177597leicesterladRelated to what Mr P said, my understanding is that "Dutch" is an old English word which is a corruption of "Deutsch", meaning German. Centuries ago, the formal differences between the Germanic languages - including English - were less clearly defined as they are now, and Dutch was a general term used in England in medieval times to cover speakers of "Hoch Deutsch" (High German) which includes the German spoken in the north (around Bremen and Schleswig Holstein), Fries (a language spoekn in north Germany and the eastern Netherlands) and the language of the Netherlands itself. The traditional name probably continued into the modern age even after the languages diverged, since people in England were not aware of the differences. "German"...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Quite/ccbpr/post.htm#177588Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:45:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:177588leicesterladI think its safest to assume that quite means "pretty" or "reasonanably". It is used in the context you describe (eg "the meal was quite awful"), but I think there is usually an element of irony when it is used this way.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoesThatGotchaMeans/cbvxx/post.htm#173490Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:46:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:173490leicesterladA similar word you might see is "wanna", short for "want to" as in: I wanna play football today (nb, its pronounced wonner)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PleaseGiveSamplesBre/crcwk/post.htm#173177Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:12:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:173177leicesterladAs you can see moonlight, there are many alternative words in US and UK English - and many books available with more examples - but were you wanting examples of how the accent varies for similar words?http://www.englishforums.com/English/BreAe/crbwd/post.htm#173175Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:06:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:173175leicesterladDon't worry too much Ding, "International English" - ie that spoken by many non English speakers - quite often is a kind of "mid Atlantic" mix of American and British accents and no-one would find it odd. Like Brian says, as long as the meaning is clear, that's what matters.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatPticularFormsAccentNegatively-Qualified/crxvd/post.htm#171724Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:04:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:171724leicesterladBiangzi wrote: I am quite confused about some terms here, that's why I need someone to enlighten me on the first question, so I might can continue with the others. So, CalifJim, can you help me out? I think most native English speakers would be pretty confused by these terms...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassARound/crlld/post.htm#171657Mon, 19 Dec 2005 06:25:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:171657leicesterladI would say X11's statement applies to BrE exactly the same - around is the more common, but round would be normal and understood as well. "Round" may imply that people are arranged in a circle and that the item should be pass from person to person round the circle. "Around" could be applied to any arrangement of people. Or maybe I'm just trying to "over define" things....!http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichOneIsMoreUsed/crxrd/post.htm#171652Mon, 19 Dec 2005 06:08:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:171652leicesterladIn British English the word "dumb" used to be used for people unable to speak, but it is less so now because the American (and old English) use of the word to mean "stupid" is more widespread and it would be considered politically incorrect for someone with a speach impairment.http://www.englishforums.com/English/FruitOrVeg/2/crlmm/Post.htm#171651Mon, 19 Dec 2005 06:04:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:171651leicesterladI was always told thar if it grew in the open air and contained the seeds of the plant (eg apple, orange, tomato) it was a fruit. If it grew underground and was a root or tuber (eg potato, carrot) it was a vegetable Leaves (eg cabbage, brussel sprouts, lettuce) were usually classed as vegetables, but should really be called leaves in their own right. I'm not sure how you'd class peas though!http://www.englishforums.com/English/HumpLump/crwnw/post.htm#170001Thu, 15 Dec 2005 03:53:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:170001leicesterladHump also has 2 colloquial meanings: 1) A verb meaning to move heavy stuff around as in "He humped the sack from the van to the shed" 2) A verb meaning to have sex. Possibly related to the abovehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ShotUp/bqmrp/post.htm#165867Sun, 04 Dec 2005 01:31:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:165867leicesterladYes. in this context it means that the cost increased very quickly and by a large amount