Americanisms: 50 of your most noted examples

The Magazine's recent piece on Americanisms entering the language in the UK prompted thousands of you to e-mail examples.
Some are useful, while some seem truly unnecessary, argued Matthew Engel in the article. Here are 50 of the most e-mailed.
1. When people ask for something, I often hear: "Can I get a..." It infuriates me. It's not New York. It's not the 90s. You're not in Central Perk with the rest of the Friends. Really." Steve, Rossendale, Lancashire
2. The next time someone tells you something is the "least worst option", tell them that their most best option is learning grammar. Mike Ayres, Bodmin, Cornwall
3. The phrase I've watched seep into the language (especially with broadcasters) is "two-time" and "three-time". Have the words double, triple etc, been totally lost? Grammatically it makes no sense, and is even worse when spoken. My pulse rises every time I hear or see it. Which is not healthy as it's almost every day now. Argh! D Rochelle, Bath
4. Using 24/7 rather than "24 hours, 7 days a week" or even just plain "all day, every day". Simon Ball, Worcester
5. The one I can't stand is "deplane", meaning to disembark an aircraft, used in the phrase "you will be able to deplane momentarily". TykeIntheHague, Den Haag, Holland
6. To "wait on" instead of "wait for" when you're not a waiter - once read a friend's comment about being in a station waiting on a train. For him, the train had yet to arrive - I would have thought rather that it had got stuck at the station with the friend on board. T Balinski, Raglan, New Zealand
7. "It is what it is". Pity us. Michael Knapp, Chicago, US
8. Dare I even mention the fanny pack? Lisa, Red Deer, Canada
9. "Touch base" - it makes me cringe no end. Chris, UK
10. Is "physicality" a real word? Curtis, US
11. Transportation. What's wrong with transport? Greg Porter, Hercules, CA, US
12. The word I hate to hear is "leverage". Pronounced lev-er-ig rather than lee-ver -ig. It seems to pop up in all aspects of work. And its meaning seems to have changed to "value added". Gareth Wilkins, Leicester
13. Does nobody celebrate a birthday anymore, must we all "turn" 12 or 21 or 40? Even the Duke of Edinburgh was universally described as "turning" 90 last month. When did this begin? I quite like the phrase in itself, but it seems to have obliterated all other ways of speaking about birthdays. Michael McAndrew, Swindon
14. I caught myself saying "shopping cart" instead of shopping trolley today and was thoroughly disgusted with myself. I've never lived nor been to the US either. Graham Nicholson, Glasgow
15. What kind of word is "gotten"? It makes me shudder. Julie Marrs, Warrington
16. "I'm good" for "I'm well". That'll do for a start. Mike, Bridgend, Wales
17. "Bangs" for a fringe of the hair. Philip Hall, Nottingham
18. Take-out rather than takeaway! Simon Ball, Worcester
19. I enjoy Americanisms. I suspect even some Americans use them in a tongue-in-cheek manner? "That statement was the height of ridiculosity". Bob, Edinburgh
20. "A half hour" instead of "half an hour". EJB, Devon
21. A "heads up". For example, as in a business meeting. Lets do a "heads up" on this issue. I have never been sure of the meaning. R Haworth, Marlborough
22. Train station. My teeth are on edge every time I hear it. Who started it? Have they been punished? Chris Capewell, Queens Park, London
23. To put a list into alphabetical order is to "alphabetize it" - horrid! Chris Fackrell, York
24. People that say "my bad" after a mistake. I don't know how anything could be as annoying or lazy as that. Simon Williamson, Lymington, Hampshire
25. "Normalcy" instead of "normality" really irritates me. Tom Gabbutt, Huddersfield
26. As an expat living in New Orleans, it is a very long list but "burglarize" is currently the word that I most dislike. Simon, New Orleans
27. "Oftentimes" just makes me shiver with annoyance. Fortunately I've not noticed it over here yet. John, London
28. Eaterie. To use a prevalent phrase, oh my gaad! Alastair, Maidstone (now in Athens, Ohio)
29. I'm a Brit living in New York. The one that always gets me is the American need to use the word bi-weekly when fortnightly would suffice just fine. Ami Grewal, New York
30. I hate "alternate" for "alternative". I don't like this as they are two distinct words, both have distinct meanings and it's useful to have both. Using alternate for alternative deprives us of a word. Catherine, London
31. "Hike" a price. Does that mean people who do that are hikers? No, hikers are ramblers! M Holloway, Accrington
32. Going forward? If I do I shall collide with my keyboard. Ric Allen, Matlock
33. I hate the word "deliverable". Used by management consultants for something that they will "deliver" instead of a report. Joseph Wall, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
34. The most annoying Americanism is "a million and a half" when it is clearly one and a half million! A million and a half is 1,000,000.5 where one and a half million is 1,500,000. Gordon Brown, Coventry
35. "Reach out to" when the correct word is "ask". For example: "I will reach out to Kevin and let you know if that timing is convenient". Reach out? Is Kevin stuck in quicksand? Is he teetering on the edge of a cliff? Can't we just ask him? Nerina, London
36. Surely the most irritating is: "You do the Math." Math? It's MATHS. Michael Zealey, London
37. I hate the fact I now have to order a "regular Americano". What ever happened to a medium sized coffee? Marcus Edwards, Hurst Green
38. My worst horror is expiration, as in "expiration date". Whatever happened to expiry? Christina Vakomies, London
39. My favourite one was where Americans claimed their family were "Scotch-Irish". This of course it totally inaccurate, as even if it were possible, it would be "Scots" not "Scotch", which as I pointed out is a drink. James, Somerset
40.I am increasingly hearing the phrase "that'll learn you" - when the English (and more correct) version was always "that'll teach you". What a ridiculous phrase! Tabitha, London
41. I really hate the phrase: "Where's it at?" This is not more efficient or informative than "where is it?" It just sounds grotesque and is immensely irritating. Adam, London
42. Period instead of full stop. Stuart Oliver, Sunderland
43. My pet hate is "winningest", used in the context "Michael Schumacher is the winningest driver of all time". I can feel the rage rising even using it here. Gayle, Nottingham
44. My brother now uses the term "season" for a TV series. Hideous. D Henderson, Edinburgh
45. Having an "issue" instead of a "problem". John, Leicester
46. I hear more and more people pronouncing the letter Z as "zee". Not happy about it! Ross, London
47. To "medal" instead of to win a medal. Sets my teeth on edge with a vengeance. Helen, Martock, Somerset
48. "I got it for free" is a pet hate. You got it "free" not "for free". You don't get something cheap and say you got it "for cheap" do you? Mark Jones, Plymouth
49. "Turn that off already". Oh dear. Darren, Munich
50. "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less" has to be the worst. Opposite meaning of what they're trying to say. Jonathan, Birmingham

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796

1. When people ask for something, I often hear: "Can I get a..." It infuriates me. It's not New York. It's not the 90s. You're not in Central Perk with the rest of the Friends. Really." Steve, Rossendale, Lancashire

I'm not sure why this is so infuriating, other it not really being grammatically the smoothest. Unless I'm misunderstanding the usage hinted at here, which is entirely possible. But like, other than coming off a bit uneducated, "can I get a... popsicle?" doesn't seem like it should be THAT infuriating.

I've heard of about 20% of these.

what's this "two time" "three time" thing?

can I get a what what

to be 'excited for' sth

I'm assuming they mean as in "two-time champion"? xxp

HAlf of these aren't even Americanisms.

I've had at least a couple Brits tell me the expression "I'm all set" is amusing/weird to them.

Also, a lot of these people are stupid enough not to realise a lot of these phrases are being said to them with tongue in cheek.

i hate people who hate americanisms. and hate words. and talk about "correct" english. and moan about apostrophe's. and yada yada yada

anyway is this a vote for the best or the worst?

i think a lot of these are examples of people noticing a thing and so deciding to hate on a thing because then they can notice it and hate on it.

pls add 'hate on' to poll

noodle, it is what it is.

Yo USA, any time you want to carpet bomb this nation of pedants, you guys have clearance from me ok

excellent

i hate people who hate americanisms. and hate words. and talk about "correct" english. and moan about apostrophe's. and yada yada yada

― Mecha-Geir Solid (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 20 July 2011 14:30 (1 minute ago) Bookmark

The concept of "Correct English" makes my blood boil more than any of the poll options.

36. Surely the most irritating is: "You do the Math." Math? It's MATHS. Michael Zealey, London

lol uh huh sure "maths"

i feel like i hear "it is what it is" 5 or 6 times a day at work. even have a lady with the phrase carved in wood sitting on her desk. most hated.

29. I'm a Brit living in New York. The one that always gets me is the American need to use the word bi-weekly when fortnightly would suffice just fine. Ami Grewal, New York

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH oh ami you nut, you crazy beautiful dreamer, what even IS a fortnightly

36. Surely the most irritating is: "You do the Math." Math? It's MATHS. Michael Zealey, London
lol uh huh sure "maths"

― max, Wednesday, 20 July 2011 14:34 (49 seconds ago) Bookmark

Int he UK it's "maths" but it's "you do the math".

"Maths" is so annoying and any American who says "fortnightly" would just sound like a pretentious ass.

37. I hate the fact I now have to order a "regular Americano". What ever happened to a medium sized coffee? Marcus Edwards, Hurst Green

marcus! nothing happened to a medium sized coffee!! you are ordering something different now!!!

wait i thought bi-weekly meant twice a week?

Int he UK it's "maths" but it's "you do the math".

― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Wednesday, July 20, 2011 9:36 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

lol uh huh sure "maths" totally

I have to return to the fort nightly, or else I would be AWOL.

22. Train station. My teeth are on edge every time I hear it. Who started it? Have they been punished? Chris Capewell, Queens Park, London

People who catch trains, usually from a station.

22. Train station. My teeth are on edge every time I hear it. Who started it? Have they been punished? Chris Capewell, Queens Park, London

People who catch trains, usually from a station.

46. I hear more and more people pronouncing the letter Z as "zee". Not happy about it! Ross, London

ross...

"train station"? is there another way to say this? train depot?

lol - exactly

What else would you possibly say in that case?

Railway station presumably

station iirc

there was a guy on the radio last week doing a lecture about "won't somebody think about the english?" and he was really pissed off about train station too.

the britishes version is "railway station"

yeah "railway station" is supposedly the "correct" UK English expression. Even though we might say "bus station" as opposed to "road station".

My worst horror is expiration, as in "expiration date". Whatever happened to expiry? Christina Vakomies, London

Christina girl if that's your "worst horror" . . .

I didnt realize "deplane" was a thing. I've lived here for 40 out of my 41 years, and Ive never heard it or used it. Hilarious.

the parting platfourm

deplane boss, deplane

Half of these are just management-speak, not day-to-day Americanisms.

And yet for "subway station" they say "tube"...

44. My brother now uses the term "season" for a TV series. Hideous. D Henderson, Edinburgh

except...

or underground station

well "tube station", not just "tube"

shd do a top 50 Britishisms but i only know "garage" for "car-hole"

18. Take-out rather than takeaway! Simon Ball, Worcester

^if you have time to worry about something like this, you live a charmed life, Simon.

dude lives in Worcester, there's nothing else to do, give him a break

I hate the fact I now have to order a "regular Americano". What ever happened to a medium sized coffee? Marcus Edwards, Hurst Green

pretty sure no american i've ever known has ordered an "americano"

there's a form for suggesting morpho-syntactic regionalisms! i encourage everyone to use it. it will help the project!

it's an ongoing thing -- the map is only as good as the feedback they get. like the DARE.

as a kid, i had a friend whose family said "cut off the lights." they weren't southern, but it was probably something that had been in their extended family for years.

mash the button?! wah?!

I think I like it.

i always get a kick out of elevator signs that tell me to "depress the button."

one of my favorites that seems to be really pervasive but not noted anywhere is when people want to say they're going to a show (more frequently, a "concert") they say "i'm going to rush" or "bummed i couldn't go to britney"

it's not "the britney show" or "the britney spears concert", it's "i'm going to britney"

(it might have been noted somewhere that i haven't seen, of course -- i just mean that i haven't ever read anything formal about the musician/band/performer-as-destination)

mash the button

not a Simpsons ref?

it's not "the britney show" or "the britney spears concert", it's "i'm going to britney"

wouldn't most ppl alter the level of descriptiveness depending on who they were talking to for things like this?

ie if it was some doddery grandma who had no idea who Britney was you might have to start at the beginning and call it a pop concert or something

not a Simpsons ref?

Nope. Not at all.

i'm not sure -- it's something i remember hearing a lot more with the following 2 demographic groups:

1) people from my hometown (in OH)
2) people who don't go to shows a lot, usually only big "concerts"

I'm sad there aren't more pins in the map in Eastern NC. I feel like you could devote a whole chapter to "mash the button" instead of "push the button" and "cut on" instead of "turn on." It's also a heavy "might could/might oughta" region.

Those aren't isolated to eastern NC - I heard a lot of that in Wilkes County. Southernisms/NC-isms that really bug me:

- Referring to things with words that end in an "s" sound as plural. The most common "license" as in "Where are my drivers license?" (That's not even a regionalism, but a misuse.)

- When a cold drink sits out and gets tepid, instead of saying "My iced tea got warm," in Wilkes Co. they say, "My iced tea got hot."

- "Tore up" meaning malfunctioned. When I moved to Wilkes and said "The TV is broken" I got laughed at b/c to them it sounded like it was split in half.

Mash is NOT a Simpsons reference! (xp) "Mash" is also used like this: "If you cuss at me again, I'm gonna mash your mouth."
xp

Jenny, I'm glad you had the opportunity to hear "alight" in the wild.

I don't hear it much these days, since I rarely ride train now, and bus drivers don't say "alight" as much (this morning the driver was hollering "Get off the bus. Get OFF the bus. Get OFF THE BUS!" to passengers up front because they were in the way of a guy in a wheelchair).

Also, I keep reading that word as "a'ight."

My absolute favorite eastern NC thing is "hain't" for "haven't" as in "I hain't got time to go."

Also: tote for carry an object but carry for driving a person, and not asking where people live but instead where they stay.

My brain would explode in NC.

carry for driving a person

Could you please post an example.

Do you mean if say a mother were going to drive her kids somewhere she'd say she was "carrying" them to swimming practice or whatever?

Yes! I had to carry my grandmother to the grocery store many times after I got my driver's license.

Yea, exactly. "I've got to tote this bag to Gail's so I'll carry your granddaddy to church on the way."

xp!

"h'ain't" is used for other situations where "a'in't" would be used. In an English class, my teacher pointed out instances where Shakespeare used H's at the beginning of words starting in vowels where they don't usually go. She said that "h'ain't" etc. are hold-overs from that time. There are other examples of anachronistic English in isolated pockets of the rural South, but I can't think of any right now.

one of my favorites that seems to be really pervasive but not noted anywhere is when people want to say they're going to a show (more frequently, a "concert") they say "i'm going to rush" or "bummed i couldn't go to britney"

Anecdotal experience indicates that the Pitchfork Music Festival is frequently shortened to just "Pitchfork," as in, "Hey, are you going to Pitchfork this year?" Which I think is sort of interesting because "Pitchfork" alone already denotes the website, but context allows it to alternatively indicate the festival.

In accordance with DJ Mencap, though, I definitely think that I'm more likely to say or hear "Are you going to Pitchfork?" (or "Are you going to Radiohead?") in conversations where both parties know that the other is already familiar with the event.

and not asking where people live but instead where they stay.

From my experience, this is an African American thing. But perhaps imported from the South?

I went to school with a guy who used to say things like "everwhat" and "everhow" and even carried his groceries home in a poke.

xp to Jesse - That's why I love hain't so much! British colonialists settled NC ~ 400 years ago, turned into rednecks, and still say hain't because they stayed pretty isolated.

xp to John - it's definitely southern white people who have used the phrase in my hearing in NC.

I had never heard "stay" and "stay by" until I was living in New Orleans, where I only heard it used by black people (probably not just *African* Americans). Since then I've noticed it in Chicago, but again, I don't recall Whitey using it.

"Stay by" really confused the shit out of me when I first heard it. I was doing surveys where we asked people in which area of the city or Parish they lived, and a lady told me "Stay out by Gentilly." I thought either she was being evasive or she was staying in various homes near Gentilly, which wasn't such a stretch in the aftermath of Katrina. Anyway, it was a confusing conversation for everyone, and one of my interns had to explain "stay by" to me.

favorite Southernism that I wish was more prevalent: "you done stepped on your dick now, boy"

"Stay by" really confused the shit out of me when I first heard it. I was doing surveys where we asked people in which area of the city or Parish they lived, and a lady told me "Stay out by Gentilly." I thought either she was being evasive or she was staying in various homes near Gentilly, which wasn't such a stretch in the aftermath of Katrina. Anyway, it was a confusing conversation for everyone, and one of my interns had to explain "stay by" to me.

Huh. A lot of the kids I used to worked with used "stay" instead of live but I always sort of assumed it was because many of them were transient and unlikely to live in the same place for longer than a couple months at a time. "Where you stay by/at" was pretty common.

Here's a real life example of when I first noticed this usage of stay, on being introduced to someone:

"Kyle's daddy stays in Pennsylvania."

My first thought was "Why? Is he on probation?"

lol

hate it when people use take when they mean bring, like if someone is elsewhere waiting for you and they want you to bring them their keys and instead of saying "bring my keys with you" they say "take my keys with you"

"I stay by my mama's house" is befuddling if you don't know what it means. I picture a person sleeping under the eaves of mom's home or in a trailer in the back yard.

"Where y'at?" is a New Orleans-ism that means "How are you?"

In Confederacy of Dunces they say "stay by" and "where y'at." Also "How ya makin'?" which means "How are you."

New Orleans New Orleans New Orleans

The series/season thing has suprised me. As in, honestly do they not refer to parts of a series as a "season" in the UK?

we use series, not season, here!

also count me as another to whom it has never occurred that Z S is pronounced Zee Ess. It feels weird in my head.

btw, booming post:

What do you guys call "Bangs"?

― President Keyes, Friday, 22 July 2011 00:18

'Swells'

― nude defending a headcase (DJ Mencap), Friday, 22 July 2011 00:20

"Zed Ess" feels really weird in MY head.

Do Canadians say "zee" or "zed"?

Most importantly, do Brits read the common Americanism "EZ" or "E-Z" as in "EZ cheez" or "EZ Parking" as "E Zed"??? Because if so, then we have serious problems to work out.

Do Canadians say "zee" or "zed"?

I say "zed". I believe that it is more common. However, some people do say "zee". We'd definitely say "e-zee parking" or "zee zee top" though.

Most importantly, do Brits read the common Americanism "EZ" or "E-Z" as in "EZ cheez" or "EZ Parking" as "E Zed"??? Because if so, then we have serious problems to work out.

I am not Belgian IIRC

but basically if one sees "EZ" as in EZ Cheez, it serves as a cue that the following word does not need to be paid attention to, and the entire phrase can be mentally edited out and discarded

Hahaha. Fair enough.

Though that it makes finding parking a little less ez.

My brain does the whole "oh ee-zed, wait, that's probably meant to be ee-zee" thing. EVERY TIME. But then if people are not from North America/the Philippines/wherever then they shouldnt be using EZ like that because it doesn't make sense.

Tbh, I sometimes need to fix that in my head too.

I mentally say "zed ess" but Obv "zee zee top", its all about context - I used to say "zee" a lot more heavily thanks to sesame st though.

All the other letters are the same though, right?

So in Australia, if there's a high level of moisture on the grass, do you say that it's dewy or dewish?

no

sic 'em sic

Ohhhh i geddit.

Go figure?