The US and the UK - Two Nations Divided by a Common Language

You know, they say that the UK and the US are two nations divided by a common language. And that is absolutely true. Words in the US mean different things than words in the UK and vice-versa.

For instance, the first time I was in a pub (probably the first day I was in the UK - I can't remember so I must have had a good time) I asked the barmaid where the bathroom was - I got a blank stare, OK could you please tell me where your rest room is, another blank stare. Finally, the barmaid said to me, Would you like to know where the toilet is? Well, yes. Of course, I didn't want to take a bath or rest, I wanted to use the toilet but I didn't want to put it right out there in the open. I mean, at least when you ask for the restroom or the bathroom you're not just coming out there and saying what you have to do in front of everybody. I mean it's just that I've never been so direct before. It took me a few months before I was comfortable asking for the toilet.

Sometimes British people can be so direct. You know, most Americans like to, kind of, sneak up on things. I'll never forget the secretary putting together an office supply shopping list. Besides asking me how many pencils, pens and how much paper I needed, she just came right out there and asked me, in front of everybody, how many rubbers I needed for the month. That was right out in the open where everybody could hear and I was wondering if she was propositioning me or something. I was really embarrassed until one of my workmates explained that she was talking about erasers. That the word rubber in the UK means erasers. Then I was really embarrassed. Again, it took me months and many times kind of beating around the bush before I could ask the secretary for a rubber. Whew!

Another thing, say you were looking for your cricket bat (We'll get to cricket in another blog) and you asked your partner if she knew where it was. And she said, the last time I saw it, it was in your boot. You might be looking around to see where your boots were or who was wearing boots or whatever. And, of course, we all know what she is talking about it is in the trunk of your car. Boot equals trunk.

Then there is that beautiful word - penultimate! It's a really nice word, isn't it? I love the word penultimate. I can't believe that I was so uneducated that I could go all the way until I was 38 before I heard the word and knew what it meant. Maybe you know what it means but I didn't.

Penultimate! P-E-N-U-L-T-I-M-A-T-E. Penultimate! It means 'second to last'. It's just that penultimate sounds better than second to last. Maybe classier. Saying penultimate sounds like you are better educated than saying second to last.

I think you should use penultimate as often as you can. I can't think of any time that penultimate could not be used when you mean second-to-last. Well, It might not work in NASCAR. I mean, could you hear yourself saying how about that 48 car, Huh! That car was the penultimate car over the finish line. I'm not sure what would happen to you in the grandstands. However, I'm telling you. Use penultimate all you can - sounds great and will make it look like you are educated. So, until next time ...

Have a great day,

Richard

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