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In the thread on "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road", the statement was made in the opening headline as follows: "Podiatry Arena has its fair share of 'personalities' ... its now time to take the mickey out of some of them."

Since I haven't ever heard the phrase "take the mickey out of them", I assume it is because this is not an American English phrase but rather a term more common to British English. Can someone please explain this term to me?

One of the most interesting (and sometimes humorous) aspects of having been able to travel to different countries, all with their own different dialects of English, is to take note of the differences in words for the same object or meaning. Here is a short list of American English versus British English wods/phrases that I have noticed and found to be interesting and sometimes embarrassing. Do any of you have any others for your respective countries?

American English.........British English

Windshield.................Windscreen
Hood........................Bonnet
Trunk.......................Boot
Bathroom..................Toilet
Line.........................Queue
Drug Store................Chemists
Gasoline....................Petrol
French Fries..............Chips
Eraser......................Rubber
Rubber.....................Condom
Fanny Pack...............Bum Bag

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Sincerely,

Kevin

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Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College

e-mail: kevinakirby@comcast.net

Private Practice:
107 Scripps Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95825 USA
My location

Voice: (916) 925-8111 Fax: (916) 925-8136
**************************************************

I'm sure there must be an older version, but in recent years the use of Cockney rhyming slang has become en vogue throughout the UK. Michael Fish was something of a cult figure in broadcasting. He was the longest serving weather presenter on British television, taking up the role in 1974. He came under significant public ridicule in the wake of the Great Storm of 1987; a few hours before the storm broke, on 15 October 1987, he said during a forecast: "Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way... well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!".

That evening, the worst storm to hit Britain's South East since 1703 caused record damages and killed 19 people!

Unfortunately for Micheal, his surname rhymes with "p!sh" - ever since then "taking the Michael (or Mickey)" became synonymous with ridiculing or poking fun at someone - ergo: taking the Mickey/Michael/Fish/P!sh/P!ss

Scots *********** English

Shoogley *********** Unsteady or shaky
Glaekit *********** Ugly (usually used to describe a person's appearance)
Simmit ************ Vest
Gravat ************* Scarf
Bletherer *********** A chatterbox
Piece ************* Sandwich
Drookit ************* Wet or soaked through
Sonsie ************** Big or impressive
Mingin ***************** Off-puting smell (usually body odour of a personal nature)
Lum *************** Chimney (Lang may yer lum reek is a famous wish for newlyweds)
Scunnered *************** Fed up
Gyte ************* Angry
Glaur ************** Mud
Sprauchlin' ********** Spead about
Slester ************ A mess
Skelp ************** A slap or a light punch
Bairn ************* A child
Eejit **************** A Rothbart

__________________
"citing an indisposition due to special circumstances"

My location

Very good, Mark. I assumed it must have named after someone other than the Disney character.

__________________
Sincerely,

Kevin

**************************************************
Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College

e-mail: kevinakirby@comcast.net

Private Practice:
107 Scripps Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95825 USA
My location

Voice: (916) 925-8111 Fax: (916) 925-8136
**************************************************

http://www.babylon.com/definition/Ta...20out%20of/All

Take the micky out of = make seem foolish; tease

The phrase derived from jibes made at the expense of Irish people (Micks). When English and Scots gentry returned to the English court in the 16th/17th cneturies many of them had picked up quaint habits from living in Ireland. The hgebnty were put into rule Ireland and replaced the upper crust of the country and this was done to quell the threat of revolt. It also laid the foundation for the troubles that followed. However one annoying habit the gentry brought back was they would go barefoot. This was thought an affront to decency in respectable circles. Many had their portraits painted in bare feet and this became know as "fancy dress".

When you get the Mickie taken out of you it means you are, Anglified.

Cameron

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Cameron Kippen, Podologist and Shoe Historian




Cameron Kippen

HI
suspenders.................braces
goodbye.....................catchya........hooroo. ...............tata(tatr)
milkbar.......................deli(delicatessen)
hello..........................hi................. g'day

also interesting is the emphasis on the right?? syllable or the
emprrrrsis on the wrong? syllarrbul

adeedas...................adidas
aluminium..................aloominum
garrrahge....................garij

tata hj

I've come across two linguistic misunderstandings. One was an Australian patient who felt the need to tell me her foot pain was worse when she was wearing thongs. It caused no small amount of embarrassment before she told me that this is oz for flip flops! (for the benifit of our australian readers a thong in the UK means a skimpy knicker!)

The other was a good friend of mine at university who went home to the bahamas every Christmas. Having gone a bit native he told me he had a very strained week at home when he kept referring to his "Mate Robert". Apparently he had forgotten that over there "mate" was used mainly in the romantic sense. His parents thought he was trying to find a way to tell them he was gay!

Robert