[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: WANTED: Grammar Expert

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

> Fascinated by the above comments, Sally writes:
> I'm a Brit through and through, so I confess, yes I get hideously
> irritated by Americanisms such as 'bangs' and yes I am still reduced
> school-girlish giggles at the mention of 'fanny packs' but.... boob
> tubes??!!

    Oh, come on.  That is patently unfair.  All the Brits I know would
launch into a violent rant if an American were to complain about *their*
slang and/or language differences.  Have a little respect.  Trust me, a
British student coming to an American school and asking for a "rubber" would
get some giggles as well.  We've lived on different continents for a few
centuries now.  *I* find it rather impressive that we haven't got a lot
*more* in the way of language discrepancies.

> Maybe I'm naive but as far as I know a boob tube is a lady's
> strapless top. ('Boobs' being a casual term for breasts, and 'tube'
> indicating the shape of the garment.)

In America, it's a slang word for a television.  Not one I particularly care
for, mind you, mostly because of the fact that "boob" is, in this case, used
to meaning 'stupid person', but it's also the slang for "breast."  *shakes
head*

Laura (who tried to go to physics class this morning an entire *hour* early)