[HPforGrownups] OOP - British/American translation

[Victoria Dick]

No: HPFGUIDX 65033



Melinda Leydon wrote:
> I was so pleased with Scholastic this time for keeping in so many of the
> British sayings.  I was delighted by the Happy Christmas, the jumper, the
> trainers, etc.
> 
> I do have 2 questions for any British members.
> 
> 1) What does prat mean?  They used it GOF too and though I get the general
> idea, would really like a definition.

 From my dictionary ('cos I know what it means but not how to express 
it IYSWIM!):
prat noun [C] UK INFORMAL
someone who behaves stupidly or lacks ability:
He looked a right prat in that pink suit.
You've made me spill my drink, you prat!
Occasionally I'll have a few too many drinks at a party and make a 
prat of myself (= behave stupidly).

> 
> and 
> 
> 2)  What about peaky?  Mrs. Weasley says Harry looks peaky when she first
> sees him.  I thought it meant pale, but later in the book she comments how
> pale he is (after the hospital scene).  So what is peaky?

It means exactly that - pale, slightly unwell.

-- 
Victoria
Joshua (7/4/97), Kitty (22/7/99) & Hamish (22/01/02)