UK vs. US

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 170621

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <mcrudele78 at ...> wrote:
>
> > Anne Squires:
> > <snip>  Furthermore, I have the distinct impression that more 
> > Brit-speak has been included in the American versions as the 
> > series has progressed so that by the time OotP and HBP came out 
> > numerous expressions were not changed.  And I must say I was
> > chuffed to learn "chuffed"  and other similar expressions.
> 
> Mike:
> Sorry I had to snip so much of your excellent post. 
> 
> I have also enjoyed the many new British expressions. I still haven't 
> figured them all out. Right now, I don't know if I should or shouldn't 
> be having a "shufti" after reading some parts of DH. No amount of 
> context has been able to enlighten me as to the meaning of this slang.
> 
> And you know, I'm not at all pissed. I just go to the pub and get 
> pissed. :) 

Geoff:
Shufti means "to take a look". It took root in UK English as a word 
used by army personnel from about the 1930s onward. It's an 
Arabic word in origin.