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Leanne Shirtliffe

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A Parenting Dictionary: Importing British-isms

a.k.a. Dictionary for Dummies
The Parenting Dictionary

Sometimes I think North American English is limited, especially when it comes to parenting. So, I am suggesting we borrow some more British words. Let’s face it, English, the language we speak, already shares a root word with England. Why not just take a few more?

Here then are some of my favourite British-isms.

Imported Word #1: Knackered

Meaning: Exhausted, beyond tired

Application: When my twins were two-years-old, they used their naptime to spread an entire container of non-water-soluble diaper cream all over their carpet. I was knackered after spending two hours scrubbing the rug. Three years later, the stain is still evident.

Imported Word #2: Cheeky

Meaning: Rude, insolent, smart-alec

Application: My cheeky son told me my hair looked like a fluffy puppy. No dessert for him. Ever.

Imported Word #3: Whinge

Meaning: To protest or complain, usually in a persistent manner

Application: Me: “Hey, stop whinging about picking up your 8000-piece Lego set. I don’t care if half the pieces are down the vent. You still have to pick them up.”

Imported Word #4: Dishy

Meaning: Attractive, beautiful, good-looking

Application: I was once dishy, but then I had kids, which meant I started spending an average of five minutes per week on my appearance. Even my twins notice this. “You used to be so pretty,” they croon, looking at my ten-year-old wedding photo. “And look at Daddy. His hair was black!”

Imported Word #5: Faff About/Around

Meaning: To waste time doing unimportant things

Application: Husband: “Are you still faffing about on Facebook and Twitter?” Me: “Absolutely not. I am doing something useful, like, like, like…”

And I haven’t even mentioned snogging or knickers.

*  *  *

What have I missed? What other words we should add to the Parenting Dictionary?

Filed Under: Hilarious Family Moments, Top 5 Fridays (or Wednesdays) Tagged With: British, dictionary, language, parenting, translation

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. PrincessJenn says

    March 19, 2010 at 9:46 am

    My favorite, of all the expressions my British friends have, is the always useful, all purpose, attention getting “OY!”
    Meaning, ‘what ARE you doing and why on earth did you think that was a good idea’

    Reply
    • ironicmom says

      March 20, 2010 at 6:52 pm

      I love OY. I am going to make a concerted effort to use it tomorrow. Likely while driving.

      Reply
  2. Samantha says

    March 19, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    I’ll keep this clean ….there’s a whole post that could be dedicated to British cursed! Other British-ism related to parenting;

    dummy – no not idiot, this is the Brit word for binky/pacifier

    flannel – British for washclothe

    cot – British for crib

    beaker – British for sippy cup

    I’m sure there are many more but I am too knackered to think!

    Reply
    • ironicmom says

      March 20, 2010 at 6:54 pm

      We called soothers “dummies” for our children. I think we got a kick out of saying dummy in the vicinity of our twins. I hear ya on being too knackered to think: that’s a skill I’ve perfected.

      Reply
  3. smdcanada says

    March 19, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    One of my favorites: the dog’s bollocks. Meaning: bloody fantastic. Use in a sentence: that party was the dog’s bollocks. This has nothing to do with parenting. It’s just a great phrase. I use it occasionally and people just think I’m wierd. Actually, I think it’s more an Irish than English phrase. Not that Irish is a language. I mean, people in Ireland speak English too. But, well… Never mind.

    Reply
    • ironicmom says

      March 20, 2010 at 6:54 pm

      ROFL: I don’t speak Irish. Sounds like a Homer Simpson thing to say…which means it’s likely something I’ve said!

      Reply
  4. Andi says

    March 20, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    If the Brits have some way of saying:

    “My baby started laughing hysterically at a man’s physical handicap/hook arm and I just stared, mortified.”

    …I’d like to know what it is.

    Reply
    • ironicmom says

      March 20, 2010 at 6:57 pm

      This has me laughing…which is easy to do if you weren’t there. Had to read it aloud to my husband, who is watching March Madness. If you haven’t written this story up, you need to!

      Reply
  5. albamaria30 says

    March 23, 2010 at 5:52 am

    I love to use “whinge”. It’s so much more evocative than “whine”. Knackered is a good one, and certainly sums up the way I’ve been feeling lately. I also use “bloody” upon occasion. It scares the kids, which is always useful.

    Reply

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