Just like in 2009, all this year I have been collecting words that are considered normal in the New World, but which sound strange to British ears. The 2010 list is considerably longer than last year's offering, partly because it spans 12 months rather than nine, but I trust that the quality is no less.
- Unwifeable (adj.) - Incapable of finding a husband
- Beautifullest
- Gangbanger - Member of a gang
- Favorite (v)
- Touchful (adj.) - Touching
- Best (v) - Beat
- Merger (v)
- Medal (v)
- Learnings - Things you have learnt
- PDA: public diplays of affection
- Recreate (v) - Engage in recreational activities
- Shrimp, crab, oyster (v) - Fish for specific seafood
- Doneness
- Anyways - Anyway
- Keyboard (v) - Type on a keyboard
- Fan (v) - Become a fan of
- Get back-burnered (v)
- Third half
- Detrain (v) - Get off a train
- Potty (v) - Go to the loo
- Dialog (v)
- Fill-in-able
- Black & blue (v) - Bruise
- Discussionize (v) - Have a discussion about (i.e. discuss!)
- Incest (v) - Commit incest
- Surveil (v) - Spy on
- Gunshot (adj) - Shot dead
- Arrearage - Going into arrears
- Derivative (n, official) - Dependent (i.e. family member)
- Prayerful
- Pre-lit (adj) - An artificial tree sold with fairy lights already on
- Crotchal (adj used by airport security personnel conducting pat-downs) - Relating to the crotch area
- Gift (v) - Give
- Regift (v) - Give received gifts to another person
2 comments:
They're all great. Shrimp, crab, oyster all used as verbs - I like that idea. Will attempt to slip "get back-burnered" into conversations when relevant. Not so sure about "best" as a verb though... and "discussionize" is surely a verb coined by George W. Bush, isn't it?
Rene says:
no wonder we find it more and more difficult to read American novels: the difference in languages (sic!) is frightening. Just try to read Jonathan Frantzen - or give up rather sooner than later, especially when the characters are so very American that they leave me cold. Who wants to spend 600 pages with people who are THAT boring?
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