I just watched Scrubs and an american said Bum. it just sounds wierd. anone else think so? and im not doing this to be harsh so Americans, what do us brits say wierd
I think it's heartening since we
all used to say it in the States.
The only portion of the United States which still calls one's derrière his "bum" is the Northeastern quarter of the United States (esp. here in coastal New England) .. and even that's fading fast in favor of the crass sounding "butt" (I assume short for 'buttocks').
The other word I recall from childhood is "bottom" as in "if you don't behave I'll give you a swat on your bottom".
I was raised to call my bottom my bum and will call it that until they plant me.
I hate what American television makes the rest of the world think of us.
*****
The English say queue up rather than stand in line.
The English say "he's in hospital" rather than "he's in THE hospital".. the list goes on.
The English say "we had to put the dog down" rather than "we had to put the dog to sleep". (That's why I always chuckle when a straight couple who are friends of ours says "oh look at the time! I've got to put Evan [their infant son] down").
I asked recently if they were going to smother him or just shoot the poor little bastard.
The English say "he's gone missing" rather than "he's disappeared" (more and more Americans are saying the former since the "gone missing" business has become pervasive in the news media everywhere here).
AND I DON'T CARE WHICH SIDE OF THE POND IT IS THE PROPER PHRASE IS: "The following is a list of school
closings due to the storm" rather than "The following is a list of school
closures due to the storm".
I was raised hearing "I'm cross with you" when my mum was angry with me. "Mad" meant insane. But to most Americans the phrase is "I'm mad at you".