Following on from the scallions thread . . . . .

[SrSteveOskowski]

Isn't the 'language' difference between Ireland and the UK amazing all the same? And I don't mean the literal language, ie: speaking Irish instead of Welsh, English etc.
More that although we're all speaking English, it can be so different.

For example (I'm Irish) would I confuse people in the UK if I started talking about buggies, minerals, rashers, taytos, the messages and the hot press to name but a few?

How many of you would know what all these things are, or would you just think "What on earth is she on about?"

Sand*

I like it when my Irish cousin calls a fit bloke a ride.

A ride can be for a hottie of either sex. And if all goes well, you could end up riding your ride.

British Isles is a serious NoNo in Ireland. You just don't use it.

Trainers are runners.

Pop is something the weasel does.

Red Lemonade is the biz.

Flat 7up solves all illnesses.

Leaving the immersion on is definitely out of order.

And everything is grand so.

Bacon is a joint of bacon as in the piece of meat bacon slices (called rashers in Ireland) are from. We also eat while bacon pieces cooked like you would cook a ham with potatoes, and veg. Ham is ham, same as what you consider a ham or gammon joint to be.

Take your head out of the and and have some cop on.

I think it would be bleedin' cop on or even better feckin cop on ya gobshite.

We're Lincolnshire. Weshing t'pots was always my grandads job after Sunday dinner

Cherry I am aware of the controversy and honestly had no wish to offend but
(a) historically speaking, 'Pretanic'(= modern spelling Brittanic / British and in origin a Celtic language word) as a geographical term goes back to ancient Greek and Roman times and it was the early historical period that I was referring to.

and
(b) in my original post I went out of my way to say I was speaking geographically and NOT politically. I was following the sort of academic usage given here, as an example:
"Whilst accurate, the term 'Atlantic archipelago' is rather cumbersome so, for convenience, I have used the following as virtual synonyms: the islands of Britain; these islands; the British Isles, and the adjective, British. Without intending to imply any hidden imperial or other agenda, they describe the kingdoms of Ireland, Scotland, and England and Wales as they existed in [...the past] ... following the definition of the British Isles in the Oxford English Dictionary: 'a geographical term for the islands comprising Great Britain and Ireland with all their offshore islands including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands'."
Dawson, Jane E. A. (2002). The Politics of Religion in the Age of Mary, Queen of Scots:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 2

Just like that historian, I was NOT wishing to imply any political significance at all, just following the Oxford English Dictionary.

All this is utterly daft because my whole point, as I said, was that languages IGNORE modern political boundaries and that we all have a lot more in common, linguistically - and I hope otherwise - than modern political divisions might have us believe. None of this means that I disrespect the Republic of Ireland in any way, shape or form.

@StripeyChina that's a brilliant story

"Hoo-shoes or baffies - slippers"

Hoose shoes* ;)

Thanks Hefzi
Potentially outing if you know me but I couldn't resist.

The best bit was that she and I stayed friends for years and years.
Both of us were able to 'not judge the book by the cover' and we had a very similar sense of humour so craic (and the odd drink or 6) was had :)

The British Isles is a geographical term, surely? It aids clarity of discussion.

British Isles may be considered a neutral geographical term in the UK. But it isn't in Ireland.

It clearly hasn't aided clarity of discussion in this thread.

Back on track but totally upsetting the theme, I'm Irish and have never gone for messages or put anything in a press or called trousers pants. But I do sometimes wonder if I'm not proper Irish as a result ;-)

I think does clarity of discussion but people take offence very quickly.

The British Isles is a geographical term, surely?

Nope. It's a geo-political term. Big difference.

So why not respect the preferences and sensitivities of those on the thread, Pierre?

3timeslucky I'm Irish and a lot of the sayings pps have mentioned were never used where I grew up and most of the ones I know aren't used by anyone under 60 hahaha.
My neighbour is 70 and she's the only person I know who still says "going for messages" I haven't heard anyone call fizzy drinks minerals for about 20 years, that's very old school!

Ok, as we are mostly from U.K. and Ireland on this thread let's just say these islands and leave it at that. (No offence to people from elsewhere. Just in case.)

Let the craic recommence

CherryBlossom - my mum says 'it's cat' and also 'Suffering catfish!'

I've never called trousers pants either. That's a new one on me.

Did anyone (in the UK) see Alan Partridge singing rebel songs on his show last night? Never thought I'd see that on the BBC! Curios as to what people thought of it?

I wonder if trouser pants is a Munster thing? All my family and friends use it.

I did see Alan Partridge and I could not quite believe I was listening to someone singing Come Out Ye Black and Tans on tv. On a Monday evening. On BBC1. It was very funny though.

Pants are knickers. What about slacks? I hate that word!

I put Alan Partridge on but got bored after one minute so I missed that. I love the Denny's version of Come Out Ye Black and Tans though