6/28/08

Brit' Word of the Day....

Today's BWOTD was in an email I got from a friend back home today and just instantly made me laugh out loud!

"I looked like a right numpty"

'Numpty' = Idiot

I haven't heard this one in awhile which is why I found it so funny. But it's such a cool Brit' word, even I am going to resurrect it - thanks Jo!

12 comments:

Mmm said...

Yes, great word. Not sure I've even heard of it. I wonder how long it's been around?

I love this section of your blog. It's so fun to keep up to date or be reminded of those certain peculiar English words.

Unknown said...

You know I just remember hearing it alot amongst my social circle and acquaintances in the Home Counties, so it may be a regional word.

'A Tuscan view.....from Umbria' said...

I love this expression and will be using it frequently from now on. Would you say 'I looked a bit of a humpty' as in Humpty Dumpty? Maybe that's where it comes from.

Also I really enjoyed the stuff about accents. I probably have a similar accent to you Sarah, BBC received pronunciation, in other words 'posh'. Sometimes when I'm with lots of Americans or Australians I feel I sound really stiff and silted and the impulse is to try and liven it up a bit, I can understand mmm, the commenter above trying to modify his accent.

It would be a shame if we all ended up sounding the same though so I think I'll persevere with my slightly Mitfordian vowels. I wonder how American you will sound to other British listeners now that you've been living there for a while.- Amanda

Rhea said...

That's a fabulous word! Love it!

Rhea said...

BTW, I have something for you on my blog. Come see!

Sandi McBride said...

Oh, a new one...I've never heard that one...I remember someone telling me (when I was having a night on the town with some girl friends in a London pub that I looked a right tart...I said thank you lol...thought it was compliment didn't I? Took me awhile to figure out the knickers in a twist, too...duh...forever slow on the uptake!
Sandi

Pam said...

okay, so here is how the english mind works -- john had never heard the word but when i said, "it means idiot", he said, "i gather that". so even if they don't know the words, they know the meaning without having to be told. hehe

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

That is a most expressive word! I just learned in the NY Times Crossword today that "geyser" means water heater in Britain. True?

Unknown said...

As far as I am concerned that's not what it means in Britain and I worked for a company that manufactured water heaters! A Geyser is the same as it is here, a plume of very hot water exploding with force from the ground - or a Geezer is a slang word for a man!

Strange?!

david mcmahon said...

Never heard of ``numpty'' before.

You would love the long list of Australianisms .....

Enjoy your holiday.

Anonymous said...

It's South Africa where a Geyser is a hot water tank, so I guess with so many South African's in the UK it might well be part of the language now!
Geezer is indeed a word to desribe a man, usually an older man.

Loving the BWOTD - so many words I just don't get to hear now.

Unknown said...

Thanks Rob for shedding some light and the compliment :-)