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:
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.
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.
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
That's a fabulous word! Love it!
BTW, I have something for you on my blog. Come see!
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
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
That is a most expressive word! I just learned in the NY Times Crossword today that "geyser" means water heater in Britain. True?
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?!
Never heard of ``numpty'' before.
You would love the long list of Australianisms .....
Enjoy your holiday.
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.
Thanks Rob for shedding some light and the compliment :-)
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