BBC - Americanisms: 50 of your most noted examples

There is a massive thread on this very forum called 'the most annoying expressions', and it is quite often full of Americans whingeing about how stupid/annoying/weird a British expression or word or pronunciation is. Have you been on there to tell them they're all bigots, Legs?

No, but I generally don't participate in that thread.  I usually find those discussions tedious. 

So if there are bigots in that thread, how does it make these articles less bigoted?

One of the most astonishing things I have learned living in Britain is how much the British media thinks, writes and talks about America. On and on and on. I understand America has a big footprint in the world, but I consider the amount of attention WAY over the top.

A lot of articles are "haha, silly Yanks" sorts of things, but the sheer volume of it speaks, um, volumes. When a jingoistic American thinks you obsess too much over America, you have issues.

I'm not saying there are bigots in that thread, but you seemed to be saying that this sort of annoyance is based on bigotry, in which case it's going on from the other direction too. Personally, I don't see it as bigotry, and I think many expressions are annoying regardless of their origin!

I'm not saying there are bigots in that thread, but you seemed to be saying that this sort of annoyance is based on bigotry, in which case it's going on from the other direction too. Personally, I don't see it as bigotry, and I think many expressions are annoying regardless of their origin!

I agree that some phrases are annoying regardless of their origin, but Engel is obviously saying that he's annoyed because he perceives these words as American even when they are not.

See the difference?

Not only that, he seems to be starting a cottage industry writing these articles.  These are NOT about cultural imperialism.  He does not address any issue of American media dominance other than saying "here's a list of words I think are yucky and American. Don't use them."

If he bothered to explore and, as others have, prove they are, or are not, American then he might have an article.

I agree that some phrases are annoying regardless of their origin, but Engel is obviously saying that he's annoyed because he perceives these words as American even when they are not.

I agree with this.  The Economist article, linked above, made the same point: that "ugly" phrases are assumed to be American (even when they're not) and American phrases are automatically ugly, that the haters suddenly refuse to understand idioms and go on and on about phrases that you don't hear Brits using.

I particularly liked the conclusion that they weren't Americanisms but rather Anti-Americanisms.

I'm not sure "Can I get..." Is 90s New York so much as it's bad manners.  Kiddo says it all the time and it does my head in.  A lot of kids say that here and they certainly didn't get it from 90s New York, they weren't even born yet.

As born, bred, then disappeared for a while, now living back in NYC for the past 6 years, "Can I get a....." is a very common New-York-ism, most of us say it all the time at bodegas (convenience stores) or what have you. I don't know where the "90's" came from because I hear people of all ages, up to their 50s & 60s saying it.

It's informal speech and is never interpreted as rude (at least in my experience). So at a Dunkin Donuts you'll hear "Morning, can I get a bagel and a large coffee with cream please?" but you wouldn't say that a 4 star restaurant.

It's informal speech and is never interpreted as rude (at least in my experience). So at a Dunkin Donuts you'll hear "Morning, can I get a bagel and a large coffee with cream please?" but you wouldn't say that a 4 star restaurant.

My son says this all the time. This annoys me as he certainly didn't learn that growing up in the UK.

I think the 90's reference is to Friends? That's what I read it to mean - that Brits started saying, "can I get..." after being exposed to Friends and they way they behave in Central Perk? 

My son says this all the time. This annoys me as he certainly didn't learn that growing up in the UK.

I could see why it's annoying. I make sure not to say it when I'm in the U.K. because of course it would sound rude....but it does slip out, it's life habit.

Considering so many TV shows are take place in New York City...I have an idea where he learned it from.

I think the 90's reference is to Friends? That's what I read it to mean - that Brits started saying, "can I get..." after being exposed to Friends and they way they behave in Central Perk?  

AGHHHHHHH damn that show to...I dunnno...somewhere awful!! We're not like that, and we certainly can't afford apartments like that on those salaries!


(Edited to say F@$K "Central Perk." Although I'm not a fan of the show, it annoys me because in the very first season they used to go to a bar, but parent's groups (read conservative Christians) complained and they thought it would be more PC for them to hang out in a coffee house). Rant over!

As born, bred, then disappeared for a while, now living back in NYC for the past 6 years, "Can I get a....." is a very common New-York-ism, most of us say it all the time at bodegas (convenience stores) or what have you. I don't know where the "90's" came from because I hear people of all ages, up to their 50s & 60s saying it.

It's informal speech and is never interpreted as rude (at least in my experience). So at a Dunkin Donuts you'll hear "Morning, can I get a bagel and a large coffee with cream please?" but you wouldn't say that a 4 star restaurant.

I was referring to the comment made about it in the article, that's where the 90s New York thing came from.  Also, I was born and bred in New Jersey.  I know exactly how it works.  The difference is that I was raised to at least say "I would like a bagel and a large coffee, please." if in an informal setting.  I was raised that "Can I get..." is rude no matter who you're talking to.  My point was that it is not an Americanism, because I hear children saying it here all the time, as it's just bad manners (with the caveat of that's how I was raised and other people wouldn't necessarily consider it bad manners). 

I was raised that "Can I get..." is rude no matter who you're talking to.  My point was that it is not an Americanism, because I hear children saying it here all the time, as it's just bad manners (with the caveat of that's how I was raised and other people wouldn't necessarily consider it bad manners). 

Interesting. My question is why "Can I get..." rude or bad manners? When you think of it, how much different is "Can I get?" than "May I get?" I think the definitions of the words are the same, you're both politely asking for permission to "get something."

I'm guessing because some people aren't used to hearing the "can I get" they are automatically put off by it, others, like you mentioned yourself, because you're raised.

I don't get. Can I get some opinions please?

Interesting. My question is why "Can I get..." rude or bad manners? When you think of it, how much different is "Can I get?" than "May I get?" I think the definitions of the words are the same, you're both politely asking for permission to "get something."

I'm guessing because some people aren't used to hearing the "can I get" they are automatically put off by it, others, like you mentioned yourself, because you're raised.

I don't get. Can I get some opinions please?

For one, I wouldn't say "May I get...".  My grandmother would roll over in her grave if she heard me say something like that.    I would say "May I please have..."

Two, I can not tell you why.  One phrase is, generally of course, considered more polite than another.  To link it all into this thread, language is one of those funny things that you can't really pin down.  It just is what it is and it develops the way it develops, and everyone has a preference or perceives certain words or phrases differently. 

It (just) is what it is...

Hee hee!  No 7 on the 'noted examples' list.