NEVER use that word again!

About a year ago I met my first British friend in California. We met during a 6 month training program, and since I knew that it was likely that I would be moving to the UK in the next year I pushed passed her “hurtful” sarcastic remarks (I eventually realized that comedy has many forms) and determined to befriend her at all costs. After a considerable amount of weeks she could no longer resist my natural charms and endearing personality and agreed to go get a cuppa Joe with me. It was during that time that I realized that although we both spoke “English” we did not speak the same language. I learned that “Cuppa” apparently is a term reserved for a different hot beverage that is prepared following some strange ritual of pot warming, not coffee. This was the beginning of a very humorous relationship. I introduced her to the wonders of Twinkies and beef jerky and she would randomly laugh at very common phrases and explain their REAL meanings to me. One day we were both assigned to the same group during a team building exercise. We had to come up with a name for our group. I looked around and realized that we were a sorry lot. More than half of our group was injured or in some way encumbered. A great team name popped into my head and I innocently suggested that we call ourselves “The **** Team”. My friend reddened and looked for everyone else’s response. The team being mostly American, no one seemed to react, but a better name was thought of. Then during the exercise I blamed our lack of success on the fact that we were “all *****, what did you expect?” This was the first time I heard my friend say, “Missy, do me a favor and NEVER use that word again.” That was all she said. No explanation of the REAL meaning. A quick internet search revealed my error LOL! Reflecting on this story made me curious… What words have you learned to never use again?

*Edited to remove the offensive word OOPS

I have a story about this, but it's more about how my British husband learned to not use a word. We were discussing ordering takeout and DH mentioned ordering "a chinky." My reaction was something like this  I said, "You CANNOT use that word." He really thought it was just a slang term and nothing more. He was horrified when he found out it was actually an ethnic slur.

I have a story about this, but it's more about how my British husband learned to not use a word. We were discussing ordering takeout and DH mentioned ordering "a chinky." My reaction was something like this  I said, "You CANNOT use that word." He really thought it was just a slang term and nothing more. He was horrified when he found out it was actually an ethnic slur.

We have a Chinese place next door to where I work and one of the ladies always refers to it as that, really shocked me the first time I heard it!

Don't think that's a British thing. I'd have been highly offended at that when I was in the USA as an American. It's a very derogatory term that really should not be used as it's incredibly insulting to people with disabilities.  Sorry, but you were way off on that one.  Not at all funny in either culture!

That is a bit much (as is that word for take away). I don't know that Pulp Fiction hasn't totally changed the meaning tho....

It's a very derogatory term that really should not be used as it's incredibly insulting to people with disabilities.  Sorry, but you were way off on that one.  Not at all funny in either culture!

Wow, I had NO idea. I thought it was just a casual reference to an injury, not a person with disabilities. My apologies!

Me too, missyp!  You aren't alone in this one 

Me too, missyp!  You aren't alone in this one 

Me three! I was confused when I first read your post. Gosh I've never meant it in a derogatory way, but its been used in my family for years whenever one of us has a limp for whatever reason.  Now I feel bad! 

On a side note, I can remember hubby coming to the US on one of his first visits and we were waiting outside a diner for Sunday breakfast as the place was packed. Of course there were a ton of people outside smoking and he quite clearly stated, "God I hate f*gs". Now, I knew he meant cigarettes....but no one around us did. I quickly corrected him and said...don't EVER say that here! He didn't realize it was a derogatory term for homosexuals and he felt horrible later.

Mrs. Slocombe: "I hope this isn't going to take long, Captain Peacock.  The last time I was late, a fireman had to climb out of my bedroom window and risk his life on a narrow ledge tryin' to grab hold of my p*ssy."

/because someone had to...

Before moving to the UK, I donated most of my clothes.  A lot of them didn't really fit and I was just holding onto them in hopes I might shrink down in size and they would fit a bit better.  In the end; however, I didn't see the point in spending money getting them across the pond when realistically, I wouldn't be wearing them (at least comfortably) anyway.  Of course, this meant I was lacking a workable wardrobe when I arrived, and I knew I would be starting a new job shortly.  I got a gift card as a moving present, and went to use it to buy some new clothes.  At the store, I started the conversation as follows:

"Hi, I'm starting a new job soon, and I'm looking for some new pants."

The store employee's reply (with a huge grin) was:  "What kind of job is this?!"

Well.  I was mortified.

 

"Hi, I'm starting a new job soon, and I'm looking for some new pants."

The store employee's reply (with a huge grin) was:  "What kind of job is this?!"

Well.  I was mortified.

 

 

I'm constantly saying pants and then having to quickly correct myself. 


Regarding the use of "gimp" I didn't realize until I was older (teens) that it was a derogatory term for someone who was disabled. Obviously, no one I knew ever referred to a disabled person that way and I only heard it used when someone was injured. I was pretty shocked at how much the term is used when I found out what it meant.

Regarding the use of "gimp"

And here's me thinking it's someone who wears a lot of leather. 

And here's me thinking it's someone who wears a lot of leather. 

 

Just trying to keep it PG. 

And here's me thinking it's someone who wears a lot of leather. 

That is exactly what my initial internet search revealed. (It came up with a picture and everything on Wikipedia. You can imagine my horror when my husband looked over my shoulder and commented on my research!)

Now my second internet encounter with the word is worse! Well I may as well offend everyone with my next faux pas: The same friend and I went on a trip to Guatemala with our training team. This naturally lead up to conversations about what to wear while traveling and specifically how to avoid looking like a complete tourist. This sparked a discussion on "bum bags" which are called something totally different amongst people in the states. We all were innocently referring to these **** packs until she clued us in on what the word meant in her country. You can then imagine her horror (and amusement if we are being totally honest here) when we discovered a popular brand of tuna in Guatemala with the forbidden word as it's brand name! I am totally serious here... you can't make stuff like this up! And if you don't believe me I googled it and here is a picture:
http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/7320506
 

Well I may as well offend everyone with my next faux pas: The same friend and I went on a trip to Guatemala with our training team. This naturally lead up to conversations about what to wear while traveling and specifically how to avoid looking like a complete tourist. This sparked a discussion on "bum bags" which are called something totally different amongst people in the states. We all were innocently referring to these **** packs until she clued us in on what the word meant in her country. You can then imagine her horror (and amusement if we are being totally honest here) when we discovered a popular brand of tuna in Guatemala with the forbidden word as it's brand name! I am totally serious here... you can't make stuff like this up! And if you don't believe me I googled it and here is a picture:
http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/7320506
 

In a situation like that, I think people just have to accept that some words aren't offensive in other countries and contexts.  Like f*g/f*ggot.  I cringed for fully the first three years of living here every time someone said either one, but I wasn't offended because I knew it meant something different.  Fanny can be a woman's name.  Why be offended by that or by the Guatemalan tuna, just because in Britain it has a different connotation?