Saying the wrong thing in a foreign country.

[graemer]

Ever said anything perfectly acceptable at home but mortifying to others? For example when I was in London I mentioned going out in vest and pants, which here are a waiscoat and trousers. Also someone good looking here is described as being a "*****" which when I used it in the 80's caused a polite family to choke on their lunch.

[FP]

Thanks acw.  Personally, I shall stick to me knee length drawers with lace round the bottom, which matches me thermal vest!  (Actually, I like the female boxers - they are nice and comfortable and at my great age comfort comes first ;o) )

[Solarjunkie]

While I was staying with a family in Germany when I was a teenager, I was in the swimming pool one day and the son of the family was diving playfully for my feet.

I called out "missed!" and he blushed and spluttered and eventually told me in German it sounded like "what comes out of cows".

[jno]

I believe Rolls-Royce once tried to market their Silver Mist model in Germany and were surprised to find it didn't sell. Likewise the Vauxhall Nova is said to have failed in Spain because no va means 'doesn't go'. These may be urban myths, though. Have a look here

[acw]

I was just researching another answer when I found this...

http://www.incnetwork.demon.co.uk/factfile/doordont.htm

It's not technically about phrases, although it does teach the foreign visitor how to say "hello"!  The page is far more amusing if read in Tom Baker's wonderful 'Little Britain' style. 

I was bemused to read that it's a guide for expatriates.  I always thought an example of ex-pats were Brits who now live on the Costas in Spain.  Rather than non-patriates (so to speak) who are just plain foreign! :-p

[Sasha13]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but if you buy thongs that are a size or two too big, they're much more comfortable smudge! :-)

[PurplePixie]

It wasn't a foreign country, but I definitely felt like an alien. It was my first visit to a gay bar & having a habit of putting my foot in it I was doing pretty well at not saying the wrong thing...until someone asked me what I thought of all the Christmas decorations. "Nice....but a bit poofy" I said  (loudly) and immediately wanted the ground to swallow me up.

[RevShirls]

When I was at university (Scotland) in the 1980s I remember a group of American students looking at me oddly when I asked if I anyone had a rubber that I could borrow a rubber (eraser) and then looking even more surprised when someone (a fellow scot) handed me an eraser  .

Here in Sweden I have caused a few laughs by using wrong words or mispronouncing things. I have used the word "br�st" (the singular form means chest and the plural form means boobs) wrongly before and didn't realise that I was talking about my boobs instead of my chest (I had been trying to tell people that I had problems with my chest during the winter).

My husband (who's Swedish) mixes up the word "pinky" (the little finger) with "winkie". He was trying to do some strenth contest with me and told me to pull his winkie :) I think it's hilarious but I'm a wee bit worried he'll say it in front of my Mum when we're back in the UK sometime aarrghhh 

[RevShirls]

oop sorry that should read "when I asked if anyone had a rubber (eraser) that I could borrow..."

Meant to say also that the Swedish road signs: Fartkontroll (speed control) always make me laugh.

[graemer]

Very funny all! Is it true Netibiza that a popular make of car here, the pajero means something rude in Spanish? (Rhymes with banker)

[Dark Angel]

In my country, the word "dumb" is used to describe someone who can't speak. When I was in College in America, a pretty young girl came into the cafeteria and she couldn't ask for what she wanted, someone else had to go it for her, and she smiled and made movements with her mouth to thank people, but there was no sound. So I asked a friend, "Is that girl d�mb?", and my friend  said "That's not very nice is it?"

On further discussion, I found that in America, the word used to describe a person who can't speak, is "mute" as opposed to using the word "dumb" which is insulting. Of course, I knew the other meaning of "dumb" but I didn't mean to insult that girl who was mute.  

[graemer]

Oh and I got a shock when I saw a large advertising poster in London imploring me to stick my fork in a faggot! That really got my thongs in a twist.

[netibiza]

jno - yes no va does mean doesn't work - but the car is Nova and here in Spain it still means new or star.

[acw]

RevShirls' post reminded me about the best one I've experienced - I can't believe I forgot it until now!  You may know I've recently spent 6 months in Hamburg.  When I first moved in to my Hall of Residence, a 17 floor block of flats), the Hausmeister (whose role was a combination of Warden and Handyman in a UK uni) was explaining the rules to me.  Although my German is strong now, as it was my first day in the country for a few years he decided to speak English for me.  He kept telling me how important it was not to "store things on my breasts".  Apparently, "Although it's not so dangerous for you now, if we do find a different room for you, it will be most important that you do not store things on your breasts".

In German -> English

Brusten = window ledge

Busten = breasts

(I started on the 2nd floor, although I should have been on at least 11th, with my other coursemates.  Of course up there, on-breast-storage really could have been a problem for those downstairs, given the wind in HH!)

[smudge]

Thanks Sash13 - Thanks for the tip! Trouble is, I have a long torso & always had trouble wearing my favourite all-in-one 'bodies' or ''teddies', because they were never long enough & had the same effect as a thong - most uncomfortable!

[acw]

I had that smudge - I'd never realise poppers could cause such agony!

FP - comfort is v. important for me too!  I didn't think the new style girl/boy pants looked comfy - but if you say so - I believe you! :-)

Perhaps we should take this conversation to shopping!

[sglazier]

ho ho! In America khaki is pronounced kakky, so when combat trousers were in my American friend at college would talk loudly in public about his "kakky pants" that he's wearing. "I was wearing kakky pants that day!" he would shout.

[Peter Pedant]

I went into an American museum wearing my flashy  rainbow braces and the ticket girl said

I love your suspenders!

and I replied - how do you know I'm wearing suspenders?

All the men remained incredibly po-faced....

[Peter Pedant]

talking of spanish, coger el autobus means in Spain take a bus, but in South America, to have carnal relations with it....

The headline when the head of state won a lottery: El presidente toca la polla

The Lottery in Spain is the Chicken rather than The Fat One....

and yes, tocar la polla -  I am afraid we are getting back to knups -this time with/by the head of state.

 

And yes it works in sign language - A  French priest signed "welcome my friends" -but the hands were wrong for friends, and much better placed for 'come in and have carnal relations....' [again]

[spudqueen]

Nearly choked on my fried chicken when in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this year and saw this hugh illuminated sign saying 'kNobview'. I think it must mean something different in America than Britain........................

[SASHAGREEN]

i just wanted to thank everyone for making me laugh. i've had a bad 2 weeks, and needed to laugh! thank you!