In January, it’ll be 12 years since I have lived in America. While fully embracing my host country, paying taxes, raising my kids here, and even willingly saying words like “diaper” and “trash,” there are still several words spoken here that are, with all due respect, ridiculous (IMHO.) They are:
Pantyhose
Pocketbook
Catty corner
Bangs
Caboose
Eggplant
Rutabaga
Freshman
Teeter totter
Y’all
Hope I’ve not offended anyone! Being the word nerd I am, I am actually quite (that’s the U.S. meaning of quite) interested in the origins of these words. Not sure I’ll find much Latin or Queen’s English, but I am sure I will learn some interesting American culture along the way (much like one of my heroes – the writer, traveler and humankind observer, Bill Bryson.)
Meantime, for other lovers of language out there, you might want to check out this list of Words to Retire in 2012.
And please let me know if there are any other silly American words I overlooked.