Friday, February 19, 2010

words

So America, it's been a little while since our last little chat. But, I just have one more thing to say on the subject. Then I'll never say another word about it. Ever again. I am only telling you for your own good, but....

Seriously. It means something quite different over here. Quite different indeed. But I don't suggest anyone Googles it. Especially the faint hearted. Ok, that's it. I'm done teaching you guys now. But seriously, if you should visit these shores DON'T use that word.

Just so that you are left in no doubt, watch this EDUCATIONAL VIDEO.

33 comments:

Kaye said...

Ok, so I totally had to Google it! And now I'm laughing at that one! So glad that slang is cleared up! Great drawing!!!!!!!

kslaughter said...

Ha, I had a British friend in Belgium who set me straight very quickly when I referred to someone's "fanny pack!" And she did tell me, with relish I must add, exactly what the "f" word was referring to---I think I'm still blushing! Love the drawing, by the way ; ).

Tim said...

haha. love it.

K9-CRAZY said...

Educational day. If I ever cross the ocean I'll be safe thanks to you, not that I'm in the habit of using the word "fanny" in conversation!

dinahmow said...

Very funny!

dinahmow said...

And in Australia there might be some confusion over "durex."

G. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Spinneretta said...

I remember laughing at Enid Blyton's "Aunt Fanny"... there was a lot of confusion at school as to what part of the anatomy a fanny was... American or English... LOL

debra said...

Great sketch,brilliant, I was wondering if you would get round to that one.....living in HK we have a weird combination of the various spoken english. Maybe you could go for the pants/trousers or thong/thongs next.

kazumiwannabe said...

I googled... and learned something! In french Fanny is a nickname for "Françoise" and in the south, "une fanny" is when you lose a game zero to something - and in the old days the loser had to kiss the winner's bum!
And your drawing is awesome, as usual : ) !

Making A Mark said...

The good old BBC also provides elucidation!

I always wondered about the etymology and always thought it maybe had something to do with Miss Hill of the same name?

Caroline B said...

Impeccably done, Andrea! Thanks also for the Keith snippet....what were the choices again?

Anonymous said...

You're so cute! I lived in the UK for a while and in Canada for a while, and I came across these things .. plus we have a few of this word situations happening around the Arab world, too!! lol
Great drawing.
Hugs
x

suzanne cabrera said...

Hahahahhahaha....I had NO idea. Had to Google. Had to watch the video. This is too cute for words...deserved the drawing for sure.

Unknown said...

Oh my, I didn't know I had such a foul mouth!! LOL...thanks, Andrea! Wonderful sketch!

Anonymous said...

I really needed the laugh today. I had an instructor is art school that was critiquing a drawing of a nude I had done for his class. He looked at it for the longest time and I was getting a bit nervous because I thought I had done a great job on it. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, That's a great ass! That was the best compliment I've ever had! lol! As always, great sketch!

Janene said...

Thanks for setting me straight--I'll have one less occasion for embarrassment if I venture your way. Btw, your drawing is fabulous!

Sydney Harper said...

Of course I had to look it up! Great drawing.

Unknown said...

Andrea,

I'm an ex-Pat living in the States. This is *brilliant*. I am going to share it on my Facebook page - it will crack up all my friends, British *and* American! (It really should be a poster!)

Lynn Alpert said...

How in the world can we have made the same word the total opposite of you Brits?! I also had to look it up (even after watching the "educational" video - I still don't know what that last word was...) and I love the definition I found "a woman's front bits". Front bits - I love it!!! You are so funny!

nanke's stuff said...

That's hilarious! Your drawing is terrific, as usual, and your post is quite wry. Keep 'em coming - we're ready for more! nancy

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Thank you all, folks. So glad nobody seems offended. This time!

It is quite amazing that we use the same words for opposite sides.

I feel I'm doing you a service. And, do hope I've saved you from an embarassing faux pas.

Right, lets start on those Aussies...thong? Thong??

Teehee. Cheers, folks.

joseph's art and stuff said...

yes i'm laughing! but i love the drawing! haven't used the term "bleep" pack in a long time, next time i hear it i'll probably crack up lauhging. it is always so much visiting your site!

wagonized said...

The drawing is amazing. Love the jeans, the back pockets, the creases.
The first thing I thought of when I read "fanny" was this song by the Stones.

Margaret Ann said...

LOL...:) OHHH Dear! Thanks for the anatomy lesson! :)

Johanna said...

Ha ha! That IS funny. Being Swedish I hadn't considered the word much, but then again I speak more of an American English than a British English.

And the drawing is great! I am very inspired by your work, thank you for sharing!

KAHNEHTEH said...

Brilliant, BRILLIANT images and illustrations. I was *SO* floored when I realized what you were using. Well, I'd say floored and jealous, but that wouldn't be very becoming.

Thank you for posting them, for the inspiration, and for the 'fanny' education.

Eric.

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

LOL, even though i had an English pen friend for 40 years, I forgot about this one! Thanks for the reminder of some linguistic differences between us. BTW, be careful when you speak of rubbers, if you ever come visiting across the pond. Another language land mine, if you know what I mean.

petescully said...

i'm still getting over when, shortly after we met, my future wife (who is american) told me she bruised her fanny while rollerblading. I was like, but how??? She had no idea what I thought it meant.

kah said...

Red Headed Stepchild sent me over because she said I'd love your blog She's right. I already knew about the fanny faux pas but your post did make me laugh. :)

daveterry said...

I did actually use that word referring to my "f..y pack" you know, that pouch that goes around the waist?

Well, I got yelled at by a mother who's son heard me. She came marching over to me and told me to never use that word in her house again.

I hadn't a clue. It was my first visit to New Zealand. How as I do know that NZlanders talk different?

...dave

Mari Brown and Colourblob said...

Thats just too funny, its the same here in Canada (lived here now for 22+ y), and once I heard mother calling it it out to her kid when she fell... "Oh dear did you hurt your fanny" Ughhhh!!!

Love the drawing.

Mari

Mark Slater said...

Ahahah! That's awesome and I know exactly what you mean. I made that mistake during my first teaching placement (I did mine in Glasgow, Scotland)- in a 2nd year class, no less - I starting talking about a "fanny-pack" (bum-bag) and their eyes suddenly widened and they all started giggling. I was a little confused until a teacher explained the whole thing to me. It didn't help much the next day when I told them I had run out of clean pants. ...Or in my second placement when someone asked me what time it was and I said, "almost two" and I showed them my two fingers..facing the wrong way.. =s Ahwell, live and learn I suppose. =)