4 ms·
Brit living in the US here. Despite being here 7 years now i'll every so often have an American point out how odd something I say is. Recently it was me saying
by TheBruceHimself 2y ago
Brit living in the US here. Despite being here 7 years now i'll every so often have an American point out how odd something I say is. Recently it was me saying "I'll need to head home and get my swimming costume before heading to the pool". To which the response was "wow wow wow, "swimming costume"? Really? A costume. Not a uniform but a costume; something you wear for halloween? OMG that's adorable" Turns out Americans say "swim suite" :).
- ta1243 2y agoI was disappointed that your friend wasn't assuming skinny dipping to be honest Personally I hate swimming wearing clothes, feels so unnatural, and then you're dripping wet when you get out
- anthomtb 2y agoOn holiday in Whistler back in 2019, I had a brief conversation with an Englishman in the hotel elevator. A few days later, he recognizes me outside the hotel but I am noticeably slow to recognize back and he mentions "we chatted on the lift". I fake remembering while desperately searching my memory for the event of riding the chairlift with this English guy. An hour later I remember that in the UK, "lift" == "elevator". Me, being North American and having spent plenty of time in ski towns, always associates "lift" with "chairlift".
- asr 2y agoHah! But if you say “on holiday,” I would have expected you to know “lift.” (or is there a region in the US where this is common? Everyone I know would say “on vacation,” but the US is very regional.)
- rconti 2y agoYeah, but in a ski town I could see making the same mistake.
- fsckboy 2y agoin warehouse/trucking situations, lift is pretty common in the US
- penneyd 2y agoTurns out they actually say swim suit ;)
- robinsonrc 2y agoA swim suite sounds even more fancy than a costume
- a_e_k 2y agoI'm not sure about other Americans, but I'll sometimes say "swim[ming] trunks" if I'm specifically referring to male swimming attire. Otherwise, yeah, it's often "swim[ming] suit" or "bathing suit" here.
- inkyoto 2y agoSince male swimming attire comes in different shapes (ahem designs), I hear people use «swimmers» more and more. Save for one singular design which, it would seem, distinguishes itself with such remarkable uniqueness as to warrant the bestowal of its very own appellation: «budgie smugglers» (AusE).
- a_e_k 2y agoOkay, now that last one is just hilarious.
- noelwelsh 2y agoThe Australian term "budgie smugglers" is really the best to use in this specific situation.
- ndsipa_pomu 2y agoSurely that refers specifically to the "brief" style, whereas I'd expect "trunks" to have a bit of thigh coverage.
- noelwelsh 2y agoBudgie smugglers does indeed only apply to the brief style, but those who like banter and wordplay will try to work it into any conversation involving male swimwear. E.g. "Fetch your budgie smugglers fellas, we're going to the beach", or "sorry ladies, my budgie smuggling days are over. It's boardies for me."
- farrelle25 2y agoIreland: Swimming togs (!)
- siquick 2y agoI’ve lived in Australia for nearly 15 years and still say “swimming costume” - the locals ridicule me and call me for posh for not saying “bathers”.
- twic 2y agoYou mean your budgie smugglers?
- fsckboy 2y ago>swimming costume when i was a lad, my mother always said "swimming togs" https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/togs https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/togs
- itohihiyt 2y agoI never say: swimming costume. I call it a: swimming cozzie. Wonder what you American friends would make of that?
- lelanthran 2y ago> Turns out Americans say "swim suite" Maybe "swim suit"? "Suite" is something else, no?