OK A few years ago I was sitting at a poker table in Fremont St down town Vegas. Nine players and a dealer. A young boy late 20s was a little bit drunk but was very interesting to listern to. He said his name was Randy and I chockled slightly. O he said your English Then he told me this story. He went to London on a exchange visit to a UNI(school) in West London and made 3 English student friends. One evening they went to a Pub near Clapham Common and near the UNI. they were attending. A few other Students were there also and also standing at the bar was a very good looking girl student One of his English friends pointed her out and told the American that the good looking bird(Girl) fancied him so he should go over and introduce him self. So he went up to her and said "Hello Im Randy" She smashed in the kisser(face) and kicked him in the Goolies( censored) He staggered back to his table with his 3 English mates laughing at him.
A coincidence that I ordered a book where the main characters work in a laundry (back in the day), washing and ironing Its a true story, decided not to read it today as it will be mostly grim and tough reading When I feel I can take it, I'll read - whether I'll finish is a different matter
When I served in the Army back in the Sixties if some one asked a question you did not want to answer. No Names No pack drill. Meaning you did not Crap on your mates to an officer
...still had to look it up: "Pack-drill was a punishment given to soldiers in the British Army, requiring them to undertake drill (exercise) in full uniform and carrying a heavy pack. 'No names, no pack-drill' is used to indicate that the names of those who have committed a misdemeanor will not be mentioned in order to spare them punishment."
In a way you are right but: The 5th is more for self incrimination but isn’t really applicable when it comes to having knowledge of someone else doing something wrong. Our tendency to use the term rat as in, “don’t be a rat” is generally enough to stifle those who might wish to implicate someone else in a wrong doing. When I was in the Army, ratting on a fellow soldier could garner the tell-tale individual a blanket party. I wonder, do the British military have another term for “blanket party?”
My first thoughts ran to the movie '' The Hill" from 1965. One of my favorites, great story and direction. Along with " King Rat ", shows a side of war and the military from past times.
A term I have used before I was lucky enough to be stationed in the UK was " Sticky Wicket". From a newspaper article, July 1882: "The ground... was suffering from the effects of recent rain, and once more the Australians found themselves on a sticky wicket."
Bobby. Sorry quoted your post but it seems my reply was not published. Blanket Party rang a bell but could not place it in English slang it so I did a google search. And found why it jogged my memory. Full Metal Jacket.
Was watching an American talk show on utube and they had an English actress on. She had to explain this word to him. Knackered. Means you are very tired.
There are some words that make me cringe Tom and the above is one of them, the lady talks like a 'geezer' She could have just said - I'm tired and I'd have said to her, go work in a sweat factory for 10 hours a day, then I'll accept you're tired ..
Thanks, @Tom Galty , for the video. As I understand it, she did use the word "knackered" but not in the sense of being tired @Patsy Faye but with reference to a house (at about 3:30 for easy reference) that she described as knackered in the sense of "being damaged" and "in need of repair", didn't she? BTW, she doesn't look like a "geezer" either.