02-10-2005, 04:23 AM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 1,565
| To whoever gave me a rep point for the "doomed" thread... Would have pm-ed but I don't know who it was!  For reference, the expression is "taking the p!ss" when you are talking about making fun of something in a deadpan, sarcastic way. "Taking a p!ss" is just an american toilet-related activity... 
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Louweasel
"I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from" [Eddie Izzard]
"she might not look like much, kid, but she's got it where it counts"
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02-10-2005, 12:55 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Michigan
Posts: 606
| That would be me. It was explained to me by an American. Go figure. Sorry, I'll have to brush up more on my British-slang. |
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02-11-2005, 04:26 AM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 1,565
| No need to apologise, just widening the cultural boundaries! It's a useful phrase if you are ever coming to Britain. What do americans say instead?
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Louweasel
"I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from" [Eddie Izzard]
"she might not look like much, kid, but she's got it where it counts"
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02-11-2005, 10:58 AM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Michigan
Posts: 606
| Other phrases for pulling the wool over my eyes... Are you pulling my leg? Is a phrase that comes to mine, I'm sure other people here can elaborate. |
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02-11-2005, 11:48 AM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,117
| Similar phrases here
"You sh**tting me?"
Hoodwinking someone
Scamming
"doing a bit of smoke and mirrors"
Bogosity (from "bogus")
Pulling your leg
That was just lame.... |
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02-11-2005, 12:51 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,091
| "You're pouring water down my back and telling me it's raining, aren't you?"
Or, in 1337: 74|<1n9 73h p!55 |
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02-11-2005, 07:45 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 363
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Soldier "You're pouring water down my back and telling me it's raining, aren't you?"
Or, in 1337: 74|<1n9 73h p!55 | No wonder I have problems deciphering that stange "language." It uses a different alphabet, and it is a code! Makes me feel like I'm not a little kid anymore. And this is a good thing.
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Some people are like slinkys. They serve no useful purpose, but it sure feels good when you push them down the stairs.
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02-14-2005, 05:42 AM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 1,565
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Larrison Similar phrases here
"You sh**tting me?"
Hoodwinking someone
Scamming
"doing a bit of smoke and mirrors"
Bogosity (from "bogus")
Pulling your leg
That was just lame.... | That's not what "taking the p!ss" is. I understand and even use some of the above (althought hoodwinking is a bit Dickensian) but taking the p!ss is almost entirely different. I'm having trouble explaining. Any Brits, help!!
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Louweasel
"I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from" [Eddie Izzard]
"she might not look like much, kid, but she's got it where it counts"
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02-14-2005, 06:50 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Australia - various
Posts: 2,756
| taking the p!ss as I understand - is teasing people in a way that they are not sure if you are serious or not.
Does that help oh clever weasel?
__________________ You may love me but you dont accept me. I dont want your love without your acceptance. |
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02-14-2005, 08:49 AM
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#10 | | Din Älskling
Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somewhere inside your head. Or am I?
Posts: 4,196
| We have various phrases that use piss and have nothing to do with toiletry:
"Pissing someone off" -- to upset an individual to the point they are near a state of rage.
"Piss off!" -- Used to emphatically inform someone that their presence is not longer desired.
"Pissed off." -- By using the past tense of piss, the phrase now indicates that a person is really upset.
"Well, isn't that a pisser." -- Whoah, I find that event to be mildly annoying and slightly unexpected.
"We were just pissing around" -- Indicates that the person and/or parties involved were engaging in aimless activity.
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"Since when does being a patriot in America mean shutting your mouth?"
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02-15-2005, 03:21 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 1,565
| We have all those too, and they mean exactly the same thing. Except I have heard americans say "pissed" instead of "pissed off" when they mean angry or annoyed, when to us it means drunk.
Zelda, that goes some way towards helping, but then again you can take the piss out of someone in a really obvious way - I'm not sure that uncertainty is usually a factor.
It's to poke fun, to tease, it can be to satirize, but in a less subtle and clever way.
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Louweasel
"I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from" [Eddie Izzard]
"she might not look like much, kid, but she's got it where it counts"
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02-15-2005, 05:41 AM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Australia - various
Posts: 2,756
| True Lou, but keep in mind I do blonde impersonations real well! and generally have to THINK to see if someone is taking the piss or not.
__________________ You may love me but you dont accept me. I dont want your love without your acceptance. |
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02-15-2005, 09:23 AM
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#13 | | Din Älskling
Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somewhere inside your head. Or am I?
Posts: 4,196
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Louweasel We have all those too, and they mean exactly the same thing. Except I have heard americans say "pissed" instead of "pissed off" when they mean angry or annoyed, when to us it means drunk. | Hmmm... yes, I see your point. I wonder what the etymology would be.
I think pissed is typically used when one person is involved, ie: "Man, was I pissed!" or "Wow! She was really pissed".
Pissed off typically (not exclusively though) involves another party: "Wow, you really pissed me off" or "Whoah...they pissed her off!"
I look for the scholarly citations and post my conclusions later 
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"Since when does being a patriot in America mean shutting your mouth?"
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