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I have a question for our friends "across the pond."

I just happened across an old file, "15 rules of better wargaming," and one of the suggestions was "Don't take the piss."

Not being familiar with British terminology, I thought I would ask what this means.

Thanks!

"Don't be a dick"

More specific definition:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=take+the+piss

Taking the piss is the art of insulting or rediculing someone or something

Haha good ol' english phrases haha, i never saw the definition before, they cracked me up lol

In this instance it refers to attempting to get away with something. "Don't take the piss!" or "You're taking the piss!" would be the response to these actions.

I understand that the YMDC section of Dakka is full of examples. This post is an example because piss is somewhat meaningless in the US so I can swear to my little English heart's content by saying piss.

"He said it again!" - Monty Python

Oh now I've gone and said it.

Oh I said it again!

Gah I said it again!

Noooo!!!!!

-Implodes-

George Spiggott wrote:In this instance it refers to attempting to get away with something. "Don't take the piss!" or "You're taking the piss!" would be the response to these actions.

I understand that the YMDC section of Dakka is full of examples. This post is an example because piss is somewhat meaningless in the US so I can swear to my little English heart's content by saying piss.

"He said it again!" - Monty Python

Taking a piss in the US means that you're urinating. You can say it all you want and we'll think you have a bladder problem.

That's what it means here too. Taking THE piss is a different matter. It's like taking the mick, mocking, being cheeky.

lol nice use of monty python there haha !

And then there are the multiform uses of Bollocks.

From the simple singular usage, usually to express mild to severe disappointment/annoynace 'Bollocks'. The volume and aggression the word is spoken with is a good indicator to the swearers state of frustration.

Then adding the adjective 'it's' specifies that something is not very good. Example...

Person 1: I watched that Deep Blue Sea film the other night
Person 2: Was it any good?
Person 1: No. It was Bollocks.

Can be enhanced with the addition of further adjectives and verbs, such as 'utter bollocks'

Then we have the real confusing one, of a specific combination of words, the Dog's Bollocks. This is actually a good thing. Example...

Person 1: I watched that Hellraiser last night.
Person 2: Was it any good?
Person 1: It was the Dogs Bollocks mate.

If you would like the learn the further, finer points of turning the air blue and making the Vicar blush, please feel free to PM me.

Yay Britishness!

Lets not start on the many Variations of British you can find, ala Cockney, Scouse etc

Ahh, bloody hell. Don't go my sothin' nerves.


...or something like that

Huh? Sothin'? Not an expression i'm familiar with, care to explain?

Perhaps he means sodding?

Sodding definitely.

Mickey Bliss -- CRS for Piss.

So, taking the Mickey/Michael is the polite way of saying it.

Trivia, on demand.

sA

While we're on the subject, i'm a particular fan of Welshisms, such as the priceless:

"I turn around, and there it was, gone!"

Welshisms are nothing compared to the Essex, and sadly Kent, double negatives.

'I didn't do nuffink (nothing)' which taken literally means that they have done something, as the statement is a clear admission of having done something, as doing something is the opposite of doing nothing. Thus, to not do nothing, is to have done something.

And my favourite, which was actually said to me shortly after I moved south of the Border?

'You Scotch don't talk proper you don't'. Double negative, piss poor grammar, and an incorrect regional labelling. Oh the bitter pill of irony was swallowed whole that day!

Ah, English phrases and insults...making other Americans wonder what in chaos you're talking about, and why you're grinning like that. Did you just say something funny at my expense?

No, mate, just taking the piss.

"Why, haddaway and gak man!"

As they say around these parts...

Okay, here's a question - just how bad of a curse is "bloody"? I picked it up from various BBC comedies and used to use it all the time. My wife (who studied in Wales for two years), though, gets mad at me when I use it - like I said f*ck or something.

Mind, she doesn't throw a fit when I use the Father Ted-ism (well, Father Jack, to be more precise), "feck".

Bloody is extremely Mild. Consider it the Korma of swearing. Sure, it's swearing, but it has no real kick.

Feck doesn't mean what most think it does anyways. Closest English equivalent would be the expletive usage of 'Bugger'

Which is also pretty mild.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Bloody is extremely Mild. Consider it the Korma of swearing. Sure, it's swearing, but it has no real kick.

Feck doesn't mean what most think it does anyways. Closest English equivalent would be the expletive usage of 'Bugger'

Which is also pretty mild.

Unless you are in an upper class boarding school, where the phrase "bugger me" has a subtly different meaning

Gwar! wrote:

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Bloody is extremely Mild. Consider it the Korma of swearing. Sure, it's swearing, but it has no real kick.

Feck doesn't mean what most think it does anyways. Closest English equivalent would be the expletive usage of 'Bugger'

Which is also pretty mild.

Unless you are in an upper class boarding school, where the phrase "bugger me" has a subtly different meaning

I take offence at that comment as i go to a private school that has boarding facilities.

Not surprised!

If I had to watch my bottom that much, anything to do with Dude Love would be a guaranteed touchy (feely) subject!

I'm just glad no one went into the 'Cockney rhyming slang.' That stuff confuses me to know end.

Most of british slang IS Cockney Rhyming Slang. Hell even the Phrase "Taking the Mickey" (a milter version of "Taking the Piss") is derived from it.

Micky Bliss = Piss
Apples and Pears = Stairs
Trouble and Strife = Wife

And of course any true British lad will get a chuckle when I say "FORK 'ANDLES"

Well this is interesting.

In the Space Wolf forum a month a go a guy said he was "chuffed" at his performance in the UKGT and the Americans had to debate if that was good or bad.

I have never heard of this "cockney rhyming" before, but I think I heard Jeremy Clarkson get into a bit of trouble on Top Gear a while ago for saying "Ginger beer" and I think that means queer, and I wonder if it is that. I remember thinking that is was very strange when I heard it.

Chuffed is an expression meaning "To be proud of", so yeah its a positive thing.

And yeah, I remember something about the Beer thing. It's all in good fun though, considering the Slang was invented for the sole purpose of pissing off the Wardens in the jails, or as they were more commonly known, "Dem Berkshire Hunts".

Berkshire Hunt (I'll let you figure it out) is the root for the word "Berk", another delightful English word that is a milder form of what Berkshire Hunt is meant to be

of Course the one I love using to confuse the Americans is Pillock.

Million wrote:While we're on the subject, i'm a particular fan of Welshisms, such as the priceless:

"I turn around, and there it was, gone!"

That's about par with certain southern US redneckisms, like:

"The gas for the stove was on all night, we're lucky we didn't wake up dead!"

Gwar! wrote:Oh now I've gone and said it.

Oh I said it again!

Gah I said it again!

Noooo!!!!!

-Implodes-

Quick! Bring him a shrubbery! A SHRUBBERY DAMMIT!

a NICE ONE, NOT TOO EXPENSIVE, WITH A LITTLE PATH GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE...