Things I’ve Learned About The Good Old U S of A From Watching Films And Telly

[Long Nose]

Well, there's blasphemy, and there's blasphemy...

Granted. So, Bloody really isn't blood, but a sort of slurred "by-the-lady." I reckon this is a form of using the Virgin name in vain. And akin to Judas Priest, but not as bad as using the Sons name.

 

[RoryA]

Riaz,
Yes, it's yet another synonym!
I think Emma's been watching too much Midsomer Murders. That Bergerac bloke has always had a potty mouth...

 

[Patience]

Yes, basically. But I actually think that most of the people that use it don't even know what it means. Not that that makes it OK, though.

 

[kgkev]

Does the fact that you had to clarify imply that this is also a word of dubious genealogy?

so many words all meaning the same thing - I wonder who thought them all up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snatch

if you didn't know what bloody orginated from and just used it as a mild expletive then its not bad at all.

 

[cornflakegirl]

I have NO idea what telly Emma has been watching!

I was thinking late night comedy. But actually, I possibly come across it more on Mumsnet...

 

[yytsunamiyy]

There you go, thinking that you are pretty fit when it comes to english - and then someone comes along with an explanation for why a word is mildly offensive...

...you live and learn!

I heard (and used) "bloody" a great many times when I was living in London, but never had the slightest idea I was blaspheming.

Someone care to analyse a "Bloody Mary" then?

 

[justme]

dating can be fun...

Never thought I would hear my mom tell me not to worry if some guy asked if he could knock me up in the morning...

that was alot of years ago tho, don't know if it still means the same today

 

[Long Nose]

There you go, thinking that you are pretty fit when it comes to english - and then someone comes along with an explanation for why a word is mildly offensive...

...you live and learn!

I heard (and used) "bloody" a great many times when I was living in London, but never had the slightest idea I was blaspheming.

Someone care to analyse a "Bloody Mary" then?

OK since no one has posted, I'll give a go.

Bloody Mary, I believe, was a Catholic queen who burned some 300+ Protestants at the stake. I'm not sure how the drink became popular. I prefer Caol Ila myself.

Here's a strange side note...

And speaking of burning people at the stake, Americans celebrated Guy Fawkes' Day for 170 years before George Washington discouraged the celebration. Apparently, celebrations in Boston got way out of hand compared to the UK version. It began to wane only when American Protestants started fighting the British protestants and replaced "Colony" with "State" with the help of French Catholics who probably wouldn't have been too keen on celebrating the fifth of November anyway.

Although it is not widespread we still have bonfire societies here celebrating each 11-5.

 

[Greg Truby]

As for Fanny being a commonly used name, you've got to go back a ways. I didn't check every decade, but it did not show up in the top 1000 in the 50's, 70', or 2000's.

Emma, Bryony, please confirm that I have this correct: in the UK referrering to a gal's fanny would be nearly as vulger as referring to her v = array(99,117,110,116,63):for i = 0 to 4: s = s & chr$(v(i)): next i : ? s

Because in the U.S. it's quite innocuous. Google "fanny pack" and you'll get over a million hits. I would not think twice if one of my children were to say "fanny" in reference to someone's anatomy. Indeed a dog could bite a lad in the fanny just as well as a lass. Here I'd prefer they say "fanny" to "butt" or "as$".

 

[Patience]

Er.....

Emma, Bryony, please confirm that I have this correct: in the UK referrering to a gal's fanny would be nearly as vulger as referring to her v = array(99,117,110,116,63):for i = 0 to 4: s = s & chr$(v(i)): next i : ? s

*tumbleweed*

Probably! It is vulgar rather than offensive, maybe.