SKEDADDLE, AND OTHER HIGHFALUTIN WORDS THEY INVENTED
WORDS THAT CAME FROM AMERICA TO THE UK Skedaddle:
Meaning to scurry away, it originated in the American Civil War
Highfalutin:
Meaning pompous or pretentious, it first appeared in a Senate debate in the US in 1841
Stiff upper lip:
Despite being a phrase engrained in British culture, the first recorded use of this phrase was in the Massachusetts Spy in 1815
Ageism:
Coined in 1969 by US gerontologist Dr Robert N Butler
Commuter:
Originated in America in 1865 when the railroads ‘commutation ticket’ was introduced
Teenager:
Americans first coined this word in 1941
Workaholic:
Introduced by American psychologist Wayne E Oates in 1968
Gangster:
Coined in US in 1896
AND MODERN TERMS TAKING OVER THE UK ‘Reaching out’ in place of ‘emailing’ or ‘calling’
‘Catch a movie’ instead of ‘watch a film’
‘Cupcake’, not ‘fairy cake’
‘I’m good’ replacing ‘I’m well’ in response to ‘how are you?’
‘So’ used instead of ‘really’ or ‘very’ e.g. ‘I’m so not liking that’
‘Totally’ instead of ‘yes’
‘Issue’ instead of ‘problem’
‘Burger and fries’ instead of ‘beefburger and chips’
‘Can I get’, not ‘may I have’
‘Touch base’ rather than ‘get in touch’
‘Take-out’ instead of ‘takeaway’
‘Heads up’ instead of ‘advanced warning’
‘Regular-sized’ rather than ‘medium-sized’
‘Standing in line’ instead of ‘queuing’
‘Cookie’ in place of ‘biscuit’