Lost In Translation

[Mojochi]

There are just words.... words that we use differently. I don't even necessarily know how it happens really

For example: Homely. Other parts of the world? It kind of translates to being cozy or comfy, befitting of the comforts of home, for which we in my part of the world say "homey" without the L. Hominess. Who's to say which is better? They both makes some sense

Now, where we REALLY go off the rails is that WE use the word homely too. Homeliness... and that means something VERY different. Somehow, we're using it to mean unattractive. Not necessarily ugly, but rather poorly looking I guess. If one were using it to describe a home for example (Which is rarely the case I'm afraid) it would mean almost the exact opposite of how those other folks are using it

Go figure

 

[danellis]

Both your examples have the same meaning: cozy and comfortable, not pretty or sexy or exciting

dJE

 

[Kor]

Both your examples have the same meaning: cozy and comfortable, not pretty or sexy or exciting

dJE

One has a positive connotation, and the other is offputting. I would say those are quite different.

Kor

 

[Oddish]

A lot of words have changed meaning. "Cool" used to mean "not hot", "sick" used to mean "ill", and "dank" used to mean "wet and chilly". Go figure.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Not exactly lost in translation, but I came across this video which I thought was hilarious.

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Then years later this German girl living in America made a response video which is just as funny.

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[Mojochi]

Both your examples have the same meaning: cozy and comfortable, not pretty or sexy or exciting

dJE

Not the chiefly American usage of homely. We use it to mean UNattractive

Don't even get me started on fanny. That's the whole other side of human anatomy, depending on where you say it. lol

 

[MacLeod]

A lot of words have changed meaning. "Cool" used to mean "not hot", "sick" used to mean "ill", and "dank" used to mean "wet and chilly". Go figure.

It might be more accurate to say some words have gained additional meanings depending on the context in which they are used.

But here is another phrase that can get lost in transaltion. In the UK to 'table' a motion is to present an idea for discussion at a meeting (meetings often being held around a table) whilst in the US it would mean to postpone/end discussion of it. In the UK we might use the world 'Shelve' a motion in order to end disucssion on the current topic. i.e take it off the table and put it on a shelf.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

I'm Canadian and in my 60's and I have never heard the word "homely" used at all. I've come across it in some older novels written before my time so I get what you're referrring to. We don't describe our decour with it either. I've truely never heard it used. May be an American thing, but I've never heard it used by my American friends or on TV.

Now if you want words with diifferent meaning and usage, try starting with boot and head.

 

[Mojochi]

I'm Canadian and in my 60's and I have never heard the word "homely" used at all. I've come across it in some older novels written before my time so I get what you're referrring to. We don't describe our decour with it either. I've truely never heard it used. May be an American thing, but I've never heard it used by my American friends or on TV.

Fortunately, it's falling out of favor with Americans too, which might explain why you've never heard it. The way in which it was used here was always rather mean, judgmental, & rather sexist

 

[MacLeod]

We also have which is the first floor of a building, the one at ground level or the next floor up. In the US it's the one at ground level in the UK it's the next floor up.

 

[Mojochi]

We also have which is the first floor of a building, the one at ground level or the next floor up. In the US it's the one at ground level in the UK it's the next floor up.

So you just call it ground or street or some such? I guess that works too. So does calling it the 1st floor, because it is a floor & it's the 1st of them... unless there's a basement floor

 

[Malicia]

I know someone who doesn't like the phrase "I could care less" because they don't think it makes sense but I think both phrases can make sense in their own context.

I couldn't care less - I care so little about it that I can't care any less.

I could care less - I care so little about it that it's always possible to care less.

I don't like the phrase "we got to talking". It's not "we got to talking" it's "we got talking".

 

[MacLeod]

So you just call it ground or street or some such? I guess that works too. So does calling it the 1st floor, because it is a floor & it's the 1st of them... unless there's a basement floor

Yep it's normally called the ground floor, but sometimes you do see the number 0 used in lifts. Likely becasue zero more often nor not being the starting point when measuring/counting.

 

[MacLeod]

I know someone who doesn't like the phrase "I could care less" because they don't think it makes sense but I think both phrases can make sense in their own context.

I couldn't care less - I care so little about it that I can't care any less.

I could care less - I care so little about it that it's always possible to care less.

Isn't it the case however more often or not when someone uses the later they actually mean the former?

When would use the phrase "I could care less' in context and it actually make sense?

 

[Mojochi]

Yep it's normally called the ground floor, but sometimes you do see the number 0 used in lifts. Likely becasue zero more often nor not being the starting point when measuring/counting.

Yes... but isn't zero still the... first... of all the numbers? So floor zero is still the 1st floor. Mind blown...

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Isn't it the case however more often or not when someone uses the later they actually mean the former?

When would use the phrase "I could care less' in context and it actually make sense?

"I could care less, but this is pretty close to the bottom."

 

[Mojochi]

I'm tired of how they annoy me. I could care less.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I'm Canadian and in my 60's and I have never heard the word "homely" used at all. I've come across it in some older novels written before my time so I get what you're referrring to. We don't describe our decour with it either. I've truely never heard it used. May be an American thing, but I've never heard it used by my American friends or on TV.

Yeah, Canadian here too, and I think the only time I've ever come across it is on TV, and often in older periods and possibly settings of the deep south.

 

[Kor]

An antonym for "homely" in the "unattractive" sense would be "comely," another word that generally isn't heard nowadays.

Kor