Linus' slang

[cacoe]

So I've noticed Linus regularly use a bunch of phrases that I would normally assume would be very much primarily colloquially used in the UK only. "Can't be arsed" - "I spoke to a bloke" -"Bloody ell" (or bloody in other contexts too), is this widespread in Canada or Linusisms? A remnence of British colonialism maybe?

 

Can't remember hearing other members of staff saying these things.

 

Edit - oh yeah Australia and New Zealand too so maybe I just answered my own question....

[cacoe]

3 minutes ago, Benji said:

How exactly would that answer your question? I can't recall that he mentioned some affiliation with either. You could ask him and hope that he answers ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ @LinusTech

Travelling for extended periods of time can also cause influences in your language. My stepdad for example has lived in multiple places and his dialect is a mixture of the "High German" that is spoken in Nothern Germany, some Swabian and Swiss German because he lived in all of those regions for multiple years.

It could answer it because the use of such phrases are also commonplace in other commonwealth countries. However, it doesn't necessarily require an answer from Linus, other Canadians could just pitch in. Although Linus obviously travels a lot, I'm not aware that he's spent extended periods (which is realistically required to pick up the use of colloquially phrases long term) in counties which use these phrases are common. Not saying it's not a thing, if it is, just never heard it.

[TetraSky]

3 hours ago, cacoe said:

is this widespread in Canada or Linusisms? A remnence of British colonialism maybe?

I mean.... There's a reason why the province is called BRITISH Columbia.   /jk

 

As for it being widespread in Canada... I don't know about the English provinces, but it would be rare indeed to hear those in Quebec. Sure haven't heard anyone who wasn't a British tourist or recent immigrant say them anyway. 

That said, I do use "arsed" once in a while online, but not in person. Because I watched too many British tv shows.

[Spotty]

22 hours ago, cacoe said:

So I've noticed Linus regularly use a bunch of phrases that I would normally assume would be very much primarily colloquially used in the UK only. "Can't be arsed" - "I spoke to a bloke" -"Bloody ell"

I can't say I've noticed him saying "I spoke to a bloke" or "bloody hell". 

What does "spoke to a bloke" mean in English slang? It's it some cockney rhyming slang for having a stroke or something? 

[Master Disaster]

21 minutes ago, Spotty said:

What does "spoke to a bloke" mean in English slang? It's it some cockney rhyming slang for having a stroke or something? 

It means to talk to a man, usually in the context of having work done by professionals.

 

Tangentially, having a stroke has an entirely different meaning in English colloquialisms.

 

As for the others, never heard him say many of them but can't be arsed has a simple explanation, Linus grew up during the MSN/AIM years and CBA was used pretty widely, its probably just a carry over from his teens.

[Spotty]

Just now, Master Disaster said:

It means to talk to a man, usually in the context of having work done by professionals.

I know the literal meaning of the phrase but as OP was describing it as some unique British slang I thought it might have had another informal meaning, like saying you've got to see a man about a dog.

 

Is "can't be arsed" not a common phrase in Canada/USA? 

[cacoe]

2 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

It means to talk to a man, usually in the context of having work done by professionals.

 

Tangentially, having a stroke has an entirely different meaning in English colloquialisms.

 

As for the others, never heard him say many of them but can't be arsed has a simple explanation, Linus grew up during the MSN/AIM years and CBA was used pretty widely, its probably just a carry over from his teens.

In terms of when I hear him say them, it's strictly Lan show. Perhaps I was paraphrasing when I said "spoke to a bloke" maybe more like "I was speaking to this bloke about" etc etc etc

[cacoe]

2 hours ago, Spotty said:

I know the literal meaning of the phrase but as OP was describing it as some unique British slang I thought it might have had another informal meaning, like saying you've got to see a man about a dog.

 

Is "can't be arsed" not a common phrase in Canada/USA? 

Wouldn't it be can't be assed? Is that even a thing?