American abbreviations and slang...for the rest of the world.

[alpha2]

As I've been using American abbreviations, slang, and such, it occurs to me that a LOT of the users on the forum don't know what I'm talking about.

So, I'm starting a list of common...in America, abbreviations, slang, short cuts, et cetera, that maybe our "overseas from us" members are scratching their heads over.

First, "BTW". It stands for "by the way", or "for instance", or "case in point". Or maybe, "what I mean to say is..." I frankly don't know how other countries say it. 

Edited September 3, 2018 by alpha2

[alpha2]

This can go both ways. I think I have "sorted" figured out. Or as some might say, "sorted". 

Next is "ETA", or "edited to add".

Everybody feel free to join in.

Jeff

I realize this is all available with variable ease on Google, but this may keep you from having to go to the "dark side" during your time on the forum.

Jeff

[bikermutt07]

I thought ETA was estimated time of arrival?

[Chain]

What they really need to do is stop using a unit of weight as a unit of size

 

[bikermutt07]

10 minutes ago, Chain said:

What they really need to do is stop using a unit of weight as a unit of size

 

???

[YinTx]

16 minutes ago, Chain said:

What they really need to do is stop using a unit of weight as a unit of size

 

Ounce?  and who is they? Us?  Them?   maybe we should be using thousandths...

YinTx

[bikermutt07]

We didn't make up the ounce measurement in leather, we are just stuck using it. I don't even know how that started. I would much rather use fractions.

[ScoobyNewbie]

Biker mutt07 is right ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival.

ROFLMAO is and will always be my favorite - Rolling On the Floor, Laughing My A** Off. Life is good.

[Rockoboy]

IMHO* = in my honest opinion

WIP* = work in progress

ATM* = at the moment - or - automatic teller machine

 

Not sure why I use these in caps, but I always do ... sometimes.

[Sheilajeanne]

IIRC = If I recall correctly

WTF?? = well, I don't think I need to explain that one! :D Describes a lot of things going on in politics south of the border ATM!

Most of these have come into common use as a result of the internet, and people texting on their cell phones.

BRB - be right back

TTYL - talk to you later

TTFN - an old British expression (think it's Cockney) - ta-ta for now! 

YMMV - your mileage may vary, meaning you may have had a different experience with this, or different opinion

WYSIWYG - what you see is what you get. An old computer term, meaning what's on the screen right now is going to be what you get when you press 'post', or are finished entering your data. Not heard so much these days.

IAW [person's name] = I agree with [person]

As for leather thickness, I prefer to use either millimeters or inches. Most Canadians of my generation are bilingual when it comes to metric vs. the imperial system, as the switch-over happened while we were in school! But I still prefer to use pounds for my weight and inches for my height, and think of zero degrees as being REALLY cold, and not just the freezing point of water! 

 

 

Edited September 4, 2018 by Sheilajeanne