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strange but true, in the UK we have a utility company called powergen, in italy they also have a battery company called powergen, but to ensure that they can differentiate between themselves and the UK company they have unfortunately called themselves powergen italia.
Are there any other classics like this out there?
Andrew
Years ago, Chevrolet designed the "Nova" as a car they were going to push hard in south and central america as well as Mexico. Sales didn't go too well until they figured out that "No Va" meant "No Go" or "Won't Go" in spanish... at least that is the legend.
Originally posted by StarValleyWyon a Spanish theme, in "The Lone Ranger" TV show his sidekick was "Tonto", which I know is Belgian French for "later" but I have also been told that it is Spanish for "stupid".
Years ago, Chevrolet designed the "Nova" as a car they were going to push hard in south and central america as well as Mexico. Sales didn't go too well until they figured out that "No Va" meant "No Go" or "Won't Go" in spanish... at least that is the legend.
Tonto's response, "Kemo Savy" (that's phonetically written...) has also supposedly changed over tie from meening "friend" to something akin to "arse bandit". Whcih goes to make the memorable "Stupid & Arse Bandit" show. Or so I've been told.
A second TV mistake was a spin off from "Happy Days" with Joaney & Chachi (again, spot the phonetically written bits) called "Joaney Loves Chachi. Not supprisingly this show didn't last long and was a complete flop, but it did cause quite a stir in Korea where "Chachi" is a slang term for male genitalia, meaning that thousands of men were most disappointed when they say the first show.
Originally posted by StarValleyWykangaroo-it means "i don't know" (an explrer asked an abroignie what it was called: "i don't know" was the reply...apparently...)
Years ago, Chevrolet designed the "Nova" as a car they were going to push hard in south and central america as well as Mexico. Sales didn't go too well until they figured out that "No Va" meant "No Go" or "Won't Go" in spanish... at least that is the legend.
Originally posted by StarValleyWynb. there is a European car called the Nova (Vaxhaull?) which could well be made in Spain. It's called something else over there though...
Years ago, Chevrolet designed the "Nova" as a car they were going to push hard in south and central america as well as Mexico. Sales didn't go too well until they figured out that "No Va" meant "No Go" or "Won't Go" in spanish... at least that is the legend.
Mr.BelgianFreak,who told you that 'Tonto' is 'Belgian French' for 'later'??
That sounds highly unlikely to me.As far as I know,there isn't even such a thing as 'Belgian French'.In Belgium 3 languages are spoken,Dutch,French and German.The French is the same language as they speak in France,maybe some slight differences in pronounciation,that's possible,but certainly nothing more.Unless it's a dialect from some small region.
When the Spanish were exploring South America they were looking for "the land of gold". They didn't know where to start so they asked an Inca. The Inca pointed in a direction and said "Biru". The Spanish followed the route the Inca had showed them and they came to the country that they named Peru. But "Biru" in Incan means "To get to the place you are looking for keep going and going and going this way"!!!!! 😏
Originally posted by belgianfreakyeah-vauxhall make the nova, and i think opel do to. whats the deal with open and vauxhall? they seem to have exactly the same models etc?...
nb. there is a European car called the Nova (Vaxhaull?) which could well be made in Spain. It's called something else over there though...
Originally posted by SirLoseALoteeerm, well I kinda know that Belgian French and French are the same, mostly, because (unless the name didn't give it away) I live in Belgium. But there are subtle differences, such as "nonant" instead of "quatre vignt dix" for ninety.
Mr.BelgianFreak,who told you that 'Tonto' is 'Belgian French' for 'later'??
That sounds highly unlikely to me.As far as I know,there isn't even such a thing as 'Belgian French'.In Belgium 3 languages are spoken,Dutch,French an ...[text shortened]... tainly nothing more.Unless it's a dialect from some small region.
I, upon arriving here, was told that "tonto", meaning "see you later", was solely a Belgian expression that wouldn't be understood in France, just as "see u jimmy" (a Scotish expression) wouldn't be understood in the US. So I wrote "Belgian French" in an attempt to stop any Frenchmen claiming that no such word existed. Seems I can't win either way. Sorry for any confusion.
Nb. I'd been told not to say to a Belgian that Dutch is the 3rd language. Many are quite insistant that although it is exactly the same when written down, it is a separate language called Flemish. Although some would argue otherwise. You don't agree?
The prize in this category must surely go to an Irish drink called, quite atmospherically, "Irish Mist". However, it failed to sell in Germany. This was because, in German, "Mist" means "manure" or "dung". Fond as Germans were of Ireland, they were not quite that fond.🙂
Ameericans being fond of their lush, green lawns, occasionally one is forced to replace an area of lawn. The fastest and easiest way to do this is to take strips of earth with grass already growing in them and plant them in the ground. Somehow these strips have obtained the name 'sod.' I won't have to tell about my british friends' amusement at driving through the American countryside and coming across a "sod farm."
-mike
Originally posted by SirLoseALotWell here in Quebec they say 'a tonto' (more likely 'tontot'😉 which means 'until later'.
Mr.BelgianFreak,who told you that 'Tonto' is 'Belgian French' for 'later'??
That sounds highly unlikely to me.As far as I know,there isn't even such a thing as 'Belgian French'.In Belgium 3 languages are spoken,Dutch,French and German.The French is the same language as they speak in France,maybe some slight differences in pronounciation,that's possible,but certainly nothing more.Unless it's a dialect from some small region.
I asked a driend if it's a corruption of 'a bientot' and he said no it's different. But apparently they don't use it in France.
Originally posted by belgianfreakWell,Dutch and Flemish differ in pronounciation,that's all.By number of people who speak it,Dutch is the 1st language in Belgium,then French and German.But who cares,right?
eeerm, well I kinda know that Belgian French and French are the same, mostly, because (unless the name didn't give it away) I live in Belgium. But there are subtle differences, such as "nonant" instead of "quatre vignt dix" for ninety.
I, upon arriving here, was told that "tonto", meaning "see you later", was solely a Belgian expression tha ...[text shortened]... it is a separate language called Flemish. Although some would argue otherwise. You don't agree?
And if 'Tonto' is indeed an expression,it's a 'Wallonian'(?) one,not a Belgian one.I sure never heard of it😕
You're right about the subtle differences,then again,a frenchman from the north doesn't speak the same french as one from the south.
But I don't have enough knowledge on French to get into a serious debate about it.So we'll just assume that you were correctly informed😵
I'm going to ask my smarter friends about that 'tonto' though😛
Originally posted by legionnaireor you find a work gang where ... "the guys are laying the sod" !😕😀
Ameericans being fond of their lush, green lawns, occasionally one is forced to replace an area of lawn. The fastest and easiest way to do this is to take strips of earth with grass already growing in them and plant them in the ground. Somehow these strips have obtained the name 'sod.' I won't have to tell about my british friends' amusement at driving through the American countryside and coming across a "sod farm."
-mike
- Joined
- 20 Feb 02
- Moves
- 58336
Originally posted by legionnaireanother fun American / British mix up. I was in a car with this girl in Kansas and she casually asks me to pass her fanny pack. I looked at her a bit strange and repeated just make sure she mean't fanny. Well there I was looking for a box of tampons, fumbling away in a embarrassed British way, while she is there looking at me as if I am mad. In the end she just pointed at a bum bag and said there. I had to point out fanny has another meaning in the UK.
Ameericans being fond of their lush, green lawns, occasionally one is forced to replace an area of lawn. The fastest and easiest way to do this is to take strips of earth with grass already growing in them and plant them in the ground. Somehow these strips have obtained the name 'sod.' I won't have to tell about my british friends' amusement at driving through the American countryside and coming across a "sod farm."
-mike
I suppose to finish this one off, and to link into another thread, I wonder what that middle American tourist, with the trade mark tartan trousers think when they go to "quaint" town of Twatt on Orkney!
Andrew