New Americanism

[Booldawg]

Heard this alot recently - is it a new phrase and where does it originate? Sometimes (mainly americans) say 'my bad' when they make a mistake.

[ChuckFickens]

http://www.shakespear....com/sonnets/112.html

"So you o'er-green my bad, my good allow?"

[ChuckFickens]

P.S. ^ slightly toungue in cheek :)

It was popularised by the film clueless.

[Booldawg]

I think I've read that Doc!

[Frank97]

Another one I've noticed a lot recently is "dope" instead of cool, probably been around ages but I seem to be seeing it more and more these days.

[Booldawg]

I think 'dope' has been around since the mid 80s. Used in hip hop culture quite alot.

[Old_Geezer]

One of the recent ones that gets me is, "I could care less", when they mean exactly the opposite. Not deliberate sarcasm either, just insanity as far as I can tell.

[Frank97]

How about "stoked" for pleased, where does that come from?

[heathfield]

Can't help thinking that the principle of dumbing down in the US education system is at work!

[jno]

I think my bad originated in basketball

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/my-bad.html

But I could care less has been around for ages (still makes no sense, though)

[bednobs]

stoked is (i think) australian

[Quizmonster]

I suspect 'I could care less!' is just an abbreviation of 'As if I could care less!'
I know Booldawg isn't knocking Americanisms here, but I wish we Brits weren't so ready to do just that. Their use of English is in many ways more vibrant and imaginative than our own, so we should at least consider their "creations" and adopt them or reject them as appropriate.
For example, we seem to have taken to 'ball-park figure' but not to 'out of left field', both from baseball. If they're useful, let us welcome them with open arms...and minds!

[factor-fiction]

I've noticed this "my bad" too, Booldawg- in fact I was thinking of posting the same point myself. I heard a footballer commentator say it during a game recently- I think the Community Shield.
Another one that's been around for a few years but I still can't bring myself to say it, is "I'm good, yeah, I'm good" as the answer to "Hello, how are you".

[JonnyBoy12]

I do not think much of that expression. In this country we say things like "Am I a plonker or what" or "I should be shot".

What do people here on AB say when they have boobed?

[Frank97]

I tend to say "oh bo*****s"

[jno]

"It wasn't me. A big boy did it and ran away."

[Quizmonster]

J, that's what Billy Connolly told his mother when she discovered that - as a child - he had defecated in his pants!

[jno]

reminds me of the lawyer's son's defence, Quizmonster -

"In the first place, there is no window.
In the second place, it isn't broken.
In the third place, I didn't do it.
In the fourth place, it was an accident."

[RocW]

Also "can I get..." instead of "could I have..."

[Quizmonster]

I don't really see the need for either "Can I get...?" OR "Could I have...?" As long as you are polite, just ask for the thing you want. "A pint of best bitter, please" is perfectly acceptable, as is "Six crusty rolls, please" or "A day return to Southampton, please."
Assuming the requested item has not been sold out, if you are in a pub, of course you can "get/have" a pint of best (as long as you're over 18), in a bakery, of course you can "get/have" crusty rolls and if you are at a railway ticket office, of course you can "get/have" a day return to Southampton!