A question for the Americans

[gwynhefar]

Ok, so I'm so Brit-encultured I really have no idea:

Does the general American know the meaning of the word 'shagging'? And I don't mean the South Carolina state dance either (which totally cracked me up first time I found out about it).

Comments

[e-scapism101.livejournal.com]

They have license plates, too.

Before the Austin Powers movies, I would have said no, but now? Probably more than you think. Snogging, otoh, would most likely be a mystery.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I also know what snogging is.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

yes, but you, like me, are Brit-encultured :)

[harkalark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd say that would probably be the litmus test for whether or not an American was Brit-cultured or not. Shagging used to not be well known (there's a group in the town where I grew up that plays oldies music, and their van has the words "SHAGGIN' WAGON" proudly emblazened on the side), but now it is because of the above-mentioned movie. Snogging is something only Brit-familiar people would get.

Bloody buggery bollocks. ;)

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Well, I do- but I read Brit books, untranslated. :P

[chorus-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

uh yeah, it's basically to have sex. I think it caught on here with that stupid austin powers movie, though I'd heard it long before that because I have a lot of family that used to visit from europe when I was a kid.

[mooseloon.livejournal.com]

I don't think so - I didn't learn it until I was in Ireland.

[rowancat.livejournal.com]

It was very popular in Cambridge/Boston (along with "bird = woman)
around 65-67 but this has always been a Anglophile area.
And before that, half te books i read were British so i knew it already.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

Curiously, at least in my family, the verb "to shag" means "to chase." As in, "I spent half an hour shagging the dogs away from the bunny's hideout." I don't know whether that's a regionalism or just my family being silly.

I am aware of the British sense, of course -- being one of those Brit-encultured -- which is why I don't often tend to use the other meaning. I do occasionally slip up, though.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Where is your family from?

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

My mom's from southwestern NY (where we are now). My dad's from Michigan, but grew up in NJ. I think Mom's the one who uses it; I don't recall ever hearing Dad say it.