Ani wrote:IronMike wrote:Wow, had never heard that before. To answer Brun Ugle, nope, they don't say that where I'm from. I'm gonna ask around the embassy, since we have Americans from all over the country, see if any of them heard that before who weren't stationed or knew folks from the UK.
So very interesting, which is why I love the English language so much! Thanks to you both.
I've heard that usage, but I agree, we don't say that here. I think it is just my obsession with Elizabeth Nesbit that acquainted me with it.
Maybe it’s more British. I’m American from NJ, but my maternal grandparents came from England and some of the English didn’t really wash out. I know I have more Anglicisms in my speech than many other Americans, I’ve also lived in Europe for 18 years and hear more British English these days. Another thing that occurred to me is that both Elenia and I are under the influence of Scandinavian languages and here “fast” means firm, fixed, unmoving, etc. So our usage might not be typical. Sometimes when I say things like that, I wonder if it’s real English or Norwenglish.