Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

[MamaPata]

Question: Do kids still say this? It's a sound you make when you see another kid do something he's not allowed to do.

"Ummmmmmm! I'm gonna tell mummy!"

Thanks!

Disclaimer: it's been a few years since I was a kid and I'm not really around them anymore.

But yes, that sounds normal to me.

[Ani]

Question: Do kids still say this? It's a sound you make when you see another kid do something he's not allowed to do.

"Ummmmmmm! I'm gonna tell mummy!"

Thanks!

I wouldn't represent that sound with "ummm". In my mind "umm" is pretty much reserved for thinking between speaking The sound that comes to mind when getting ready to tattle is the "oo" at the end of "who" (in my American English), but it could equally be "ohhhhh" or "uh oh" (and of course we say mommy, not mummy here).
And yes my kids say that sort of thing all the time.

[Adrianslont]

Question: Do kids still say this? It's a sound you make when you see another kid do something he's not allowed to do.

"Ummmmmmm! I'm gonna tell mummy!"

Thanks!

I don’t know, sorry but I can tell you the appropriate rejoinder in Australia is “Dobber!” “Don’t be a Dobber!” or for the younger folk “Dibber Dobber”.

[Ingaræð]

Question: Do kids still say this? It's a sound you make when you see another kid do something he's not allowed to do.

"Ummmmmmm! I'm gonna tell mummy!"

Thanks!

"Ommmmmm! I'm telling [Mum/Dad/the teacher] on you!" was standard when I was a kid*. "Ommmm!" (roughly /ɒm/, I think) is often used on its own, because it exclusively means you've caught someone doing something they shouldn't. Exclaiming "ommmm!" and running off automatically implies you're going to tell on that person. The word might be Wenglish, because I don't think I've heard it outside Wales, and I've never seen it written down anywhere. To me, 'ummm' implies uncertainty, so I wouldn't have used it in this situation, but someone who doesn't have an 'ommm'-word might do.

*Although obviously never directed at me, because I was a little angel.

How do you shout for help in these situations?

I was once given the advice that if a guy was trying to sexually assault me (particularly in a place where there are few people around), I should shout, "Fire!". Two reasons for this:

• the attacker will be momentarily confused by you shouting 'fire', and you may have a chance to escape;
• anyone within earshot would be more likely to come to your aid if you shout 'fire' rather than 'help' (which makes sense, but is a depressing thought nonetheless).

The advice was specifically aimed at females, but I see no reason why it wouldn't also work for a guy, or if you were being mugged.

[dampingwire]

I was once given the advice that if a guy was trying to sexually assault me (particularly in a place where there are few people around), I should shout, "Fire!". Two reasons for this:

• the attacker will be momentarily confused by you shouting 'fire', and you may have a chance to escape;
• anyone within earshot would be more likely to come to your aid if you shout 'fire' rather than 'help' (which makes sense, but is a depressing thought nonetheless).

The advice was specifically aimed at females, but I see no reason why it wouldn't also work for a guy, or if you were being mugged.

If I'm ever mugged by an armed attacker I think I'll try to forget this piece of advice

[smallwhite]

"Ommmm!" (roughly /ɒm/, I think) is often used on its own...
The word might be Wenglish, because I don't think I've heard it outside Wales, ...

I learned it in New Zealand when I was little. The voice in my head says "umm" rhyming with "sum" but it could be wrong. And yes, often used on its own.

I love how I get all sorts of unexpected responses in this thread, self-defence and all that

[Ingaræð]

"Ommmm!" (roughly /ɒm/, I think) is often used on its own...
The word might be Wenglish, because I don't think I've heard it outside Wales, ...

I learned it in New Zealand when I was little. The voice in my head says "umm" rhyming with "sum" but it could be wrong. And yes, often used on its own.

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough...

'Umm' (rhymes with 'sum') is a standard word in (I think) all forms of English: an "interjection implying hesitancy" (Wiktionary).

'Omm' (rhymes with 'bomb' [UK/AU/NZ]) is a different word that I believe is unique to Wenglish: an interjection implying that you've just caught someone doing something that they shouldn't, and used mainly by children (I can't find a dictionary reference).

For me, the two words are not interchangeable. I've never heard 'umm' used with the specific meaning of 'omm' in UK/US/CA/AU/NZ English, but your mileage may vary...

[smallwhite]

"Ommmm!" (roughly /ɒm/, I think) is often used on its own...
The word might be Wenglish, because I don't think I've heard it outside Wales, ...

I learned it in New Zealand when I was little. The voice in my head says "umm" rhyming with "sum" but it could be wrong. And yes, often used on its own.

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough...

'Umm' (rhymes with 'sum') is a standard word in (I think) all forms of English: an "interjection implying hesitancy" (Wiktionary).

'Omm' (rhymes with 'bomb' [UK/AU/NZ]) is a different word that I believe is unique to Wenglish: an interjection implying that you've just caught someone doing something that they shouldn't, and used mainly by children (I can't find a dictionary reference).

For me, the two words are not interchangeable. I've never heard 'umm' used with the specific meaning of 'omm' in UK/US/CA/AU/NZ English, but your mileage may vary...

You were perfectly clear. I was asking about "interjection implying that you've just caught someone doing something that they shouldn't", I learned it in New Zealand, in my head it rhymes with "sum" but things in my head could be wrong.

[MamaPata]

"Ommmm!" (roughly /ɒm/, I think) is often used on its own...
The word might be Wenglish, because I don't think I've heard it outside Wales, ...

I learned it in New Zealand when I was little. The voice in my head says "umm" rhyming with "sum" but it could be wrong. And yes, often used on its own.

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough...

'Umm' (rhymes with 'sum') is a standard word in (I think) all forms of English: an "interjection implying hesitancy" (Wiktionary).

'Omm' (rhymes with 'bomb' [UK/AU/NZ]) is a different word that I believe is unique to Wenglish: an interjection implying that you've just caught someone doing something that they shouldn't, and used mainly by children (I can't find a dictionary reference).

For me, the two words are not interchangeable. I've never heard 'umm' used with the specific meaning of 'omm' in UK/US/CA/AU/NZ English, but your mileage may vary...

In London, as a kid, I definitely heard the first pronounciation used with the second meaning.

[smallwhite]

I love all feathered animals.

I didn't understand this sentence above from this post. Is it about me? What does it mean and what is the animal? And how come reineke doesn't want me to understand it?

Thanks!