An example of what I mean:
I, in China, told an English speaking Chinese friend I needed to stop off in the bathroom to “take a shit.”
He looked appalled and after I asked why he had that look, he asked what I was going to do with someone’s shit.
I had not laughed so hard in a while, and it totally makes sense.
I explained it was an expression for pooping, and he comes back with, “wouldn’t that be giving a shit?”
I then got to explain that to give a shit means you care and I realized how fucked some of our expressions are.
What misunderstandings made you laugh?
Another friend once thought twat was a synonym of twit. First time she called someone a twat in my presence I was gobsmacked but thought I must have misheard; there was definitely nothing twattish going on.
The next time it happened I made a note to raise it privately with her later. “You do know what twat means don’t you?” “Yeah, it’s another word for twit.” “Er, no.”
Aren’t they both insults though? Am I confused about what twit means
Twit is a light hearted jibe, much like calling someone a muppet or a dingbat. It’s not a word you would use if you really wanted to insult them.
Chatting on Skype with a Chinese developer, he said “I need to take Friday off for family matters” and I said “no worries”
He apologized profusely, and eventually I realised that to him, “no worries” meant something like “No! I am very concerned!”
I’ve since taught them some more Australianisms.
Wait… I don’t get it either. He refuse the day off?
“No worries!” means “Yes, that’s fine, there is nothing to worry about.”
He thought it meant “No! You should worry about that!”
Instead of “No worries!” he heard "No, worries!*
Oh! I see. He midunderstood “no worries” with “No! Worry!”…
