As you know from your thorough reading of The Great Whatsit, Stella, and other whatsitters subscribe to Dictionary.com’s Word for the Day.
Stella would like to propose a word for the day for the next week from common British usage that she’d like to hear more of in the independent and very United States of America.
Hasn’t she done that before? Yes, but a long time ago. And she really likes these words.
Sunday: a lie-in (noun)
It’s what you want on a Sunday. To stay in bed past normal hours. “Oh, I can’t wait for a lie-in on Sunday. Maybe you’ll bring me breakfast in bed!”
Monday: wanker (noun)
Jerk may be accurate, but wanker gives a verbal work out to the facial muscles that is so pleasurable. It can only be spoken with contempt. “I hate the recession. Geithner is such a wanker!”
Tuesday: to mither (verb)
It’s what kids and mothers and employees do. They nag you ceaselessly. “For God’s sake, would you stop mithering me! You’ve got the darn puppy!”
Wednesday: cheeky (adjective)
Forward or presumptive. “Don’t be cheeky” she giggled as he slapped her arse. (For one of our LA peeps.)
Thursday: bugger (noun in this instance)
Extremely satisfying expletive which has moved past its homophobic origins to a rather benign alternative to fuck. “Bugger! It’s only Thursday.”
Friday: fortnight (noun)
Fourteen nights or two weeks. Stella posts every fortnight on Fridays.
Saturday: jammy (adjective)
Someone who gets their way or gets very lucky. “You jammy devil! How come I didn’t get to hug Michelle?”
By the end of one week, you will notice the increased admiration of your friends and coworkers.
“wanker” and “cheeky” are in moderately common usage, IMO — I’m not surprised when I hear them used. I agree with you about “fortnight”, I’d like to hear it more frequently (than approx. never). “jammy” is a new one on me, I like it.
“Wanker” only sounds good with an English accent, though–a hard ‘r’ on the end ruins the effect. I love that to American ears, even the most inelegant words expressed in RP (received pronouncation) sound refined.
“Bugger, that Charles is a wanker with all his mithering. I need a lie-in and a cup of tea,” muttered the queen.
Perfect! Who can write the best sentence with as many of the words as possible! Rachel is winning!
Some of my favourite :-) Britishisms:
knickers – certainly to denote undergarments, but best when used in the phrase “knickers in a twist,” meaning “to be upset”: “Don’t get your knickers in a twist. The rain is just a minor inconvenience.”
pong – a rather strong, unpleasant smell – “What’s that pong? Open the window, will you?” Can also be used as a verb – “‘Who pongs?’ asked the mother of her teenage sons. ‘Someone needs a wash.’”
to get on one’s tits – to irritate – “You’re really getting on my tits with all of your mithering.” (Most amusing when spoken by a man, imho.)
Bugger! That jammy wanker Stephen Colbert has ruined my lie-in with all his cheeky mithering about the coming Gay Storm this past fortnight! Innit?
“Bugger” as used is not a noun but an interjection.
I’m right chuffed to learn how long a fortnight is, finally!
6. Bugger off bloody sot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKnPSJE6Qoc
Entertaining use of the word bugger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXGAVuQ1BcY
Then the phrase sheep shagger, another useful one.