"Andy Evans" wrote in
message


In a way I like the sheer simplicity of the way Americans
use language (nearly said "Americans think" there...).

Typical British arrogance - the very idea that any race or nationality does
not think!

It has an obvious directness. A "valve" looks like a tube,
so it's a tube.

The origional usage was "radio tube".

Here are some equivalents:

UK - Observe a sense of occasion
US - Big it up

Not US. Note that most of the most common references to this phrase in
google are either Canadian or UK.

UK - I reflected on what was taking place
US - I was like "what's up"?

Unlike the previous phrase, actually credible.

UK - A theatrical performance
US - A show

What's the problem here?

UK - To apply cardiac resuscitation to the patient
US - To jump start the dude

A bit flip, but again, where's the problem?

Note that the actual US phrases are shorter and less pompus-sounding.