Metric versus Imperial Phrases

[BrownOut]

Americans having to use metric measurement systems is the small price we pay for requiring the rest of the world to speak english.
Rather, we requrie the world to speak 'American'

 

[ericgibbs]

Americans having to use metric measurement systems is the small price we pay for requiring the rest of the world to speak english.
Rather, we requrie the world to speak 'American'

hi D,
Never had a problem in understanding our American cousins.

My early technical tuition was before the SI [ metric] system and was a real pain calculating problems in Imperial units.

We had 'units' which were not related in a decimalised way, calculating problems was a real chore.

I now prefer the metric system.

Eric

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

Oh come on, the English system is all based on body parts. An inch is the distance between the thumb knuckle and the tip of the finger and the foot, well, the human foot and then the knot which is based on a real knot in a piece of rope.

No idea where the number 12 came from. Possibly because you could successfully divide things by 2 and by 2 again and by 2 again until you get to 1/128" of an inch. I didn't mind mills and thousandths when machining things, but I kept having to look at the pesky table for fractions to decimal equivalents. Now start using 5/8" milling cutters.

 

[BrownOut]

hi D,
Never had a problem in understanding our American cousins.

My early technical tuition was before the SI [ metric] system and was a real pain calculating problems in Imperial units.

We had 'units' which were not related in a decimalised way, calculating problems was a real chore.

I now prefer the metric system.

Eric

I am comfortable with either system. But it's more fun to say, "I"m going to the pub and have a pint with the boys" than to say ".... and have half a liter...." It just doesn't translate as well

 

[CraigHB]

Yes, there is an amount of colloquialism there. For example, I'm sure the saying "the whole nine yards" will never become "the whole nine meters". BTW, that saying comes from the nine yards of belt ammo WWII fighter pilots used to carry on- board. I learned that recently and though that it was interesting.

 

[BrownOut]

That is interesting. I really only heard that phrase while I was in the army. (maybe once or twice in the 30 years after)

 

[DerStrom8]

BTW, that saying comes from the nine yards of belt ammo WWII fighter pilots used to carry on- board. I learned that recently and though that it was interesting.

I always wondered about that. Thanks for telling us!

Now that we're drifting slightly off topic....

 

[Sceadwian]

Brownout, in the states it's common to say 'a beer' not a pint or a liter of even 12 ounces.. The measurement is inferred not defined.

 

[ericgibbs]

I am comfortable with either system. But it's more fun to say, "I"m going to the pub and have a pint with the boys" than to say ".... and have half a liter...." It just doesn't translate as well

hi D,
No self respecting English guy would go into a local pub and order a half a litre, a litre maybe.!

No, Pints are the real man's drink., used to be a 'Glass' for the girls.

 

[colin55]

I normally order a "pony."

 

[jpanhalt]

Don't forget the inchworm.

Of course, "inch" can be used as both a noun and a verb -- as can almost any noun in English. Are there any metric measures commoningly used as verbs? Instead of "inching" along in traffic, what is the metric equivalent? Edit: Meter obviously has several meanings, but metering along would seem a fast pace, not slow.


John

 

[jpanhalt]

Yes, there is an amount of colloquialism there. For example, I'm sure the saying "the whole nine yards" will never become "the whole nine meters". BTW, that saying comes from the nine yards of belt ammo WWII fighter pilots used to carry on- board. I learned that recently and though that it was interesting.

Thanks for spurring me on to look it up. This Wikipedia discussion is even more interesting. See the footnote relative to the actual length of the ammunition belt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_whole_nine_yards

John

 

[carbonzit]

Don't forget the inchworm.

Of course, "inch" can be used as both a noun and a verb -- as can almost any noun in English.

Hmm, perhaps some:

• Foot a bill
• Inch towards a goal

But yard? mile? don't think so.

 

[jpanhalt]

Almost any noun can be used as a verb in American English and, I believe, British English too. Thus, we have Borked (related to the confirmation hearings for Judge Bork), Xeroxed (Xerox) and so forth. Such verbs come and go. You may not recall the meaning of Borked, cellophaned, or Technicolored. I was not talking merely about units of dimension.

"Almost" does not mean all.

John

 

[DerStrom8]

Almost any noun can be used as a verb in American English and, I believe, British English too. Thus, we have Borked (related to the confirmation hearings for Judge Bork), Xeroxed (Xerox) and so forth. Such verbs come and go. You may not recall the meaning of Borked, cellophaned, or Technicolored. I was not talking merely about units of dimension.

Don't forget "googled" and "facebooked"

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

Hey look, a mile is 1000 somethings: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mile

 

[canadaelk]

Can inchworms be centipedes or would it have to be a 2.5 cm (or a 0.25 dm) worm? E

 

[Mikebits]

I still have trouble visualizing things in metric. When I hear someone say he was about 2 meters tall I picture a munchkin from the lollipop guild.


**broken link removed**

 

[Pommie]

I just find metric easier due to the fact that all electronics is metricized. Imaging having 16 ohms to a pohm!! And, please, no one mention the most ridiculous BTUs.

Mike.

 

[carbonzit]

Hey look, a mile is 1000 somethings: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mile

Heh; just like how standard railroad gauge (4'8" in the US) is derived, indirectly, from the width of two horses' asses on Roman roads. (Like they say, you could look it up)