I say old bean..
Thanks to Doctor Curmudgeon & Co. for pointing to me, and commenting on, The Chronicle: American Idioms Have Gone Missing about how Briticisms are invading the USA..
Something todo with "the eternal appeal of sounding classy without seeming pretentious" I believe.
Comments
A slightly different process was at work in the case of "sell-by date." That is the exact equivalent for what we call "expiration date," only with better rhythm, two fewer syllables, and a strong British feel.
I'm not sure it is. I would have thought that "use by" or "best before" were a little closer to "expiration". Certainly many products have both a "sell by" and a "use by" date on them.
Information rich and high in alchohol content. That's the way we like our food in blighty.
Posted by: JohnJo | June 22, 2004 8:30 AM