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  • American term for car crash?
    by debac at 14:33 on 12 November 2010
    I know they say they were in a car wreck, not a car crash or car accident (at least, I think so). But if a Brit was to say 'have you had a crash?' or 'have you had an accident?', what would Americans say?

    TIA!

    Deb
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by CarolS at 15:28 on 12 November 2010
    Americans would use any of those terms---crash, wreck, accident. Wreck would be more dramatic, you'd only use that if it was pretty serious, like if the car was totaled. Accident would be what most people would say.
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by debac at 15:29 on 12 November 2010
    Oh, that's interesting, Carol. Thank you! Very useful!
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by eedel9kvr at 23:08 on 12 November 2010
    American's love their alphabet so they may call it an 'R.T.A' (road traffic accident) and a minor bump is called a'fender bender'.

    Edel

  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by debac at 15:44 on 13 November 2010
    Oh, that's useful, Edel, thanks! RTA sounds good in the context.

    Deb
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by Mox at 17:07 on 14 November 2010
    But I think Crash is used for serious conditions while Accidents happen to anybody, minor or major. It depends upon the situations.

    Michael
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by debac at 12:30 on 16 November 2010
    Thanks Mox!

    Actually, Edel, I saw an American friend the other day and asked him, and he said they never use RTA cos it's a British acronym. He said wreck was a really bad one, otherwise I think he said they would use crash or accident, much as we do.

    Deb
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by Mox at 14:10 on 16 November 2010
    Okay, whatever. Good luck ! But forgive me please, I thought you were a guy. Nice talk.

    Michael
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by debac at 21:18 on 16 November 2010
    Hi Michael, your info was useful too - hope I didn't imply otherwise.

    I'm curious, why did you think I was a guy?

    Deb
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by Mox at 04:06 on 17 November 2010
    Because I thought your were 'Deborah' or maybe 'Debac'. The question, "is Deborah a man or a woman?", or "what is the gender of the name Deborah?" So it confused me , later I thought maybe you are 'male' but When saw your profile I apologized. You are Debbie. Nice name

    Michael
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by debac at 12:19 on 17 November 2010
    Hi Michael,

    I am really surprised you're not familiar with the name Deborah as a woman's name. I've known loads of Debbies and Deborahs and Debras, but none of them were male.

    I'm not offended at all - just a bit puzzled..... <???>

    Deb

    <Added>

    I see you're from Australia. Do they not have the name Deborah out there?
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by Mox at 12:54 on 17 November 2010
    Hi Debbie,

    No, it's not like that, I know many Debbies, but not Deborahs, and my confusion is not exceptional I googled it and found its common name for female, over 70 % or 80 %. I know an actor Debac who is male. Even on the site somewhere I read it's general confusion to first time hearers for Deborahs.

    Never mind.

  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by debac at 13:51 on 17 November 2010
    I didn't know Debac was actually a name, so I understand in that case you thinking I was actually called that.

    However, I am still baffled you think most people don't know the name Deborah as a woman's name....??? It's very common in the UK, esp for my age group (40s).

    Deb
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by Mox at 14:55 on 17 November 2010
    Twenty years back, you were a youngster so at that your name may have been popular. Popularity varies as decade goes by. And one thing I've noticed, WWers often hide their age, Now I wonder you're in your forty. And I hesitate to post 'Is anybody twenty or teens out there?'

    Michael
  • Re: American term for car crash?
    by debac at 18:12 on 17 November 2010
    Yes, it was popular in my age group. That means anyone in the UK would be familiar with it as a name for my age group. Once we were young and now we're in our forties.

    I still don't understand your point TBH.

    I don't hide my age - I just don't like to put my whole date of birth on the internet, cos it can be used to assist identity theft. I don't think you can put the year of birth on WW without putting the whole DOB, but it's been a few years since I signed up so I may be misremembering.

    Deb
  • This 25 message thread spans 2 pages: 1  2  > >