In The Prodigal Tongue, linguist Lynne Murphy recounts the story of a friend from the US who was confused when her physician inquired about her waterworks. In Britain, that’s a slang term for the urinary tract, whereas in the US, it’s slang for crying. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of ““Waterworks” Means Crying in the US but Urinary Tract in Britain”
Here’s a passage I really liked from the book The Prodigal Tongue by Lynn Murphy.
An American acquaintance in the UK was confused when her British doctor asked about her waterworks. Having never heard that euphemism for the urinary tract, she thought he was asking if she cried a lot.
Oh, wow, that’s a great distinction.
How’s your waterworks? Water works. And she has quite a bit to say about euphemisms for certain parts of the body, doesn’t she? That and for spending a penny. Spending a penny. All those kinds of things. Going to the loo, so to speak. But they have different ways to speak it.
