tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post7578618738472104967..comments2024-03-16T00:21:43.240+00:00Comments on Separated by a Common Language: yuck and yuklynneguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-3454054699714297322022-12-29T14:59:18.340+00:002022-12-29T14:59:18.340+00:00I'm from Yorkshire, England. Every Friday when...I'm from Yorkshire, England. Every Friday when I was a kid, in thelate 60's, early 70's, my brothers and I would buy comics, such as the Dandy, Beano, Whizzer and Chips. I think Baby Face Finlayson and possibly other characters, would say "Yuk! Yuk!" as a mischevious chuckle or laugh. "Yuck!" was used as an exclamation of disgust. I used Yuk! Yuk! in a txt to my daughter recently, to imply laughter, but sadly, she didn't undrstand, being of the 'lol generation'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-43971857583282270822022-03-28T16:35:18.651+01:002022-03-28T16:35:18.651+01:00To me, that chuckle of malevolent glee is "gn...To me, that chuckle of malevolent glee is "gna gna gna" rather than "yuk yuk"! Think Cruella de Vil, and the like.<br />Yuck is solely used for something disgusting. Petra1945https://www.blogger.com/profile/06559677258676647710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-48387060261248196502021-08-15T15:04:13.639+01:002021-08-15T15:04:13.639+01:00I am in the UK and submitted a reworked fairy tale...I am in the UK and submitted a reworked fairy tale to a US publisher. I wrote, "Goldilocks was out for her morning constitutional". The publisher commented, "We don't want to see that" (but published it anyway). Puzzled, I looked online. Whereas in the UK a "constitutional" is a walk undertaken for the benefit of one's health, in the US it seems to be something to do with bodily functions. I am in the process of submitting another story to a (different) US publisher, so I am checking the US equivalents of "yuck" and "snog" before doing so.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029800633126970808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-88288167120243633692020-05-21T23:08:44.711+01:002020-05-21T23:08:44.711+01:00Yack is something I’ve encountered in AmE only rar...Yack is something I’ve encountered in AmE only rarely as a slang for BrE sick. “The dog hacked on my shoes.” The word for aimless talking in AmE is yak, as in the song Yakkity-yak. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387953359901986411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-17062390034330775152020-05-01T23:30:27.208+01:002020-05-01T23:30:27.208+01:00I was confused by the dialogue "Oh, eughky! T...I was confused by the dialogue "Oh, eughky! There's a dead puppy in the rushes!" in the children's novel <i>Dogsbody</i> by Diana Wynne Jones, until I figured out that it was what I (AmE) would have written as "yucky". Jones grew up in Essex, so maybe the "eugh" spelling is regional?<br /><br />I only have an American edition of the book, but it looks relatively lightly Americanized: spelling and punctuation are American, but they didn't touch Britishisms like "you were so flaming loyal" and a woman referring to her son as "our Ken", so I assume "eughky" was in the original.ktschwarznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-50783890878028364142020-05-01T15:32:58.278+01:002020-05-01T15:32:58.278+01:00I think it's much more likely that onomatopoet...I think it's much more likely that onomatopoetic (imitative) words can have similarities across languages because they're imitating the same things (in this case, imitating a vomiting sound). OED has 'yuck' coming from originally AmE 'yech'. If it comes from anywhere (rather than just being a fresh imitation), it's more likely to be Dutch or German, where there are very similar words and much more influence on AmE.lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-86520324567095254612020-05-01T14:54:28.038+01:002020-05-01T14:54:28.038+01:00Coming very late to this (I've only just disco...Coming very late to this (I've only just discovered Lynne's blog) but I've always wondered whether the word 'yuck'to express disgust actually comes from the Welsh 'ach-y-fi' sometimes spelt 'ych-y-fi' and which does mean 'disgusting'. It's also worth noting that it doesn't always need to be a disgusting physical item. I remember my Nanna commenting on someone's lack of manners as 'ach-y-fi' once.Sharon Grayhttp://thebedwasedit.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-74138238370983920392016-06-21T22:56:16.851+01:002016-06-21T22:56:16.851+01:00Slightly offended by "a Beano boy" - for...Slightly offended by "a Beano boy" - for the last 30-40 years, at least, one of the main joys of The Beano is that it's a children's comic or magazine that's marketed to and read by both boys and girls alike! It features a pretty equal mix of both male and female characters as well - Minnie The Minx, Toots, Ivy The Terrible, and Dennis's sister Bea are just as iconic and timeless as characters like Dennis the Menace, Roger the Dodger, Bananaman, and the slightly racially uncomfortable Little Plum.<br />(Yours, a 20 year old woman who still occasionally buys the Beano and , because Menace Squad is for life.) ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09008936302128197444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-81523818352916431252014-10-18T17:08:20.684+01:002014-10-18T17:08:20.684+01:00Where does the British "Yeuch fit in here?Where does the British "Yeuch fit in here?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-51428558265231876722012-06-22T18:14:59.936+01:002012-06-22T18:14:59.936+01:00I've stumbled into this conversation quite lat...I've stumbled into this conversation quite late, but came upon this blog while searching for a definition. <br /><br />I no longer watch award shows of any kind, but even if I did I would have passed on the Globes simply because Ricky Gervais was host (no offense to fans). <br /><br />This conversation is interesting to me. I'm an American, and have always known (and used) 'yuck' as a term of disgust. <br /><br />That said, I have heard the term 'yuk it up', which means "to clown around", so I guess technically for some Americans the word has two definitions.Carolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07861306348634106983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-16737130734640616762011-07-05T00:37:29.557+01:002011-07-05T00:37:29.557+01:00"Ew" is certainly catching on among litt..."Ew" is certainly catching on among little girls in England, who think it makes them sound sweet.Little Black Sambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16699227938165106710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-81169364676173103352010-12-04T00:42:08.440+00:002010-12-04T00:42:08.440+00:00It's a loose bit of onomatopoeia (as many are)...It's a loose bit of onomatopoeia (as many are), which could be seen to imitate the kind of laugh in which there's some closure at the back of the mouth as one gulps air. I know that there's some famous person(s) with that kind of laugh (in performance, at least), but I can't for the life of me think of who it is. Or maybe it's a cartoon character? Maybe someone can help...lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-20832394492757351302010-12-04T00:27:37.808+00:002010-12-04T00:27:37.808+00:00>> The slang, onomatopoetic term for laughte...>> The slang, onomatopoetic term for laughter is yuk <<<br /><br />For me, a BrE speaker, an onomatopoeic term has to be one that reflects a real sound -- and I have to admit to some difficulty in hearing the sound "yuk" as any kind of laughter! (Although perhaps it has some relationship to "chuckle".) Do Americans really go "yuk" when they laugh?Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10718209592445394736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-51190411720859799452010-11-22T21:33:05.954+00:002010-11-22T21:33:05.954+00:00American here, from the Midwest (central portion o...American here, from the Midwest (central portion of the US). The only thing yuck/yuk means to me is "disgusting". I have never in nearly 40 years of life heard anyone use "yuk" to refer to laughter. I've heard "yukking it up" rarely, and deem it an outdated term.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-90967491879014768052010-11-14T13:02:15.969+00:002010-11-14T13:02:15.969+00:00Hello,
I (U.S. South with AAVE influences) agree ...Hello,<br /><br />I (U.S. South with AAVE influences) agree with most of what the other Americans have said. Yuck for disgust and yuk for laughter. I remember yuk from old Bugs Bunny cartoon, though I would never use it myself. (I'm in my early twenties). <br /><br />I'd use UGH for disgust or exasperation with a lot of back-of-the-throat, fricative sounds that I might let linger depending on my level of frustration, no really for disgust though. I'd never pronounce the g unless I'm trying to sound facetious or mock cavemen.<br /><br />Lastly, when I was growing up, I remember hearing the term "yuck mouth", which can describe someone with very bad teeth (or no teeth) and halitosis as well as some who is excessively vulgar.djweaverbeaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01296480866583272802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-6142942269483756052010-10-31T17:28:58.221+00:002010-10-31T17:28:58.221+00:00Apparently the neon-green disgusted-face sticker u...Apparently the neon-green disgusted-face sticker used to mark poisons is properly spelled "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Yuk" rel="nofollow">Mr. Yuk</a>," although he is American (created in Pittsburgh).Elsajeninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-39053375043319416012010-10-30T18:15:00.041+01:002010-10-30T18:15:00.041+01:00Upper Midwest ish 'expression of disgust' ...Upper Midwest <i>ish</i> 'expression of disgust' is a borrowing from Norwegian <i>isj</i> of the same pronunciation and meaning.John Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452247999156925669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-8956432469373964652010-10-30T14:55:18.392+01:002010-10-30T14:55:18.392+01:00hmmm, I seem to be alone in spelling it yeuk or ye...hmmm, I seem to be alone in spelling it yeuk or yeuch (I do pronounce it with a much softer sound, the fricative ch, rather than the hard k sound). I'm originally from Essex, UK, but with my dialect heavily influenced by a father from Norfolk and a mother who grew up in Hampshire, but with parents from London.Discodorishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00288398594741746818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-80309136889122521202010-10-28T16:59:11.328+01:002010-10-28T16:59:11.328+01:00"Squick(y)" is internet-speak. It's ..."Squick(y)" is internet-speak. It's thought to come from a combination of "squeamish" and "ick(y)", and describes a mental/emotional squirm rather than physical disgust.<br /><br />The opposite is "squee", the sort of emotion that evokes a girly squeal of delight.<br /><br />Both can be found in TV Tropes:<br />http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Squick<br />http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SqueeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-10614675569699834192010-10-28T00:59:33.790+01:002010-10-28T00:59:33.790+01:00On Dennis the Menace, American comedy website www....On Dennis the Menace, American comedy website www.cracked.com recently included them on a list of "The most mind-blowing co-incidences".<br /><br />They conclude the entry by stating that the British series has been the better, but the reasoning they give is questionable at best:<br /><br />"Something tells us this kid actually does piss on stuff in his comics"<br /><br />"Why they didn't just coincidentally make a film about the UK's Dennis at the same time is anyone's guess, but we're willing to bet that it was because such a film would not get a PG rating."<br /><br />So... that's happened.Howe_zathttp://www.twitter.com/Howe_zatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-5323867502213460552010-10-27T11:54:53.160+01:002010-10-27T11:54:53.160+01:00'Yuk Yuk!' strikes me as something you'...'Yuk Yuk!' strikes me as something you'd see in Viz, though I'm reluctant to google it at work.Ginger Yellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06103410278129312943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-73302137944279994292010-10-26T22:16:19.069+01:002010-10-26T22:16:19.069+01:00You'll have to tell us which dialect you'r...You'll have to tell us which dialect you're talking about, Anon.lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-14249841902691312612010-10-26T07:14:52.355+01:002010-10-26T07:14:52.355+01:00Dare I bring up the verb "squick"? It i...Dare I bring up the verb "squick"? It is also a noun; the adjective is "squicky".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-25125510927053481002010-10-25T22:15:05.559+01:002010-10-25T22:15:05.559+01:00This post has made me (AmE. Midwest) realize that ...This post has made me (AmE. Midwest) realize that the list of interjections I use for disgust is quite long and includes: yuck, ick, yick, blech, uck, bleh, ack, and ew.<br /><br />The meaning is often emphasized with frictive in throat.<br /><br />"Yuk" means to laugh, but it sounds old fashioned and is associated with old time Jewish comedians from the 40's and 50's.<br /><br />"Ugh" is disgust or exhaustion.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04807410189983092576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-86090657187094912532010-10-24T18:21:01.742+01:002010-10-24T18:21:01.742+01:00Yes, me too, come to think of it. "They were...Yes, me too, come to think of it. "They were really yacking on" etc.Mark Goodacrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115370166754797529noreply@blogger.com