American Expressions That Still Confuse You After All These Inane Years Here ?

[mongers]

What actually is a 'keeper' ?

I thought it's a woman* whom you in retrospect realise was the near perfect partner, but you, for whatever reason let get away. Or a wife/partner of someone else whom you recognise as a good catch for them, a women they'd be daft to let go of.
I sort of assume you can't actually be dating or married to 'The Keeper' or at least you are, but you don't recognise it.

Can there only ever have been one keeper in a man's life or are they even rarer ?

So how far off am I on this expression ?

And what other American expressions confuse you ?





* I'm guessing women use the same expression about men.

[Slargos]

A keeper is a thing or more commonly a person which you need to, unsurprisingly, keep.

An object of high value that you shouldn't let go unless you absolutely have to. 

[Jacob]

It's also a small cup shaped rubber device touted to be a reusable environmentally friendly alternative to the tampon.

[Barrister]

What actually is a 'keeper' ?

I thought it's a woman* whom you in retrospect realise was the near perfect partner, but you, for whatever reason let get away. Or a wife/partner of someone else whom you recognise as a good catch for them, a women they'd be daft to let go of.
I sort of assume you can't actually be dating or married to 'The Keeper' or at least you are, but you don't recognise it.

Can there only ever have been one keeper in a man's life or are they even rarer ?

So how far off am I on this expression ?

And what other American expressions confuse you ?





* I'm guessing women use the same expression about men.

You've basically got it, except it doesn't have to be in retrospect.  My wife is a keeper, and I was smart enough to recognize it.

[Caliga]

[Razgovory]

A "keeper" is a fish.  Specifically a fish that is worth taking home and cooking.  By extension it means anything that is worth keeping, especially a mate.  In the US the dating process is often compared to fishing.  Similar expressions "She's a good Catch!", and "there's plenty of fish in the sea".

[Josquius]

A keeper isn't American is it? I've heard that in Britain.

The American expression that really gets me is "I'd hit it". Only ever heard it on languish and to a lesser extent elsewhere on the net. Its like...you'd hit a woman? What? I get that it means "I'd do it" but it just sounds odd.

[garbon]

not my brother's

[garbon]

The American expression that really gets me is "I'd hit it". Only ever heard it on languish and to a lesser extent elsewhere on the net. Its like...you'd hit a woman? What? I get that it means "I'd do it" but it just sounds odd.

What do you think it is like when you are slamming into someone?

[Habbaku]

not my brother's

He ain't heavy.

[The Brain]

It's "kipper". And they are indeed keepers.

[garbon]

not my brother's

He ain't heavy.

She ain't heavy.

[Slargos]

Jive turkey.

What's up with that?

[garbon]

Jive turkey.

What's up with that?

My mother used to say that to me all the time.

[Monoriu]

I can't think of any at this moment, but I am sure there are too many for me to list.  Recently I was quite surprised to learn that "biking" (what happened to cycling anyway?) can mean both cycling and motorcycling.