Apart from the mentioned 'dickini', which I'm trying very hard not to remember. Reading a book and it said "in the road" a couple of times. in the road?? I hate prepositions, but I could've sworn it was on the road?

Always confusing, in, on. Do you park in the parking lot or on it?
Maybe you guys can clear that one up for me. I Googled it a gazillion times, but seems no one knows?

And just learnt another preposition, never heard of that one: bar, as in "except for". I take it this is a more formal or old form?
Just when you think you sort of know a language ... Guess that's what you get when reading a book with ScE in it as well: Bairn, ye ken and so on, lol
The in the road one has me puzzled though

Funny Crystal!!!

I really hate to question any Kerouacian concepts of the state of being "On The Road" but totally get the parking lot thing.

It's a real conundrum.

English and it's colloquialisms are not a piece of pie.

Thanks a lot guys, hahaha.
Pancho, I needed to look that up, lol.

Still don't know if you park on a parking lot or in it :/ I guess one of them is not so fortunate, haha

I think in general I'm more familiar with English collo-somethings. Learnt most of my English in Australia and from conversing with English friends. When my US son in law was here, he regularly had this puzzled look on his face, hihi.

Thanks!

Come again??? Kerouacian??? had to Google that as well. Think I can just about pronounce that.

My nephew almost had to see a speech therapist when he started school.
He had learned too much language from me.
Absolutely true.

Lexiconic quandaries.

Not worth getting in a kerfuffle over.

Sorry Crystal. It does now seem cruel to someone whose first language is not English.

Jack "Kerouac" was a writer who preceded the "hippies". He wrote a book titled "On the Road".

EDIT: pronunciation..... "Care Oh Wack"

hummmmmm.....when I think of my Dutch heritage, I keep thinking of tulips and wooden shoes. lol


Maybe it's something to do with "within boundaries" of something.

Within a parking lot, is in.

Telling a child to get out of the road they are in or on....??

That's alright, Beach, as long as I got my sense of humour, haha.
But what on earth is it you got on your head? Maybe I shouldn't ask!

@ Fleta, I got clogs :D Wear them regularly as well. Only my second pair ever, first one was when I was a kid. Very handy to slip in to when I quickly need to go to the bin or garage or whatever. Once walked indoors on 'em, to the kitchen, almost fell flat on my face! No grip on laminate :/ So I won't do that again!

Boundaries, that's a good one, could indeed have something to do with that.

"Parking lot" is an Americanism anyway. If you're going to ask them how to speak English...

I remember this Dutch friend getting all pissed off with me when I was a kid because I called him a something beginning with C. Apparently folk in foreign parts think that's offensive.

Yeah, I know, but the same goes for car park. In or on?
Knowing what is or isn't offensive can be tricky. Mostly because many of those words can be used among mates or in fun. I once called an Englishman a p**(k, not really meaning to be offensive. But the result ... let's say he was not amused

Here are fourteen English words that literally mean their opposites as well.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/49834/14-words-are-their-own-opposites

I'm pretty sure that you park "in a parking lot". Just as if you are saying that you're going to park "in there", not "on there".

Agree "I'm parked in the parking lot across the street."...In, not on...

Sometimes here in the states we'll flash a "lazy" peace sign (meaning backwards...showing the backside of the 2 fingers)... apparently this means something different in England.

@ Thanks, Leigh & Basha. Gonna try and remember it. Prolly write it down