My physician undertook to ring me up by Tuesday to give me the results of my biopsy. Today is Wednesday and the blighter has yet to call. Quite unnerving, I must say.

I'm an American learning English as a second language. Would I refer to him as a "blighter", a "blackguard", or a "wanker"?

I have attempted twice to reach him by telephone, and have thus far not met with any success. Should this persist, I may eventually begin to experience a bit of anger.

OK, he called.

It was just a papilloma (a wart). Negative for cancer. I'm still in remission.

Sorry. (--:

Ron, that is great.!!!

Congrats Ron. I hope that during the unsettling hours before you managed to contact your doctor
your imagination didn't run riot.

Seems your doctor is an insensitive old codger.

Regards

Hi Ron sorry you had a terrible time for the phone call, we would refer to that person as a
PRAT, a perfect prat. Big Bear Healing Hugs

Thanks, all. He's actually an excellent doctor. In perspective, he was one day late in calling me. I'm an attorney and I've probably been at least a day late in calling someone about something. If he is a prat, a codger, and a blighter then I am as well, so perhaps this was my revenge.

My imagination already had nearly a month to run riot, so one day did not make much of a difference. I was brainstorming for jobs I could do without my tongue. (No offense to those who've lost portions of your tongue.)

Hi Ron, At least you haven't lost your since of humor. I would have gone up the wall waiting. We
are doing that just waiting for a hurricane to come to Florida. So glad it was not positive.
Cathy

HI Ron, I aquired an English to American(American to English) Dictionary it is not very heavy and would glady sent you one if you send me a private email (Londongone@aol.com) with your contact address
I am going back to see Vickie& Ricin LV Feb next year, It is such a fantastic place I love it not for the gambling but the pace and way of life it is so so s l o w

cheers

Paul

Ron,
Blighter and blackguard are rather old fashioned and wanker is a wee bit rude although used widely now by both men and women (especially the younger ones) Barsteward is a good one (if you know what I mean?)
Regards
John

Is barsterward the same as bastard?

Yes - it's sort of an English joke, calling someone a barsteward sounds like bastard (Southern English speakers would pronounce it Barstard) it kind of gets the message over without being nasty but the recipient is in no doubt about what u mean - heard for the first time it is funny but possibly not to an American...

Afraid the humour is 'larst' in translation.

Well Ron,I think the most shocking thing I heard an American say to his daughter was, I'll
tan your fanny. This does not translate well in England, in fact we are quite shocked !
Keep smiling, I have ENT at the hospital on Thursday 3rd Nov, so wish me luck

good luck at ENT, Garance.

My dad was always threatening to 'tan' my 'hide'. 'Tan your fanny' would just mean spank. What's the connotation in English English?