I mentioned a "potted biography" in correspondence with somone from N. America, who had no idea what I meant. How about those in other parts of the world? Or is it confined to the UK?
Bingley
Nope, it's not just Ole Blighted - "potted bio" would be perfcikly unnerstood up hereabouts
I, for one, have never heard of it. Mind filling me in?
A potted biography or history is a quick run down the basic facts, with no analysis or in-depth discussion.
Bingley
Well, this certainly wasn't what I expected, having read the subject title. Can the same term be applied to other things, such as a review of a play or book, maybe?
I've never heard the term either, and I'd also like to know if 'potted' can refer to other types of essays.
I think most in US would understand 'canned'- a story that is canned, is one that has no depth, no interest, its just facts, with out analysis. (many a TV movie)
but don't those in UK pot their fruits and veggies for the winter? and we in US can them (even if we do it at home, in glass mason jars!) potted vs. canned -- is like lorry vs truck, or boot vs trunk.
Yes, in the UK
potted means
condensed, abbreviated, as used in other phrases like potted history…
http://www.olympicwomen.co.uk/Potted.htmHah, I had never realised USn understanding of this phrase might be so warp~, er,
different!
potted
ADJECTIVE: 1. Slang. Stupefied, intoxicated, or otherwise influenced by the taking of drugs: drugged. Informal : doped. Slang : high, hopped-up, lit (up), spaced-out, stoned, turned-on, wiped-out, zonked. See DRUGS. 2. Slang. Stupefied, excited, or muddled with alcoholic liquor: besotted, crapulent, crapulous, drunk, drunken, inebriate, inebriated, intoxicated, sodden, tipsy. Informal : cockeyed, stewed. Slang : blind, bombed, boozed, boozy, crocked, high, lit (up), loaded, looped, pickled, pixilated, plastered, sloshed, smashed, soused, stinking, stinko, stoned, tight, zonked. Idioms: drunk as a skunk, half-seas over, high as a kite, in one's cups, three sheets in (or to) the wind. See DRUGS.
Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition. Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Actually, Potty Talk is usually how adults refer to swearing when talking to children. Well, here in English Québec anyway.
how adults refer to swearing when talking to children
Here, too, bel. Or potty mouth, maybe.
> Or potty mouth, maybe.
No, don't go there, what an unpleasant image!
I'm fascinated that there is such a difference on this word. I used the phrase "potted history" farily regularly. Canned has a different feel to me, I'd avoid any TV show which seemed to have canned laughter, it sounds very fake. Potted has a much friendlier and less violent feel about it.
What about the word "Potty" meaning "daft" (less strong than stupid, more like silly). Does that translate?
Or you are driving me potty? (driving me mad/making me irritated)
I'm potty about him. (in love)
Hah! Most of the uses of "potty" are Anglocentric, excluding "English Québec" which is an oxymoron anyway, isn't it, Bel? I mean, the Wolfe is no longer at your door or anything.
What about the word "Potty" meaning "daft" (less strong than stupid, more like silly). Does that translate?
Or you are driving me potty? (driving me mad/making me irritated)
I'm potty about him. (in love)
understood, but never used to my knowledge this side of the pond... we don't use potted or potty that way..
the only thing we talk about being potted is a plant.(the potted plant fell from is precarious spot on the window ledge, and hit a pedestrian on the walk!)
and in addition to canned laughter, a politian might deliver a 'canned speach', especially if on the campaigne trail.. the same speach in every town, with one or two lines changed to make it seem 'specific' to this town, this towns problems. (if it was written , it would be in a form letter!)