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Question for my American friends. Login/Join
 
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Picture of BobHale
posted
The perils of using a dictionary.
I just finished a privatelesson with two people who are learning English to help run their hotel. A couple of minutes after they left one of them returned to collect the umbrella that she forgot. When I answered the door she said - "I am sorry, I forgot my bumbershoot." It IS an alternate word for umbrella but in my whole life I don't think I have ever heard anyone use it.

Is it in common use in the US?


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
 
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Not common, but I have used it on occasion. I'd have thought she might have said, "brolly," given that you're English - but what do I know!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Geoff,
 
Posts: 6168 | Location: Muncie, IndianaReply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of Kalleh
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I answered on your Facebook, but from my perspective it is never used in the U.S. Apparently, given Geoff's response, I am wrong.
 
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I only know the word because of the Seattle festival, Bumbershoot, held every Labor Day weekend.
 
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Picture of Kalleh
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Ah, and that's probably why Geoff knows it too.
 
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quote:
Originally posted by Kalleh:
Ah, and that's probably why Geoff knows it too.


I didn't know about the Seattle event.
 
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