just one more post---uh, OT, hmmm, dont know for sure, who cares anyhow.

Okay, my ignorance is showing all over the place. Can I get an explanation of what "an OI" means to you folks?

-- Carey in MA

Not totally sure about this but it seems to be an Aussie-ism. During the Sydney Olympics the Aussie teams were cheered by the locals with "Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi" You can try it yourself: grab a can of Victoria Bitter (VB = Australian for Beer, mate. Forget that Fosters stuff), pronounce Aussie as Ozzie, and shout out with great gusto. :-)

Apologies to all genu> Okay, my ignorance is showing all over the place. Can I get an explanation

very impressive indeed, Anne. you might well qualify for induction as a member of the 'downunder' club. i shall leave it at that to see if theres a vote gonna happen on it. you got my vote already. OI OI OI!!!! hugz jeanne

honk honk, quack quack snorfle

read annes reply and.... can you say it? OI OI OI said fast and at appropriate volume depending on purpose of use. its an exclamation used to get someones attention or when questioning something... like when the kids start to do something they arent supposed to do and think you arent paying any attention. all ya need to say is " 'OI!!!' aaaaand just what do you think you're doing young man/lady." there are a number of other uses but that one is most easily understood i reckon.

tho can also be said a bit more drawn out in tone as in " 'oooi' what'd ya do that for, mate?" its all in the tone and context that can vary to suit a mess of purposes really. heehee, jeanne

hey, it worked for me. hugz, jeanne

Anne, that visualization certainly gave me a laugh, even if it did contain any errors. Thanks. ;-))

-- Carey in MA

Am I pronouncing correctly if I say it like a pig's oink, minus the "nk" ? Unfortunately, then it sounds like I'm getting "annoy" out of "an OI." Must be these New England ears, I guess. Of course, this is from a woman's who had the following conversation, after being asked my name. "It's Carey." "Tell me anyway, it can't be that bad." (not a joke, I actually had this conversation.)

-- Carey in MA

all quilters are scarey, lol. had to read that twice before it sunk into my tiny wee brain today. ok, so ann-oy and oink work. just how you say it, lol. heehee, hugz, jeanne

I get it!!!!!!!!! OI is like EH!

Eh is the Canadian staple word to mean everything and anything depending on the current conversation!

~KK in BC~

Ooo. Thank you so much.

Anne in CA -- running out to buy more downunderwear ... just in case.

"It's not hav> very impressive indeed, Anne.

Thanks, Jeanne. Glad I was on the right path, at least. I was afraid someone was going to come back and tell me that the spelling was "O L" and that I just couldn't see it properly. Wouldn't be the first time I mixed up a 'Capital I' (i) and a 'lower-case L.' (l) See what I mean? ;-))

-- Carey in MA

cept EH is used most often at the end of a sentence. OI is used more often at the beginning to get ones attention first. EH denotes a question, rhetorical usually. OI is an exclamation. hugz, jeanne

just dont let it cook u'r bum in summer in calif, lol. hey, it could happen with temps going up as they are. hugz, jeanne

Iona is the name of a beautiful Scottish island

-- Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~

Think the Queenslanders down here have stolen your EH, KK. Whaddya reckon Bronnie, eh?

As an Aussie I have watched this post in awestruck horror! Please don't assume all Aussies sound quite this bad lol It's a bit like thinking that all "Yanks" speak with a slow Southern drawl rofl

Actually Carey - you could say it is pronounced like "annoy" without the "ann"!!!!

You might also hear the chant at the tennis if the Aussies are playing. It's a bit like the chanting you hear at an English soccer match.

And I realise I am probably shattering some illusions with this but - I don't have a pet kangaroo, I don't eat meat pies or drive a Holden car, I don't wear a slouch hat (at least not since I retired from the Air Force!) and I don't call everyone I see "mate". (giggle)

But I might change my signature block to "mate" just for fun.

The error comes from listening to a "kiwi" from across the "pond" (for which read a New Zealander from across the Tasman Sea). Kiwis are only good for thrashing at sports - which we do regularly. If you want to know about Aussies ask the real thing.

And if you want to hear some really strange pronunciations talk to a genuine Kiwi - they say "sex" for "six" for goodness sake! Now that can make for an interesting conversation.

Yes Sally it is. I would never have thought to reverse the spelling - I just associated it with the old Celtic languages.

That should be 'say the word....' Sheesh, maybe I should really re-read what I type; I'm digging myself in even deeper, it seems.

-- Carey

questioning