Brit Speak

[moonlettuce]

Dear writers who possibly are but probably aren't British,

The word is bollocks. Not bullocks. Bollocks.

Bullocks = young male cows

Bollocks = slang term for testicles, also used 'as a noun to mean "nonsense" or conversely to mean "top quality" or "perfection", an expletive following a minor accident or misfortune, and an adjective to mean "poor quality" or "useless".' (Thanks Wikipedia ::grin::)

For example:

"Stephen, I want you to have sex with Lester," said Nick.

"Bollocks to that!" replied Stephen.

or

"Ianto, you look like the dog's bollocks in that suit," Owen murmured appreciatively.

Please learn the difference

This public service announcement was brought to you by the fact that there have been so many times recently when I've just started giggling in the middle of a story because a British character has used 'bullocks' instead of 'bollocks'.

Comments

[fiareynne.livejournal.com]

At the risk of letting my ignorance show, for some reason I thought "ballocks" was also acceptable. Not that I use the term terribly often anyway...

[moonlettuce.livejournal.com]

I think 'ballocks' is more Irish and to do with how it's pronounced because of peoples' accents. I know I've never used it, and I've only ever heard Irish friends use it a couple of times :)