Here is the dictionary definition of HARRIDAN (hăr'ĭ-dn)

A woman regarded as scolding and vicious.

[Possibly from French haridelle, gaunt woman, old horse, nag.]

One of the things i love about this site is the international flavour that the differences between our two countries language brings .


Helen and Brenda who are from the UK knew straight away what i meant by "harridan" .
In the UK it is used in converstaion usually to describe a nagging and controlling wife or a really scary woman (like a doctors receptionist) who gives you a tongue lashing when you ask if you can see the doctor straight away.

It has taken me months to get used to the idiosyncrasies of American speak and just as i think i have it licked someone throws a curve ball and i am back to square one lol

BBQ in England means cooking outside on charcoal,and it amused me to read in the post it was brought up on that even within America it had different meanings.
I suppose it is equivilant to our regional accents and variations in the language.

Anyway to my favourite Harridans who have been nagging me for the last ten days thanks for the concern and caring enough to give me a hard time.

love you all

liz