[General] scooch

[thedaffodils]

scooch

v. to move the buttocks over, around or up and down.

Scooch over, make some room for mama on the couch.

Hi! Does 'scooch' mean buttock? And is it a vulgar word? Can I say it to my parents? Is there any taboo I should know?

Thanks!

[amigos4]

Originally Posted by thedaffodils

Hi! Does 'scooch' mean buttock? And is it a vulgar word? Can I say it to my parents? Is there any taboo I should know?

Thanks!

Hi, Daffodil!

In my experience, the word 'scooch' is not a frequently used word in the US. Therefore, I would tend to stay away from using it.

If I wanted someone to move their buttocks (body) I would say "Please scoot over a little bit! I need more room."

I see no reason to use the word 'scooch' with your parents, or with anyone else for that matter!

If you think a word might be 'taboo', don't use it without expecting consequences!

Cheers,
Amigo

[thedaffodils]

Hello Amigo,

Thank you for your help.

[BobK]

In my experience it's not Br English either. We'd say 'budge up, or 'squash up' in that situation (mama/couch).

b

[thedaffodils]

Originally Posted by BobK

In my experience it's not Br English either. We'd say 'budge up, or 'squash up' in that situation (mama/couch).

b

Hi BobK,

Thank you for your answer.

[Ouisch]

Perhaps it's a regional thing in AmE, because "scooch" is quite common in my area. It's not vulgar or obscene; it simply means to move over more closely. For example, in the bleachers at a ballgame someone is trying to fit onto an already crowded seat, we might say "if we all scooch over, Fred can sit with us."

A photographer taking a picture of a large group of people might say "Everyone please scooch together so that I can get you all in the frame."

[thedaffodils]

Hi Ouisch,

Thank you very much for your illustration. I got it.

Do you exactly know what slang expressions are regionally limited or not.

Will you say 'scooch' to a Briton if you two meet for such a case?

And I learn a medley of English words; some are British slang, some are Yankee slang, some American slang of the south. It's be relatively easier for me to disguish American and British slang. But should I clearly know what regions American slang words belong to? I think it would be a bit of wierd if I mix them all, woundn't it?

[BobK]

Originally Posted by thedaffodils

...

And I learn a medley of English words; some are British slang, some are Yankee slang, some American slang of the south. It's be relatively easier for me to disguish American and British slang. But should I clearly know what regions American slang words belong to? I think it would be a bit of wEIrd if I mix them all, wouLdn't it?

Yes and no. It's a small world, and people mix codes all the time. Part of the reason for the inconsistency of English spelling is that the standard is a mixture of dialectal pronunciations; I was reading a book the other day that had a section called 'Why isn't it "mIrry England"?' Whenever a single spelling is pronounced differently in different words, it's a fair bet that the inconsistency has something to do with regional variations.

Something similar would apply to slang. I don't know how it is in the US, but here we're quite tolerant when people mix it up.

b

[thedaffodils]

Originally Posted by BobK

Yes and no. It's a small world, and people mix codes all the time. Part of the reason for the inconsistency of English spelling is that the standard is a mixture of dialectal pronunciations; I was reading a book the other day that had a section called 'Why isn't it "mIrry England"?' Whenever a single spelling is pronounced differently in different words, it's a fair bet that the inconsistency has something to do with regional variations.

Something similar would apply to slang. I don't know how it is in the US, but here we're quite tolerant when people mix it up.

b

Hi BobK,

Thank you very much for your answer and correction.

[Ouisch]

Originally Posted by thedaffodils

Hi Ouisch,

Thank you very much for your illustration. I got it.

Do you exactly know what slang expressions are regionally limited or not.

Will you say 'scooch' to a Briton if you two meet for such a case?

And I learn a medley of English words; some are British slang, some are Yankee slang, some American slang of the south. It's be relatively easier for me to disguish American and British slang. But should I clearly know what regions American slang words belong to? I think it would be a bit of wierd if I mix them all, woundn't it?

I might inadvertantly say "scooch" to a group of Brits without considering that they might not know what I meant. In my many trips to the UK, I've found that expressions that seemed very ordinary and mainstream to me were unusual to them. For example, at a convention in Southport (near Liverpool), I asked the group I'd been chatting with, "Are you guys hungry? I'm thinking about getting some dinner." The phrase "you guys" sent them into fits of giggles. One person finally said "That sounds so American, 'you guys'!" In the US, "guys" is a common way to refer to a group, but apparently the British way to phrase it should've been "you lot" (which is something you'd never hear in the US). But, that said, even though we don't say "you lot" in the US, we do know what it means. So I think a Brit might understand "scooch" if you used the appropriate hand gesture (indicating everyone should move closer together). Likewise, folks in the northern US understand what a Southerner means when he says things like "fixing to" (which is not used in other areas of the US).

To sum it all up, I think that even though slang is regional, you will be able to make yourself understood, even if the folks listening have a laugh at your expense.