Bandages meaning

[Rachel Adams]

This passage is from the interview with Bedenict Cumberbatch. Is he using the word "bandages" in this meaning: "a long narrow piece of cloth used for tying around a part of the body that has been hurt in order to protect or support it."

"I rather enjoyed wearing bandages round my face as the Invisible Man at the last one I went to. People got to know me without recognising me."

From the interviews called Q&A. "English File" by Christina Latham-Koenig and Clive Oxenden.

 

[probus]

I think so, yes. That type of bandaging material is usually called gauze where I live.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Does "get to know" mean to "meet" and "start a conversation"?

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, "bandage" is pretty much the only word we use in BrE for such a thing.

"Get to know" doesn't have an absolute (single) meaning but I would agree with your interpretation here. I assume he was at some kind of convention or maybe a film premiere. He covered his face in bandages so people couldn't see his face and recognise him, but still got to interact with him.
Bandages are the classic covering for the face/body when someone is playing The Invisible Man. Look at the picture in this article.

 

[Yankee]

"I rather enjoyed wearing bandages round my face as the Invisible Man at the last one I went to. People got to know me without recognising me."

My immediate reaction/understanding of "bandage" in that statement would be use as due to an injury, but as reading/hearing further I would understand Benedict's use. However, in order to avoid misunderstanding of others who may share my initial reaction, I would suggest that Benedict substitute "wearing bandages" with "wearing a cloth".

 

[emsr2d2]

That wouldn't work at all for BrE speakers. If I heard "a cloth", I'd think of something like a flannel (face cloth) or a tea towel. As I said in my previous post, the things wrapped round the head (and other body parts) of The Invisible Man are bandages. That's what they were in the original film and, as far as I know, is what they've been in every remake.

See here for Claude Rains in the 1933 version.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Do BrE speakers use "bandage" to refer to all of these ?

 

[5jj]

No. Those with an adhesive back are plasters in BrE.

 

[Yankee]

No. Those with an adhesive back are plasters in BrE.

Well, one more of the significant differences between BrE and AmE.

 

[tedmc]

Do BrE speakers use "bandage" to refer to all of these ? View attachment 4245

The popular brand name "Band-Aid" called them adhesive bandages.
https://www.band-aid.com/