[General] Buster

[Silverobama]

Hi teachers.

Are my sentences natural with the word "buster"?

1) I see ya, buster. (My friend and I agreed to meet and I saw him in the crowd.)
2) Make with the beers, buster! (I went to a bar and said to the bartender.)

I think they're British English and natural but a bit corny and rude. Am I right?

 

[Rover_KE]

They're not typically heard in British English. In writing, capitalise 'Buster'.

#2 is rude.

 

[Tarheel]

Hi teachers.

Are my sentences natural with the word "buster"?

1) I see ya, buster. (My friend and I agreed to meet and I saw him in the crowd.)
2) Make with the beers, buster! (I went to a bar and said that to the bartender.)

I think they're British English and natural but a bit corny and rude. Am I right?

I imagine bartenders have heard worse. But what you and your friend say to each other is one thing. However, with somebody who is a relative stranger it's better to stick with what you know won't give offense.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Buster is belligerent. If you want to get in a fight, use it. If you don't, don't.

 

[Tdol]

Get the beers in, mate.

 

[Silverobama]

Get the beers in, mate.

Thanks a lot, Tdol. I am also interested to know the American English version of this sentence. So I asked on WR.

 

[Tarheel]

No, it's not the same in American English. We don't use "mate" as they do in Britain (and also, apparently, in Australia).

But I would like a beer. Buy me a beer?

 

[Tdol]

Thanks a lot, Tdol. I am also interested to know the American English version of this sentence. So I asked on WR.

Sorry- I misread and posted what I would ask a friend if I wanted them to buy the beer. I would ask the bartender simply X beers, please, or, more likely, the brands- two pints of Stella and one Guinness, please.

 

[emsr2d2]

Get the beers in, mate.

I'd say that's a perfectly good sentence to say to one of your friends in the same group as you at the pub. Basically, you're saying it's their round! I wouldn't say it to the bartender though. "Get ... in" there means "buy".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Thanks a lot, Tdol. I am also interested to know the American English version of this sentence. So I asked on WR.

It's not American at all. We don't call people mate, and "Get the beers in" is meaningless. In from where? Why?

If I were in a pub in England and heard someone say that, I'd just keep my mouth shut and watch to see what happens.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'd say that's a perfectly good sentence to say to one of your friends in the same group as you at the pub. Basically, you're saying it's their round! I wouldn't say it to the bartender though. "Get ... in" there means "buy".

Aha! Now I don't have to go to England to find out.

 

[Skrej]

AmE does use 'buster'. Without further context, it would generally be taken as antagonistic - "Watch it, buster!"

However, used amongst friends or family, it can take on a more jovial sense. It can even be a name (usually a nickname). My friend's son is known as "Buster" to everyone who actually knows him. When he was a very young child, one of his older sisters mock chided him with "You better watch it buster", and from that day onward his family started calling him Buster. When I first met the family, they introduced him as 'Buster'. It was a couple of years until I heard the story and found out that wasn't his actual name.

On a side note, I'd recommend watching "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" if you enjoy anthology type films with dark humor.