random silly poll

[deird_lj]

[Poll #1607753]



(This question brought to you by reading a discussion on a webforum.)

Comments

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

The second one is American, whilst the third one is, um, Commonwealthian, I'd guess.

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

Think it depends on which part of the world you're from.

IMO, it's 'panties in a bunch'. I just used that at Whendonesque yesterday LOL.

But I've heard my UK friends say 'knickers in a twist'.

[deird1]

Definitely dependent on location.


The discussion I saw happened in exactly the order given on the poll - and, as far as I could tell, the first option ("undies") was from an upper-class English woman. The second ("panties") was an American who protested that the first just sounded weird. Then came... someone from somewhere... with "isn't it knickers?" followed by a guy who said the first three were all far too feminine...

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[iosef.livejournal.com]

?? but knickers is unisex. Is anything, slightly masculine, since Knickbockers are only worn by (young) boys.

[klme.livejournal.com]

Eek, no. Girls would wear knickers, never boys. At least where I come from. Boys wear jocks.

[me-llamo-nic.livejournal.com]

I've heard both "panties in a bunch" and "knickers in a twist" but I prefer the latter just because it seems like such a delightfully British phrase to me with my American sensibilities.

[next_to_normal]

This, lol.

[willowy-dawn.livejournal.com]

"Loo, shag, brolly, oh God, *I'M* English."

"Welcome to the Nancy Tribe."

[glorious-pancake-morning.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I've always hated the word "panties". It sounds far too cutesy and psuedo-sexy, and in my head, it suggests too-young girls in sexual contexts, and makes me very uncomfortable.
I mean, older women don't wear "panties".
If they do, they're trying to be younger than they are.
"Panties" used in erotic fiction sounds cheap and grates.

< /taking it too seriously >

[deird1]

Agreed. (And, annoying, were I to write erotic fiction, it would probably involve American women - and therefore use the word "panties". *sighs*)

They're either "knickers" or "undies".

[snickelish.livejournal.com]

I don't like the word either, and I am an American women. I just call them underwear unless I absolutely must differentiate between them and bras.

[jl-in-the-lane.livejournal.com]

Actually, the first time I really came across the word was reading thye scripts from the tv series of Monty Python's Flying Circus, where it got used frequently.

[naatz.livejournal.com]

I just showed the world that I have spent far too long in the HP fandom. >_>

|Meduza|

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

If you're American, it's the second one. If you're British, I'd guess the third one.

[spiralleds.livejournal.com]

And I've also heard the mix of "panties in a twist". Though as others, have mentioned, the use of panties has always struck me as being derogatory, particularly when directed at a man - a la "throwing like a girl".

[snickelish.livejournal.com]

I've only ever heard the middle two, but I hate them both, and if I never read Spike say either of them again, it will be too soon.

[fangfaceandrea.livejournal.com]

ooh I learned this by reading fic so it's knickers in a twist XD

[iosef.livejournal.com]

To quote the British/Australia folk singer Bernard Bolan:
"Don't get your tits in a tangle, your knickers get not in a twist,
The more that you rumble and wrangle, the more you'll be cursed not kissed."

[roccondilrinon.livejournal.com]

#1 sounds delightfully Australian, but I've never heard it used before. #2 is definitely American and #3 British. #4 as for #1, but more masculine and less funny. I resolve to use "undies in a bundle" in future.

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

None of the above!
"knickers in a knot"!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh - yes - I am equally likely to say 'knickers in a knot' or 'knickers in a twist', too!

[klme.livejournal.com]

Yes - either one of these

[silver_galaxy]

Yep, it's knickers in a knot!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

What would they have their panties in a bunch of? Grapes?

[jl-in-the-lane.livejournal.com]

PANTIES IN A BUNCH?!?!?!??

You're not serious. That's just icky.

I've never heard 'undies in a bundle' but I kinda like it.

[kirby1024.livejournal.com]

Actually, just to throw a spanner in the works, I use "knickers in a knot". I suspect because the alliteration is fun!

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

Oy Mez, can you alter the poll to include 'knickers in a knot'? We now have 4 votes for it! :-D

[deird1]

Can't change it once it's been posted, unfortunately...

[padawanspider.livejournal.com]

Other.

Panties in a wad.