British Currency-Please explain Pounds and Quid? - Aircraft of World War II

Messy1 · 10-16-2009, 11:24 AM

I have been watching for some time a British show off the satellite called Wheeler Dealers. For those not familiar with this show, the basis of the show is that one of the hosts buys a car for as little as possible, and the other host who is a mechanic repairs what ever needs fixed and the car is then hopefully sold for a profit.

Now my question is this. I hear the hosts talk about spending money in pounds and quid. Sometimes he switches back and forth between the two terms. I have been wanting to know for a while, what is the difference between pounds and quid, and when is it right to use each term? Is one just a slang term similar to how dollars are sometimes called bucks here in the States?

Colin1 · 10-16-2009, 11:35 AM

No difference at all
one is the legitimate term for our currency, the other is a slang term, much like your having dollars and bucks.

You should note that there is no plural of quid; you can have a quid in your pocket, or ten quid. You can't really say one quid either, well, you can but it will sound a bit odd to a native so "it will cost you a quid" rather than "it will cost you one quid"

Messy1 · 10-16-2009, 11:42 AM

Ok, Thanks Colin. That is what I was thinking. I have heard on the show the host do a rundown of parts list and costs where the terms are both used for higher and lower amounts and was a little confused.

stona · 10-16-2009, 03:14 PM

Very well explained Colin. You should charge at least a couple of quid for that !
Steve

Colin1 · 10-16-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stona

Very well explained Colin. You should charge at least a couple of quid for that !
Steve

Indeed
I only accept paper ones though, don't be fooled by that '50' in the top right-hand corner...

Messy1 · 10-16-2009, 03:32 PM

Here Colin! Feel free to keep the extra as a tip for the info! I appreciate it!

Colin1 · 10-16-2009, 03:38 PM

*Colin searches desperately for the right paper to print it off on...*

Messy1 · 10-16-2009, 03:43 PM

*Bryon hopes he is not implicated in Colin's counterfeiting scam!

Colin1 · 10-16-2009, 03:55 PM

It's in the washing machine as we speak
they'll never trace it back to you, I have a very comprehensive money-laundering operation here

Yeah, I know - I'll see myself out...

Messy1 · 10-16-2009, 04:02 PM

vikingBerserker · 10-16-2009, 04:35 PM

I'll be damed, thanks for the education Colin.

Thorlifter · 10-16-2009, 04:51 PM

Thanks for explaining. I have heard the same terms when I watch "Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare's" and wondered the same thing.

conkerking · 10-16-2009, 04:58 PM

I'm sure copying currency can't be legal!

Note: always "quid", never "quids", which I have heard well-meaning but underinformed Americans say.

See also "nicker", "beer tokens" and "brass margarets".

Also:

a pony - 25 quid
a ton - 100 quid
a monkey - 500 quid
a grand - 1000 quid (obviously)

Messy1 · 10-16-2009, 04:59 PM

How does German money break down?

Lucky13 · 10-16-2009, 05:05 PM

Is it Mark and Pfenning?

10-16-2009, 11:24 AM	#1
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	British Currency-Please explain Pounds and Quid? I have been watching for some time a British show off the satellite called Wheeler Dealers. For those not familiar with this show, the basis of the show is that one of the hosts buys a car for as little as possible, and the other host who is a mechanic repairs what ever needs fixed and the car is then hopefully sold for a profit. Now my question is this. I hear the hosts talk about spending money in pounds and quid. Sometimes he switches back and forth between the two terms. I have been wanting to know for a while, what is the difference between pounds and quid, and when is it right to use each term? Is one just a slang term similar to how dollars are sometimes called bucks here in the States? __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

10-16-2009, 11:42 AM	#3
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	Ok, Thanks Colin. That is what I was thinking. I have heard on the show the host do a rundown of parts list and costs where the terms are both used for higher and lower amounts and was a little confused. __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

10-16-2009, 03:43 PM	#8
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	Bryon hopes he is not implicated in Colin's counterfeiting scam! __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night!* "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

10-16-2009, 04:02 PM	#10
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	__________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

10-16-2009, 04:35 PM	#11
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,768	I'll be damed, thanks for the education Colin. __________________ "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it" "Those who dwell in the past, condemn the future"

10-16-2009, 11:35 AM	#2
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,766	No difference at all one is the legitimate term for our currency, the other is a slang term, much like your having dollars and bucks. You should note that there is no plural of quid; you can have a quid in your pocket, or ten quid. You can't really say one quid either, well, you can but it will sound a bit odd to a native so "it will cost you a quid" rather than "it will cost you one quid"

10-16-2009, 03:14 PM	#4
stona Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 133	Very well explained Colin. You should charge at least a couple of quid for that ! Steve

10-16-2009, 03:38 PM	#7
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,766	*Colin searches desperately for the right paper to print it off on...*

10-16-2009, 03:55 PM	#9
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,766	It's in the washing machine as we speak they'll never trace it back to you, I have a very comprehensive money-laundering operation here Yeah, I know - I'll see myself out...

10-16-2009, 04:51 PM	#12
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,346	Thanks for explaining. I have heard the same terms when I watch "Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare's" and wondered the same thing. __________________

10-16-2009, 04:58 PM	#13
conkerking Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Castle Bromwich, what! (via Church Warsop, Notts. UK) Posts: 316	I'm sure copying currency can't be legal! Note: always "quid", never "quids", which I have heard well-meaning but underinformed Americans say. See also "nicker", "beer tokens" and "brass margarets". Also: a pony - 25 quid a ton - 100 quid a monkey - 500 quid a grand - 1000 quid (obviously)

10-16-2009, 04:59 PM	#14
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	How does German money break down? __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

10-16-2009, 05:05 PM	#15
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,144	Is it Mark and Pfenning? __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

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