Interesting. The meaning from “full stop” translates well enough into American English, but it dodged the insta-reaction associated with “period.” It sounds like it doesn’t fair as well the other way, however. “Period” translates poorly into British English.
It now seems likely that using “full stop” has a more innocent purpose than just dodging icky feelings. Good to know, thanks for the tip. :)
Yeah, along the same lines: whenever I saw British speakers write “[X is true.] Full stop.”, I assumed the metaphor referred to a ship making a “full stop”, not a period. But at least the meaning comes across correctly! British speakers seeing “period” aren’t so lucky! :-P
In case you are wondering, the term “full stop” harks back to telegrams:
The term STOP was used in telegrams in place of the period. The end of a sentence would be marked by STOP, because punctuation cost extra. The end of the entire telegram would be noted by FULL STOP.
How full stop became associated with the punctuation used to end sentences is beyond my knowledge. The wikilink doesn’t seem to have that info either.
Yes… take down a telegram, Bob. To Mr. Charlie Chaplin, Sennet Studios, Hollywood, California. Congrats stop. Have found only person in world less funny than you stop. Name Baldrick stop. Signed E. Blackadder stop. Oh, and put a P.S.: please, please, please stop.
British speakers seeing “period” aren’t so lucky! :-P
Well, except for the fact that we all learn to speak much of your language. Not all—baseball and American football (what you call “football”) metaphors or references to your sports stars are still pretty opaque!
Interesting. The meaning from “full stop” translates well enough into American English, but it dodged the insta-reaction associated with “period.” It sounds like it doesn’t fair as well the other way, however. “Period” translates poorly into British English.
It now seems likely that using “full stop” has a more innocent purpose than just dodging icky feelings. Good to know, thanks for the tip. :)
Yeah, along the same lines: whenever I saw British speakers write “[X is true.] Full stop.”, I assumed the metaphor referred to a ship making a “full stop”, not a period. But at least the meaning comes across correctly! British speakers seeing “period” aren’t so lucky! :-P
In case you are wondering, the term “full stop” harks back to telegrams:
How full stop became associated with the punctuation used to end sentences is beyond my knowledge. The wikilink doesn’t seem to have that info either.
Leading to the classic Blackadder line:
ROFL! I love that guy...
Well, except for the fact that we all learn to speak much of your language. Not all—baseball and American football (what you call “football”) metaphors or references to your sports stars are still pretty opaque!
Nothing like cricket references are to us. Good lord...
As a Canadian, neither expression ever elicited unintended imagery for me, so this conversation has been doubly enlightening.