910. FUNNY ENGLISH SIGNS 🪧 Explained (Part 1)
Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson
Why is the sign 'No trespassing without permission' considered redundant?
The sign is redundant because trespassing inherently means entering property without permission, making the phrase 'without permission' unnecessary. The correct version could be 'No trespassing' or 'No entry without permission.'
What is the intended meaning of the sign 'Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar'?
The intended meaning is that ladies are not allowed to bring children into the bar. The phrase 'have children' can be misinterpreted as 'giving birth,' making the sign sound absurd. A corrected version would be 'No children allowed in the bar.'
Why is the sign 'The manager has personally passed all the water served here' humorous?
The sign is humorous because 'passed water' is an old-fashioned term for urination, leading to the misinterpretation that the manager has personally urinated all the water. The intended meaning is that the manager has checked and approved the water. A corrected version would be 'All water served here has been personally checked by the manager.'
What is the problem with the air conditioner sign that says 'If you want condition of warm air in your room, please control yourself'?
The sign is problematic because 'control yourself' implies that the person should manage their own behavior, not the air conditioner. It should read 'You can control the air conditioning yourself' or 'Feel free to adjust the thermostat.'
Why is the zoo sign 'Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty' ambiguous?
The sign is ambiguous because it suggests that the guard will eat the food, rather than giving it to the animals. A corrected version would be 'Please do not feed the animals. If you have suitable food, hand it to the guard on duty.'
What is the issue with the restaurant sign 'Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager'?
The sign is misleading because it suggests that the manager is even ruder than the waitresses. It should read 'Customers who find our waitresses rude may register complaints with the manager.'
Why is the sign 'When this sign is underwater, this road is impassable' considered pointless?
The sign is pointless because if it is underwater, the road will clearly be flooded and impassable, making the sign unnecessary. A better version might be 'Road liable to flooding' or 'Watch out for water on this road.'
What is the intended meaning of the sign 'To stop leak, turn cock to the right' in a men's lavatory in Japan?
The intended meaning is to stop the water leak by turning the tap to the right. The sign is humorous due to the double meaning of 'cock' as a slang term for a penis. A corrected version would be 'To stop the leak, turn the tap to the right.'
Why is the sign 'Are you an adult that cannot read? If so, we can help' inappropriate?
The sign is inappropriate because it assumes the target audience can read, making it pointless. A corrected version could be 'Do you know an adult who cannot read? We can help. Please tell them about this service.'
What is the issue with the sign 'Open seven days a week and weekends too' in a restaurant?
The sign is redundant because 'seven days a week' already includes weekends. A corrected version would be 'Open seven days a week, including weekends.'
Why is the sign 'Foreign guests are requested not to pull cock in tub' in a Japanese public bath problematic?
The sign is problematic because 'cock' has a sexual connotation, suggesting that guests should not masturbate. The intended meaning is that guests should not operate the tap. A corrected version would be 'Foreign guests are kindly requested not to operate the tap in the bathtub.'
What is the unintended double meaning of the sign 'Family planning advice. Use rear entrance' at a hospital in Northampton?
The sign has a double meaning because 'use rear entrance' can be interpreted as a sexual suggestion. The intended meaning is to use the back entrance to access the family planning clinic. A corrected version would be 'Family planning advice. Use the entrance at the rear of the building.'
- Analysis of signs with grammatical errors and ambiguous meanings.
- Vocabulary explanations and corrections for poorly written signs.
- Discussion of how to improve sign wording for clarity.
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