(no subject)

[pensnest]

Is the phrase "to get up someone's nose" something Americans would recognise and use, or is it a very British thing?

Comments

[stripped]

I assume it means getting in someone's personal space, getting up in their grill, being pushy and in their face? I don't recognize the phrase, but that's how I mentally translated it on seeing it..

[without_me]

My reaction: I think most people could figure out what it means, but it's not something we would say.

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

I've never heard it before.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Um. if it means what I think it does, we're more likely to say "Get in someone's face"

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

It's pretty British. And very descriptive. :)

[dine.livejournal.com]

I'm familiar with it, but my reading patterns since youth make me somewhat atypical. I'm guessing many Americans wouldn't recognize it at all

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

I do love the mental imagery associated with regional phrases. Thank goodness for cross-national fandoms and their writers! Such entertainment.

After reading comments I looked it up, any equitable expression I could come up with was old fashioned. Den's not far off with 'in your face' though, but that feels much ruder to me than your line.

[zelda-zee.livejournal.com]

I agree with the 2nd comment, although the version I'm familiar with is to "get all up in someone's face", for instance, "you don't have to get all up in my face about it".

[sweet-poeia.livejournal.com]

British--but now that I've heard it, I'm going to start working it into conversations ;)

[syncalot.livejournal.com]

Never heard it before, but does bring to mind the old saying from Welcome back Kotter:
"Up your nose with a rubber hose."