quotes from the street

“no, i’m sorry, ruthlessly expressing one’s emotions is wrong”
overheard: London, UK
context: englishman to an american on their cultural differences

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“it just sort of feels like britain is a nation in denial of its primal urges”
overheard: London, UK
context: an englishman to his international friends when prompted to comment on his nation’s prudishness

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guy #1: “in the Britney/Christina whore-off, the Dirrty video was like Hiroshima”
guy#2: “so does that make Nagasaki the ‘Oooops i did it again’ of international conflict?”
overheard: Cambridge University, England
context: two gay guys walking through Newnham College (an all-girls college), wishing they lived there

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“of course, but you know charlotte, the money i make at JP Morgan is merely a drop in the ocean compared to the money my family has”
overheard: Tramp, London
context: a banker courting his evening’s prey

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englishman #1: “i think that’s what people do”
englishman #2: “what? talk about their emotions?”
overheard: brompton cemetary, london
context: two englishman walking and talking on a sunday afternoon

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“there is a broken train in front of us that can’t be moved … so we’ll be here for ages, probably, i think”
overheard: London Underground, London
context: train driver over the intercom to passengers on the district line

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“two bottles of crystal – one drink, one spray”
overheard: Tramp, London
context: a russian guy explaining his bottle selection to the table one over

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girl: “and you, where are you from?”
guy: “well, i’m half french, half greek – i’m a freak!”
overheard: Chelsea, London
context: two twenty-somethings chatting at a party

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“quit your whining kev or you’re not getting macky d’s for dinner!”
overheard: Primark, Oxford Circus
context: chav mum to her son whilst shopping as he complained he was hungry

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“we are vigilantly scanning the heavens for the first snowflake”
overheard: BBC, London
context: Boris Johnson assuring the capital that he’s got it all under control

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“making stuffing is a fucking hindrance, but fuck me, it’s worth it!”
overheard: Cafe Nero, Camden Town
context: three burly builders discussing the philosophical merits of a good nut roast over a frappaccino

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girl #1 “i have a secret crush on david cameron”
girl #2 “ew – he looks like a ken doll – how can you have a crush on someone who looks like they should be called pippin?!”
girl #1 “that’s ok, i like a good turbo toffing from time to time”
overheard: London, UK
context: two girls chatting in the [...]

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young man to old woman feeding squirrels peanuts in the park: “pardon me but would you mind sparing a few of those so i can have a try?”
squirrel woman: “not at all dear have a handful”
young man: “cheers”
squirrel woman: “want to know where i get my nuts?”
young man: “erm, sure”
squirrel woman: “i buy the chocolate [...]

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“so, does being trendy just mean you wear everything you own at once and draw on yourself?”
overheard: East London, UK
context: public school boy on first night out in shoreditch

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“dutch people are generally very tall … their country is so low compared to sea level versus other countries that they need the height to see UP”
overheard: Chelsea, London
context: sophisticated dinner party discussion on the defining characteristics of varying nationalities

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“let’s excercise our way – belinis!”
overheard: fulham rd., london
context: two american wives as they parted ways and made plans for the following week

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“gross is crust, cigarette is hane and sex is still sex … that’s all you need to know”
overheard: Teddies (boarding school), Oxford, England
context: a 17 years old’s response to an old boy inquiring about the ’new lingo’

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“i mean, i’m f*cking 13 years old – i think i can bloody well put myself to bed!”
overheard: Teddies (boarding school), Oxford, England
context: 13 yeard old girl’s outburst in response to her 10:30 bedtime

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“euros? hmmmm, ok – what is that?”
overheard: oregon to london
context: u.s. magazine sales rep on call to london based marketing manager

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“blokes are legends and girls are slags – just think, you could be a legend maker!”
overheard: london, uk
context: guy to girl on the tube

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